Ostrich, Chicken or Eagle?

It's helpful to note that these paragraphs by de Sales are taken from his book, An Introduction to the Devout Life. And we're still in the "introductory" section of ouf book, so this fits well. But his introduction is to "the devout life." De Sales, in 3. Spiritual Agility, he helps us to see that God's grace can make us "pleasing" to him. As we are strengthened, ethically, morally, to "do good," he calls this charity. And when we are enabled to do good "carefully, frequently, and promptly," he calls this, "devotion."
Ostriches never fly; hens fly in a clumsy fashion, near the ground and only once in a while, but eagles...fly aloft, swiftly and frequently.

Francis de Sales

I must say I'm amazed at the perspicuity of de Sales in my reading of 2. Phantoms of Devotion. This 16th century bishop has a real clear picture of how we each "paint devotion according to his own passions and fancies." Some of us consider ourselves "devout" because we don't drink, or recite vast numbers of prayers, or are generous to the poor, or are very forgiving. But in each example, de Sales shows how these virtures can be counterbalanced by e.g., not hesitating "to drink deep of his neighbor's blood by detraction and gossip." Or, forgiving enemies but never paying creditors. It seems like his message is focussed on the transformation of our life, not following various rules, regardless of how "spiritual" they might be. ~smo