Got purity of heart?

Two girls grew up reading books on the lives of the saints, and they each wanted to devote their lives to the love of God. As they moved through adolescence, they both went through the normal struggles, but the first one became less active in her spiritual life, while the second became devout in a more mature way. As they moved into adulthood, the first young woman had the advantages of a wealthy family, who spent lavishly to help her become successful. The father of the second young woman labored in a steel mill; her mother was a housewife, while her older sister excelled in school. But the second young woman had to cope with significant chronic physical problems and mental illness, though she functioned will when the medication was properly adjusted. Their treasures were faith, joy, and family; and they did what they could for others. Her sole purpose in life? To do the will of the God of love.

Some people say, “Purity of heart is to will one thing.” But doing the will of God is the only focus that can be pure, because no contrasting focus fully satisfies the heart. The heart is the feeling center and the motivational center of the blended experience of mind and soul. God’s spirit of love is there, in the soul and in the mind. The soul knows God. The mind does, too, even if it deceives itself and marginalizes that knowing, refusing to face it honestly. If the heart is to be pure, it must be centered in the will of the God of love.

What does purity of heart mean? What does it mean to experience fully doing the will of God? Here is one answer. Please add your own.

If we sit around all day rehearsing our pious resolve, our life becomes ironic and comical; and we accomplish nothing. To do the will of God, we need to do something definite. What are we trying to accomplish? Says one person, “I’m going to make a million dollars . . . for God.” Says another, “I’ve found an organization that is truly bringing God to man and man to God. It’s struggling financially, and I’m good at making money; so I’m going to start a part-time business to earn money for this organization.” Purity of heart implies purity of purpose. Is what we are trying to accomplish mixed with some unbeautiful purpose?

In any project, there are details that need to be worked out. For some of these details, we may have procedures in place that are methodical and systematic. But if, for example, a business is not going well, it is easy to start cutting corners, to treat some people unfairly. Is our procedure based on love?

What is the motive for a given action or project? Suppose you are a care-giver. There are things to learn, there are difficulties to cope with. And you need to be wise about not getting yourself totally exhausted. Yes, exhaustion is sometimes unavoidable, but what is the dominant motive that keeps you going? Do you feel trapped in a duty that you resent? Is the motive divine? Then the motive is love. If you are a care-giver, we pray for you the cosmic stamina that enables you to sustain your chosen dominant motive.

When we undertake a course of action, we have a personal interest in a certain outcome. In other words, we have a certain ambition. But even an idealistic personal growth project can be unconsciously driven by unbeautiful motivations. If you are communing one fine morning and discover one of those unbeautifulnesses, believe and rejoice (it might take some time and help from the Holy Spirit to manage that). Believe because in God you are certain of eventual success–and as that faith overtakes your soul, the rejoicing comes spontaneously. You can welcome in the light to shine in upon that darkness. You can use the discovery of unbeatifulness like a foothold in rock climbing, a strong base upon which to ascend further. Ambition does not need to be self-centered. It can also be altruistic. If need be, we can change our ambition to become one which takes prime personal interest in whether others truly benefit from what we do.

When all these factors are in alignment, we are far more likely to be effective in our course of action.

There is a kind of happiness that comes with nurturing and sustaining purity of heart. It is not the happiness that comes from earning a living, having a family, and enjoying life generally. These things are good. But the eternal truth for the day is:

HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.

But what does it mean to see God? On the one hand, we see God in a life beyond this one. On the other hand, there is a sense in which we can see God in this life. I find a clue in the writings of psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, who identifies the ten most common positive emotions: joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, feeling good about yourself (“pride”), amusement, inspiration, awe, and love. In her book, Positivity, she explains how if we allow these emotions to blossom forth in their fullness, they fill us wonderfully. I would add that allowing positive emotions to blossom fully can go all the way to worship. These emotions are part of our response to recognizing values. On material, intellectual, and spiritual levels we can experience truth, beauty, and goodness. And they are like billowing clouds rising with an updraft leading us up to God.

My tastes of purity of heart–may they increase in frequency and duration!–give me a foretaste of what it will be to establish that purity in constancy. Happy journeying together!

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Photo credit: Author: Steve Evans from Citizen of the World

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