Today's 'Imitiation'

"My child, if to satisfy yourself and to seek the society of any person you place all your contentment in that person, you will become entangled and lose your peace. On the other hand, if you have recourse only to Me, the living and everlasting Truth, you will not be overwhelmed if friends forsake you or you lose them by death.

Whoever they may be, your friends must be loved for My sake, no matter how good they appear to you, or how dear they are to you in this life. No friendship can be profitable or lasting in this life, nor is it a true and pure love which does not have its source in Me.

Your affection toward those you love should be so mortified that you would be willing to be without friends at all. To that degree by which you withdraw from all earthly consolation, such will be your approach to God; and so much higher do you ascend to God, as you lower yourself and become despicable in your own estimation.

2. However, if you attribute anything good to yourself, you only impede God’s grace; for the grace of the Holy Spirit ever seeks a humble heart. If only you knew how to forget yourself and to empty yourself of all created love, then would I pour My grace into your heart. The more you look toward creatures, the dimmer becomes the sight of the Creator.

Learn for His sake to overcome yourself in all things, and then you will be able to grow in divine knowledge. No matter how little it is, anything loved and regarded inordinately will keep you back from the supreme Good and corrupt your soul.
" -Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Ch. 42

---