"a meek heart that bears with everyone"
Oxford American Dictionary, kindle edition, defines meek as- quiet, gentle, and easily imposed upon, submissive. If you read further it tells you that its middle English origin is –courteous.
The finca prayer is not asking for a submissive heart. In no way. It is asking for a courteous heart that not only bears with all, but rather recognizes the divine presence in each person they encounter. Then in respect, love and awe of this divine presence treats them in a deep seeded and purely courteous nature. This is what the finca prayer asks for our hearts.
Treating both out neighbors and our enemies with love may appear a basic Christian principle to follow. I assure you, a meek heart that bears with all is a specific intention essential to life at the farm.
When:
• Hormonal teens find refuge in refusing to acknowledge your existence and blaming you for all the wrong in the world
• Your gringa status proves the comical relief and reasoning for many outside your own home to treat you like a joke.
• The men on the streets believe it is their right to belittle you with crude words and comments based on what their machismo ruled society has taught them
All before 9 AM, most days, you learn quickly how important a meek heart truly is.
A meek heart that bears with all is a means of asking God to help us reach new levels of grace in our daily interactions.
We ask God to allow us to never loose perspective and remain ever focused on the divine present in all. We further ask that we may in turn receive this divine presence in a courteous manner no matter whom we encounter and how they treat us.
At the finca we bear with all by necessity everyday. Our prayer is that we may meekly do so not out of necessity but rather out of love. Always remembering Thomas Merton´s wise words, that the desire to please God does indeed please him, we walk forward with the desire to meekly bear with whomever we encounter in the road ahead.
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