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One of the grave dangers in life, possibly the greatest, is to become insensitive. There are forces within and about us that can deaden us slowly to our aliveness, which expresses through an innate tenderness.
Many ancient Greeks taught an ideal of emotional insensitivity as a most pure form of maturity. The Stoics were among these, even to the point of teaching being untouched by the death of a family pet or a dead family member.
Yesterday, I watched a movie. I often, as we say, laughed my head off, even repeating scenes for being so hilarious to me. This is odd, for generally I do not find comedy in movies much funny at all. Yet, the movie had tender scenes and moving themes. Near the end, more than once, I had to stop the movie so strong was my weeping. And I rarely cry, almost never weep.
Earlier in this week, I sat before a little table. I placed an object on the table, beside the Christ candle. The object represented loss, and more. My Spiritual Director asked, "Where is God in this?" Replying, I wept, and wept more.
This morning, long before daylight, I got up and went outside into the night. I needed to get out of bed and do that, such was the innate tenderness of profound, unspeakable peace, and joy. Such peace was so deep, almost unbearable the relief and delight that seemed to permeate my home and body.
Generally speaking, while we have ups and downs, we do not have to lose our innate tenderness. A hardened heart, closed by feelings like anger, fear, malice, resentment, ..., close the heart and make a man or woman look and feel insensitive, even inhuman ~ for the human, above all, is not a thinking but a sensate, a feeling Person.
If he or she loses innate tenderness, his or her character may appear strong, but the heart has closed onto the self, and the loss of purity of sacred sensitivity is soon, if not already, departed. What is left is a cold soul, even if claiming God or right, courage or strength. Strength without heart is deadening to the soul, which lives only and ultimately in Love.
Sad, even potentially detrimental, if I close my heart, turning away from offered Love, in its varied disguises in which True Love, God, offers itself. If I do, I close to Life. Soon my very disposition, even my eyes, speak of the loss, the grief of the sweaty cocoon.
We, therefore, must invite Divine Presence into our suffering and joy. We must, despite pain, not close our heart to Life. We must welcome the Love that rightly arises for us, and shun the false loves, however alluring, that would sway us from the sacrifices and tenderness of God.
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