19. The wisdom of Thomas a Kempis

By Tom O'Connell

Here's a little quiz for you. Over the centuries, which book has been translated into more languages than any other book except "The Bible"? Answer: "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis. Another question: In Al-Anon's "One Day at a Time" book of daily readings, which person is quoted more than any other? Thomas a Kempis. Who was he? A German Catholic priest who lived from the year 1380 until 1471, and spent the greater part of his life as a monk, writing many sermons, treatises, biographies, and devotional works. His favorite motto was: "I sought for rest but never found it, save in a little corner with a little book."

There are many messages in "The Imitation of Christ" that will strike a familiar chord with members of Twelve Step addiction recovery programs as well as Christians of various denominations and members of other faiths. It is a powerful inspirational book. So, for your consideration, here are some quotes from Thomas a Kempis...

* By resisting passion, and not by following it, the truest peace of heart is won. There is, therefore, no peace in the heart of a carnal man or in the heart of a man who gives himself all to outward things.   

* We might have much peace if we would not meddle with other men's sayings and doings that do not concern us.

* Many people seek to flee temptation and fall the more deeply into it, for by merely fleeing we cannot win the victory, but by humility and patience we may be made stronger...He who merely flees the outward occasions and does not cut away the inordinate desires hidden inwardly in his heart shall gain little.

* We would gladly have others perfect, yet we will not amend our own faults.

* No man can safely mingle among people save he who would gladly be solitary if he could.

* A good clean conscience will make us more glad and merry than knowledge of all philosophy.

* All is vanity but to love God and serve Him.

* Trust in God and do good deeds. (This is much like AA co-founder Dr. Bob Smith's short version of the Twelve Steps: "Trust God, clean house, and help others.")

* Your full rest must be in heavenly things, and you must behold all earthly things as transitory and shortly passing away.

* All our peace while we are in this mortal life rests more in the humble endurance of troubles and of things that are irksome to us that in not feeling them at all...he who can suffer best will have most peace, and he who is the true conqueror of himself is the true lord of the world, the friend of Christ, and the true inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

* Wherever you go, you will always bear yourself about with you. (This is almost identical to the AA slogan: "Wherever you go, there you are.")

* Arrange everything after your own will, and yet you will find that you must of necessity suffer something, either according to your will or against it, and so you will always find the Cross.

* When you come to such a degree of patience that tribulation is sweet to you...then may you trust that it is well with you.

* He who is not always ready to suffer and to stand completely at the will of his beloved is not worthy to be called a lover, for it behooves a lover gladly to suffer all hard and bitter things for his beloved, and not to fall from love because of any irksome thing that may befall him.

* Lift up my desire to the love of spiritual things...There is nothing created that can fully satisfy my desires.

* He who neither desires to please men nor fears to displease them will have great plenty of peace. (This resembles Twelve Step thinking on "people pleasing.")

* If, in any perils and doubt, you do not stand according to the outward appearance, but if, in every such doubt, you enter into your soul by prayer, as Moses went into the tabernacle to ask counsel of God, you will soon hear the answer of our Lord.

* Choose, therefore, a secret place and love to be alone, and keep yourself from hearing vain tales and fables. Offer to God devout prayers and ask earnestly that you may have a contrite heart and a pure conscience. (Eleventh Step "prayer and meditation")

* Why are you so much oppressed by a little word said or something done against you? ...Let it pass; it is not the first and will not be the last, if you live long. You are manful enough, as long as no adversity befalls you...But when adversity knocks at your own door you soon fail, both in counsel and in strength.

* Commit faithfully to God whatever you cannot understand, for God will not deceive you; but he who trusts overmuch to himself will be deceived. God walks with simple people, He shows himself to humble persons, He gives understanding to those who are poor in spirit, He opens wisdom to pure, clean minds, but He hides His grace from inquisitive and proud men.

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