Johannes Tauler – An Excerpt on Suffering

“The gospel tells us that the Lord went in search of the lost sheep. How are we to understand this search? It is thus: God seeks and searches for a humble, gentle and poor-minded soul, one that is detached from earthly things and rests indifferent — though that does not mean a sluggard who sits down idly with his mantle over his head. I bid you prepare for God’s seeking by learning humility, by suffering every kind of oppression. Now if anybody seeks anything earnestly, it is not in one little corner only, but in every corner and place till he finds it. And so God seeks thee — let Him find thee everywhere He may look. In all circumstances of thy life. Whatever shame comes on thee, know that that is the place in which God is looking for a gentle and meek soul; therefore suffer thyself to be constantly trodden under foot, until thou hast well learned thy lesson of meekness. God is looking for a poor man; therefore if anyone will take from thee thy money, thy property or thy friends, let him do so, that thou mayst be found poor by God, who is looking for thee in just such a state. Let thy inner life answer true to God’s searching, in purity and in poverty, in all enlightenment and detachment of spirit, after no matter what struggles and combats. In every occurrence of life God seeks thee. What happens to thee from friends or from foes, nay from thy very mother or sister — no matter how it comes or from whom, all whatsoever that comes to thee prepares thee for God’s searching and finding. Dear children, if one had a putrified wound, he would allow himself to be cut very cruelly and would suffer much pain, so that greater pain should not befall him — he would not spare himself until the corruption were cut away, so that he might recover his health. So must you suffer what God inflicts upon you, in order that your soul be healed eternally. When unforseen adversity comes upon you, say: Welcome, dear and trusted friend; welcome even though thy coming is all unexpected. Let us bow humbly down to such visitations. Be sure that God, who would make thee a self-denying man, will try thee in everything.” – John Tauler