And you are to step over it resolutely and eagerly, with a devout and kindling love, and try to penetrate that darkness above you. And both the self Reason, and the thing that it worketh in, be comprehended and contained in the Memory. This deceit of false feeling, and of false knowing following thereon, hath diverse and wonderful variations, after the diversity of states and the subtle conditions of them that be deceived: as hath the true feeling and knowing of them that be saved. For thou shalt think it oned and congealed with the substance of thy being: yea, as it were without departing. For virtue is nought else but an ordained and a measured affection, plainly directed unto God for Himself. A man or a woman, afraid with any sudden chance of fire or of man's death or what else that it be, suddenly in the height of his spirit, he is driven upon haste and upon need for to cry or for to pray after help. Lines by heart: The Cloud of Unknowing. Xxvii., Royal 17 D. v., and Harl. For have a man never so much ghostly understanding in knowing of all made ghostly things, yet may he never by the work of his understanding come to the knowing of an unmade ghostly thing: the which is nought but God. For they may be both good and evil; wrought by a good angel if they be good, and by an evil angel if they be evil. For why; He may well be loved, but not thought. And yet it is the lightest work of all, when a soul is helped with grace in sensible list, and soonest done. Truly I trow, unless they have grace to leave off such piping hypocrisy, that betwixt that privy pride in their hearts within and such meek words without, the silly soul may full soon sink into sorrow.
Every time I say "all creatures, " I refer not only to every created thing but also to all their circumstances and activities. For whoso would utterly behold all the behaviour that was betwixt Him and her, not as a trifler may tell, but as the story of the gospel will witness—the which on nowise may be false—he should find that she was so heartily set for to love Him, that nothing beneath Him might comfort her, nor yet hold her heart from Him. For their medit- ations be but as they were sudden conceits and blind feelings of their own wretchedness, or of the goodness of God; without any means of reading or hearing coming before, and without any special beholding of any thing under God. Judge yourself as seems right to you between yourself and your God, and let other men alone. It springs up within the soul in "abundance of ghostly gladness. " But their special prayers rise evermore suddenly unto God, without any means or any premeditation in special coming before, or going therewith. This is done through contemplation and allowing the mind to be absorbed into union with love in a 'cloud of forgetting' – so it's really about moving from the intellect to the heart. Surely this is a fact which all lovers of mysticism, all "spiritual patriots, " should be concerned to hold in remembrance. In all these shalt thou keep discretion, that they be neither too much nor too little. Your nose only recognizes a stench or a fragrance.
But herefore I do that I do: because I think to tell thee and let thee see the worthiness of this ghostly exercise before all other exercise bodily or ghostly that man can or may do by grace. And therefore get this gift whoso by grace get may: for whoso hath it verily, he shall well con govern himself by the virtue thereof, and all that longeth unto him. For how should a soul, the which in his nature hath no manner thing of bodilyness, be strained upright bodily? All is one in manner, reading and hearing: clerks reading on books, and lewd men reading on clerks when they hear them preach the word of God.
For they that be true workers in this work, they worship no prayer so much: and therefore they do them, in the form and in the statute that they be ordained of holy fathers before us. If you're going to advance to the higher stages of the active life, temporarily stop engaging in its lower stage, just as you must suspend practice of the lower stage of the contemplative life to advance to its higher stage. The conception of reality which underlies this profound and beautiful passage, has much in common with that found in the work of many other mystics; since it is ultimately derived from the great Neoplatonic philosophy of the contemplative life. Chapter 68 – That nowhere bodily, is everywhere ghostly; and how our outer man calleth the word of this book nought. I mean by their works. And in all other sweetness and comforts, bodily or ghostly, be they never so liking nor so holy, if it be courteous and seemly to say, we should have a manner of recklessness. And by thy taste, nought but either sour or sweet, salt or fresh, bitter or liking. You must forget everything. "For I tell you this: one loving, blind desire for God alone is more valuable in itself, more pleasing to God and to the saints, more beneficial to your own growth, and more helpful to your friends, both living and dead, than anything else you could do. And it is so little that for the littleness of it, it is indivisible and nearly incomprehensible. For he will send a manner of dew, angels' food they ween it be, as it were coming out of the air, and softly and sweetly falling in their mouths; and therefore they have it in custom to sit gaping as they would catch flies. The main message of the text is that God is ultimately unknowable and incomprehensible to the human mind, so if you want to 'know God', you have to let go of all your ideas about whatever it is you call 'God. ' And the tother before is imperfect; for why, it shall not only fail at the end of this life, but full oft it may befall that a soul in this deadly body for abundance of grace in multiplying of his desire—as oft and as long as God vouchsafeth for to work it—shall have suddenly and perfectly lost and for- gotten all witting and feeling of his being, not looking after whether he have been holy or wretched.
For it should on nowise be so, ghostly. This is she, that same Mary, that when she sought Him at the sepulchre with weeping cheer would not be comforted of angels. Chapter 28 – That a man should not presume to work in this work before the time that he be lawfully cleansed in conscience of all his special deeds of sin. For some men are so cumbered in nice curious customs in bodily bearing, that when they shall ought hear, they writhe their heads on one side quaintly, and up with the chin: they gape with their mouths as they should hear with their mouth and not with their ears. Together these two virtues should embrace the sum of his responses to the Universe; they should govern his attitude to man as well as his attitude to God. And this He said unto Martha, for He would let her wit that her business was good and profitable to the health of her soul. Simply put, love is a good will in harmony with God.
For silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor eating; solitude is not God, nor company; nor any other pair of opposites. And ever when it knoweth and feeleth the tother cause, communing therewith, although this be the chief: yet it is imperfect meekness. And therefore lift up thy love to that cloud: rather, if I shall say thee sooth, let God draw thy love up to that cloud and strive thou through help of His grace to forget all other thing. And as fast they will reckon up many false tales, and many true also, of falling of men and women that have given them to such life before: and never a good tale of them that stood. Insomuch, that whoso had a true desire for to be at heaven, then that same time he were in heaven ghostly. It will hardly seem like work. REASON is a power through the which we depart the evil from the good, the evil from the worse, the good from the better, the worse from the worst, the better from the best. For at that looking, he should lose his wits for ever.
Episode 204: Melanie Shankle + On The Bright Side. Head to for a 2-week free trial! That's what I was gonna say! She is also a speaker, author, marriage and wellness coach.
He's also written one of the best books on parenting teenagers that I've ever read. What choice did we have but to have Eddie Kaufholz back on the podcast to help us wrap up 2019? And, you know, there's some very clear things that you can do as parents, and some very actionable steps that come out of their work. Amena Brown is such a special friend, my word I love her. All you have to do is visit Brooklinen: Go to and use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN for $20 off with a minimum purchase of $100. Who is sissy goff married to site. Episode 23: Michael Wear. You don't overthink it. Kevin Queen talks to us about transitions, prayer, church life around Christmas, and how to pray for your city. Simoni is a dear friend and probably my favorite chef in this town- and how he ended up cooking in Nashville was a story I had never heard and it moved me to tears. 2020 Christmas Party Episode 9: A Ben Rector Christmas. So if the world is saying you need to pick your sport by seven, let's be reasonable adults that know that's not true. ABLE: Just go to and enter the code TSF25 for 25% off their entire site!
Christy serves on the staff of Grace Community Church in Clarksville, TN, in women's ministry and outreach. My friend Seth Abram is one of the smartest dudes I know, and he's particularly put a lot of time in the last few years into the study of the enneagram. Today we get to welcome our TENTH!! Their new book Are My Kids on Track?
Episode 54: Lisa Whittle. We have always seen kids who are struggling with anxiety and depression for as long as we've been doing this for. Saving the best for last! Episode 30: Adam Weber. All books mentioned and linked this week will be using Mike's affiliate link on Amazon. TSF with Mike Kelsey: Q&A + Mike & friends. We'll go over each type, and what it means to go towards stress and security, and get you ready for a month of learning and growing. Who is sissy goff. Olive & June: Get 20% off your first mani system when you use promo code THATSOUNDSFUN at IF: Lead: You can get your digital pass at They start at just $29! We're always grateful to have you as a part of the conversation on The Weight.
And David and I are a lot older than y'all. Kids should still be trying on activities like shirts when they're seven. From her family's land in Louisiana, Lauren checks in with us, tells us what she learned in the last year, how it has changed her for good, why she almost quit music, and we have a great Taylor Swift Side Bar. May God remind you how much your presence matters in our lives- not for what you do, but for who you are...... Q&A EPISODE COMING SOON! Our Go-To Family & Parenting Resources- Part 1. Lindsey does a beautiful job sharing her story and reminding us that there is beauty in pain. You're going to love him!!..... Availability date: Saturday 31st October 2020. Jinjer: Don't miss out on the Summer Sale Blowout PLUS an extra 20% off by visiting..... Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. But hearing more about his life and spiritual disciplines and faith experience is going to be the best part of your day. Episode 292: Gretchen Saffles.
You talk about the real stuff, even while the hubbub keeps going around you. Check out the Double Name Witches!..... There was no other way to end the year than having our old pal Eddie Kaufholz back on the show. She is a GIFT...... :). Today we talk all about our favorite summer spot (y'all gotta know Lake Burton!
IS BUBBA MY NEW BESTIE YES HE IS. Her new book, Unexpected, just released and it's the power punch you've been waiting to read. They've created resources for the whole family! American Girl dolls. You know him as an incredibly talented athlete, a sports commentator, an author, an activist, and now he's a husband too! Even if you aren't totally a country fan (yet!
It's fun, it's real, it's biblical, and it's for everyone! Yeah, I was saying just before we got on this, for me, is awesome because Eddie's got two grown children, he has a lot of wisdom. We are lucky to be friends with her. Her new book How Did I Get Here?
And so I think as I think back on that similarity in my story, too, you know, I can remember being in high school, and you know, a lot of my friends would just come to me and talk about hard things that were going on in their lives. Thank you to our partners of the show! Episode 399: Sharon Hodde Miller + The Cost of Control. Grove: Choosing products that are better for you and the planet has never been easier. His new show, Hope Still Wins, takes his wildly popular instagram live show to deeper and newer levels of conversations and information. Episode 188: ABLE + Barrett Ward + Jordan Soderholm. Imperfect Foods: go to and enter the code "soundsfun" at checkout through 2/16/20 to get $10 off your next four boxes! Today's guest- Lauren Holiday- was a major part of that team in 2015 and a major part of the history of women's soccer in the USA. We seem to have fallen into a pretty cool theme of prayer lately, and today is going to help us with that for sure. StoryWorth: Go to today and save $10 on your first purchase! Who is goofy married to. Her new book How (Not) To Save The World is your best next read. Christine Bailey is a local farmer and now an author too! Sissy Goff, MEd, LPC-MHSP, is the director of child and adolescent counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee.
But seriously, we get so many questions about what office life is like at our company, who does what, and how in the world we survive this crazy story, so we thought it would be fun to chat together for the podcast. I'm devouring their new book The Girl Behind The Red Rope- it's a novel I think you'll enjoy! Episode 330: Aaron Benward + Luke Benward from Playing God.