When a man really gives up trying to make something out of himself—a saint, or a converted sinner, …a righteous or unrighteous man… when in the fullness of tasks, questions, success or ill-hap, experiences and perplexities, a man throws himself into the arms of God… then he wakes with Christ in Gethesemane.

This quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from his The Cost of Discipleship, has me in stitches. Not laughter - it's just been running over and over in my mind, fermenting. How often have I pursued God for some reason other than God Himself? I think it's really common, because I've seen it in my life and in others' as well. We pursue God because it's the "right thing to do," we've been raised to do so, maybe because we want His blessings. And I'm sure there are numerous other reasons we may pursue God for reasons other than God Himself. And when we pursue nice, lofty words like "discipleship" and "sainthood" and "righteousness," perhaps we are mistaking the chest for the treasure inside the chest.

Sometimes spiritual life can be a drag, boring and uneventful, but it isn't meant to be. It's exciting and invigorating to be in an interactive, intimate relationship with the Creator; but when we pursue Him for reasons other than He Himself, should we be surprised if we feel we're missing out on something? After all, how does a wife feel when her husband marries her for money or tax exemptions? Wow, the intimacy develops, right?