ON Despising this world's Honours

We too often become caught up in seeking praise and glory in this world. I must remind myself that I am not seeking the honours of this world, nor the acceptance of a multitude of friends, but it is the world to come which I have my eyes set

The Beloved: Don't take it to heart, son, if you see others winning honours and promotion, and yourself being looked down upon and treated like dirt. Lift up your hear to heaven, to me, and being slighted by men on earth won't make you sad any more.

The Learner: Lord, we live in a world of blindness and are easily led away by foolish notions. Passing my life in frank review, I see that no creature has ever done me harm, so that I have no right to have any grievance against you; but seeing how often and how grievously I have sinned against you, it is but right that every creature should be up in arms against me. All I deserve, then, and rightly so, is shame and scorn, but you, praise, honour and glory. Unless I make myself ready and willing to be slighted and left to myself by every creature, to be regarded as a complete nonentity, I cannot win inward peace and stability, cannot be enlightened in spirit and fully united to you.

~Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, p. 175-76