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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Eighth Chapter
SELF-ABASEMENT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
THE DISCIPLE
I WILL speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. If I consider myself
anything more than this, behold You stand against me, and my sins bear witness
to the truth which I cannot contradict. If I abase myself, however, if I humble
myself to nothingness, if I shrink from all self-esteem and account myself as
the dust which I am, Your grace will favor me, Your light will enshroud my
heart, and all self-esteem, no matter how little, will sink in the depths of my
nothingness to perish forever.
It is there You show me to myself -- what I am, what I have been, and what I am
coming to; for I am nothing and I did not know it. Left to myself, I am nothing
but total weakness. But if You look upon me for an instant, I am at once made
strong and filled with new joy. Great wonder it is that I, who of my own weight
always sink to the depths, am so suddenly lifted up, and so graciously embraced
by You.
It is Your love that does this, graciously upholding me, supporting me in so
many necessities, guarding me from so many grave dangers, and snatching me, as I
may truly say, from evils without number. Indeed, by loving myself badly I lost
myself; by seeking only You and by truly loving You I have found both myself and
You, and by that love I have reduced myself more profoundly to nothing. For You,
O sweetest Lord, deal with me above all my merits and above all that I dare to
hope or ask.
May You be blessed, my God, for although I am unworthy of any benefits, yet Your
nobility and infinite goodness never cease to do good even for those who are
ungrateful and far from You. Convert us to You, that we may be thankful, humble,
and devout, for You are our salvation, our courage, and our strength.
