Monday, March 22

Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.
—Luke 17:33

The late Anthony De Mello was fond of saying that we all have three things that block us from the experience of reality, three decisive filters that control what enters into our conscious minds: our attachments, our beliefs and our fears.

An attachment is whatever we cling to, certain that it is necessary for our happiness. Without it, we believe we cannot be happy. Our attachments feed our beliefs. Notice how your attention will focus on whatever confirms your beliefs and will block out much that threatens what you believe. And it is our fears that rivet our attention and energy. 

De Mello says,

You falsely think that your fears protect you, your beliefs have made you who you are and your attachments make your life exciting and secure. You fail to see that they are actually a screen between you and life’s symphony.
—The Way to Love

How do your attachments, beliefs and fears create energy centers in you? Can you perceive how they may be blocking you from reality?

Eternal and loving God, you give us freely all that is necessary for our abundant life and your perfect love casts out fear; free us from all that blocks us from our enjoyment of you, revealed in each moment and circumstance of our life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2005.