IVP Formatio

Knowing the depths of God’s personal love

is the foundation of all genuine self-knowledge.

The self that God persistently loves

I continually confuse it with some ideal self

master of delusion that I am, I have trouble penetrating my web

and knowing this real me.

The roots of our pretend self lie in our childhood discovery that we can secure love by presenting ourselves in the most flattering light.

loss of awareness of what he is really feeling.

touch with our actual experience

There is no greater disaster in the spiritual life than to be immersed in unreality,