Three things make a person worthy of God’s path, and three things cause them to recognize it and enter onto it. First, submit to God and relinquish all your ideas about control. Hold on to God’s grace and determine to keep it by forgiving everyone in all things, as far as is humanly possible. Second, stay on God’s path by welcoming all things, except for sin. This will keep your heart open and flexible. Third, remain on this path by doing all things well for God’s honor. That’s why I think doing simple things is just as important in God’s sight as the highest states of contemplation. Why? Whatever I do for love gives honor to God. It’s all one and the same. There’s no high or low. But whenever I sin, I step off this path.
–Mechthild of Magdeburg (Thirteenth Century)
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