Don't Turn Back
Brennan Manning
One day Saint Francis and Brother Leo were walking down the road. Noticing that Leo was depressed, Francis turned and asked: "Leo, do you know what it means to be pure of heart?"
"Of course. It means to have no sins, faults or weaknesses to reproach myself for."
"Ah," said Francis, "now I understand why you're sad. We will always have something to reproach ourselves for."
"Right," said Leo. "That's why I despair of ever arriving at purity of heart."
"Leo, listen carefully to me. Don't be so preoccupied with the purity of your heart. Turn and look at Jesus. Admire him. Rejoice that he is what he is--your Brother, your Friend, your Lord and Savior. That, little brother, is what it means to be pure of heart. And once you've turned to Jesus, don't turn back and look at yourself."
from Inwardoutward.org
