We do not weary of eating and sleeping every day, for hunger and sleepiness recur. Without that we should weary of them. So, without the hunger for spiritual things, we weary of them.
—Blaise Pascal—
A great spiritual hunger is a hallmark of our age. Our age, however, is such a secular one that any of us do not recognize this hunger for what it is. We feel an emptiness and we try to fill it with consumer goods or exercise workshops. Our restless narcissism takes up one fad after another but, since were not truly hungry for them, we weary of them.
Spiritual nourishment comes only with self-forgetfulness. This seems paradoxical; and yet transcending ourselves is the great gift that can be bestowed. Haven’t we noticed that the people who seem most at peace in the world are those who live for others?
When we find a true source of spiritual wealth, we can learn to satisfy our hunger. And it will recur! Our needs for refreshment of the spirit will be more focused, better defined, and we will know how to satisfy them. We can never nourish our spirits by concentrating on ourselves.
I will strengthen my spirit by endeavoring to achieve selflessness in my dealings with others.