Imitation of Christ

So for Lent, I decided to read Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, I've read many good things about it for a while, and my parish would print small sections of it in the bulletin, all of which I would save. Each one of these snippets I found to be very profound, but practical.

The version I found in the library was a 1972 Edition published by Grosset & Dunlap for their "The Family Inspirational Library" series. I'm not sure how faithful this translation is to the original, but from what I've read there doesn't seem to be any encroachment of "inclusive" or "dynamic" language. So, it will do for now. I read the first Chapters I - VII from "The First Book: Admonitions, Useful for a Spiritual Life" during Adoration yesterday, after which I reflected on for the rest of the day. Some things that stood out for me where:

"Vanity therefore it is, to seek after perishing riches, and to trust in them. Vanity also it is to hunt after honours, and to cimb to a high degree. Vanity it is to follow the desires of the flesh, and to long after that for which thou must afterwards suffer grievous punishment. Vanity it is to wish to live long, and to be careless to live well. Vanity it is to mind only the present life, and not to foresee those things which are to come. Vanity it is to set thy love on that which speedily passeth away, and not to hasten tither where everlasting joy abideth." - From Chapter I: Of the Imitation of Christ, and Contempt of all the Vanities of the World.

"O, if men bestowed as much labour in the rooting out vices and planting virtues, as they do in proposing questions, there would neither be so great evils and scandals in the world, nor so much looseness in religious houses.
Truly, when the day of judgement cometh, we shall not be examined what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived." - From Chapter III: Of Doctrines of Truth

"We ought not to believe every saying or suggestion, but ought warily and patiently to ponder the matter with reference to God." - From Chapter IV: Of Forethought in our Actions

It seems clear that the primary theme emerging here is, that the key to true Humility and living a Christian life is to be resigned to God's will and ordering ones life towards that Divine Plan, even if that means denying yourself those deep desires. Appropriate for Lent, don't you think?