“The great spiritual battle begins – and never ends—with the reclaiming of our chosenness. Long before any human being saw us, we are seen by God’s loving eyes. Long before anyone heard us cry or laugh, we are heard by our God who is all ears for us.
How do we get in touch with our chosenness when we are surrounded by rejections? First of all, you have to keep unmasking the world about you for what it is: manipulative, controlling, power-hungry and, in the long run, destructive… Secondly, you have to keep looking for people and places where your truth is spoken and where you are reminded of your deepest identity as the chosen one… Thirdly, you have to celebrate your chosenness constantly. This means saying “thank you” to God for having chosen you, and “thank you” to all who remind you of your chosenness. Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are not an “accident,” but a divine choice… When I keep my disciplines close to my heart, I am able to step over my shadow into the light of my truth.”
–Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved
