What a Medieval Monk Can Teach Us About Our Modern Mood Swings

Feelings are amazing, but they are not always trustworthy. They are fickle and can be ruptured quickly by something as trivial as traffic or hunger. If we lean into our feelings too much, we are inconsistent and mostly unproductive. If we avoid all our feelings, we lose the color of life and fail to see the beauty in the depths of our emotions. Like many things, feelings are redeemed when we balance them, not leaning too loosely or too strongly on them.

There are many quotes that I could reference on this subject, but the one that prompted these thoughts was by 14^th Century Monk Thomas Kempis:

“My son, look that you do not believe your own affection, for it often changes from one to another. As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not-now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry.

But a wise man who is well taught in spiritual labor stands unshaken in all such things, and heeds little what he feels, or from what side the wind of instability blows. All the intention and study of his mind is how he can most profit in virtue to the most fruitful and blessed end. By such a full intention wholly directed to God a man may abide steadfast and unshaken in himself among many adversities, and the more pure and clean his intention is, the more firm will he be in every storm.”

It’s not that feelings don’t matter, it’s that depending on them is faulty. If you’re trying to live a life of virtue, then the constant change of emotions will cause you to fall off track, while a wise man stands unshaken. Our feelings are not fixed truth; God’s Word is fixed truth. It’s a deeply encouraging message: you don't need to “feel spiritual” every day to be faithful. You need to aim at God—and keep aiming, regardless of what mood or moment you’re in.

*Reference: The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis