Nicole Demille, like me, finds much that she appreciates in Catholicism. Here she expounds:
What I have found perhaps most beneficial about being Catholic, in a practical, real life way, is the
daily self-examination. I present this analogy: in my bathroom, I have an 8x magnifying mirror. It's great for tweezing eyebrows, and great for keeping me humble. Because I see my face for what it really is, aging, imperfect, temporary. It doesn't make me beat my breast and want to go out and get Botox. It actually makes me feel free. It's just a face. I'm not keeping it forever. I won't need it where I hope to be going. The daily examination of conscience works kind of the same way. Don't just look at your behavior and your thought patterns in a fuzzy, faraway, or cursory way. Look at your heart and your intentions, your words and your acts, in an 8x magnifying mirror. Now you don't look so hot. Now you get that Scripture was right. No, not a good man, not even one.
But you don't have to turn away from the examination of conscience and go wear a hair shirt. You can take a few steps that are more constructive. Confess your sins and receive absolution. Then go about the work of implementing a two-pronged plan. Avoid the occasions of sin, and use your newly found humility ('cause if you do Confession right, you're going to come out humbled) to aid you in loving your neighbor. That is, after you've identified correctly and Biblically just who your neighbor is.
Is there anyone out there who is not my neighbor? Anyone so repugnant and evil that he does NOT deserve my prayers? Anyone who is thinking and living so contrary to the Law of God that surely she is worthy of my scorn and hatred? Anyone so stained by sin that Jesus would surely pat me on the back for spitting on this person, laughing at this person, refusing my heart's mercy to this person? Is there anyone at all who is so damnable and laughable and horrible that this soul is beyond forgiveness and redemption?
No, not one.
daily self-examination. I present this analogy: in my bathroom, I have an 8x magnifying mirror. It's great for tweezing eyebrows, and great for keeping me humble. Because I see my face for what it really is, aging, imperfect, temporary. It doesn't make me beat my breast and want to go out and get Botox. It actually makes me feel free. It's just a face. I'm not keeping it forever. I won't need it where I hope to be going. The daily examination of conscience works kind of the same way. Don't just look at your behavior and your thought patterns in a fuzzy, faraway, or cursory way. Look at your heart and your intentions, your words and your acts, in an 8x magnifying mirror. Now you don't look so hot. Now you get that Scripture was right. No, not a good man, not even one.Faith that does not challenge, that does not bring one out of his or her comfort zone... is it faith worth embracing?
I'd say no.
Carry on.
