ldquo In everything we look for pleasant ways of serving God rdquo writes sixteenth-century believer Teresa of Avila She poignantly reflects on the many ways we seek to stay in control through easier more ldquo pleasant rdquo methods than total surrender to God We tend to slowly tentatively and even reluctantly grow to trust Him with all of ourselves And so Teresa confesses ldquo even as we measure out our lives to you a bit at a time we must be content to receive your gifts drop by drop until we have surrendered our lives wholly to you rdquo As [... more]