Embracing Our Weaknesses

I created it: I know its weakness.

These words spoken by my little boy have me pondering them in relation to our humanity and our Creator.

It brings to mind the Tenet "Essence before Existence"; the teaching that each and every one of us was in the Heart and Mind of God before the world was created. Everyone who has come before us and each one who will come after us was with Him before he set forth the heavens and the earth.

He knows each of us so intimately, that He created our weaknesses for our benefit.

I know I have fallen into thinking that my weaknesses are my own doing. From the "I'm just not good at that" to the disappointment/despair we feel when we just don't seem to measure up to someone else's standards/expectations or the standards/expectations we hold for ourselves.

If our God-given weaknesses were created for our benefit then our weaknesses take on a whole new meaning.

Perhaps it is only by trial and temptation that we are given the grace to come to know our God-given weaknesses and imperfections as gifts.

It is funny though how much time we spend on trying to figure out why we are the way we are, when daily we are given multiple opportunities to know ourselves.

In my life, it seems, I have been given the same temptation/trial in various forms many, many times. Obviously, I cannot accept that weakness about myself. But if I became friends with it, it would hold no power over me. Thus rendering satan powerless. In the words of St. Teresa of Avila,

We must practice detachment, for if we perform it perfectly

it includes everything else. If we do not concern ourselves with created things,

but embrace the Creator alone, God will infuse the virtues into us in such a way

that we will not have to wage war much longer.

The Lord will defend us from devils and the whole world.

Hmm that sounds easier said than done. But then again, it is the crux of the spiritual life. What I like about this passage is the word "practice". This is something that does not happen overnight. It's not a once-n-done kind of thing. It takes practice like an athlete getting ready for a big game or a musician getting ready for a concert or you and I getting ready for eternal life. It takes practice.

That should be reason enough to give ourselves a break!!! Getting ready for Eternal life takes a lifetime and then some!!

If we practice this, "God will infuse the virtues into us in such a way that we will not have to wage war much longer." We will grow in the ability to overcome weaknesses and perhaps use them to aid others on their journey.

Satan knowing that he has lost, uses our God-given weaknesses against us by setting brother against brother, nation against nation, us against ourselves, all in the effort to keep us from discovering this secret.

By embracing our trials and temptations as opportunities to PRACTICE accepting our God-given weaknesses as GIFTS, we grow in VIRTUE.

I created you; I know your weakness.