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 By Rob Des Cotes
[other pieces by Rob Des Cotes]
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Let us consider gentleness and its place in relationship to prayer and to the spiritual life. Gentleness is a quality that Jesus identifies with His own character and one which He invites us to share, as though yoked together, with Him.
The spirit of gentleness is what our prayer life ultimately produces in us. It comes from, as well as leads us to, a place of rest. Such was St. Frances de Sales' experience of gentleness in prayer.
"As I pray, I perceive deep within me a certain sweetness, tranquility, and a gentle repose of my spirit in divine providence, which spreads abroad in my heart a great contentment, even in its pains."
Gentleness is a disposition that gives a beautiful grace to life. It is
wonderfully free of the anxious grip of imperatives as it lets itself be led
by the slightest breeze of the Spirit. As the 16th century spiritual director,
Francis Fˇnelon taught, "A humble heart is always gentle and capable of
being easily led in its center."
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In its essence, gentleness represents the courage of faith. It is a bold
statement to the principalities and powers above that we rest secure in the
hand of God, since faith has freed us from our fears. Only the faith-filled
man or woman can afford to risk such gentleness in life.
As we allow ourselves to be yoked with Jesus in this virtue, we will
experience transformation in all of our relationships, including our
relationship with ourselves. As Henri Nouwen puts it, "Through prayer
we will learn the mastery of the gentle hand. Under this gentle regime, we
will find ourselves once again becoming masters of our own house."
Rob Des Cotes is a spiritual director and pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He teaches Contemplative Traditions at Trinity Western University, as well as courses on spirituality and the arts at Carey Theological College and Columbia Bible College. Rob also directs Imago Dei (www.imagodeicommunity.ca) a network of faith communities that encourages the practice of prayer and a transforming relationship with God. Rob is a regular contributor to canadianchristianity.com.
This article is an except from his latest book 'Higher than I.' www.clementspublishing.com
September 4/2008
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