“Each man and woman who desires to live contemplatively needs to have knowledge of the littleness of creatures and to like as nought all things that are made, for to love and have God who is unmade. For this is the cause why we be not all in ease of heart and soul, for we who are occupied willfully in earthly business and evermore seek worldly wealth are not heirs of His in heart and in soul for to love and seek here rest, in these things that are so little wherein is no rest, and know not our God who is all mighty, all wise, all good. For He is the very rest. God will be known and He likes us to rest in Him, for all that is beneath Him does not suffice us. And this is the cause why no soul is rested, until it is noughted of all things that are made. When he is willfully noughted for love to have Him who is all, then is he able to receive spiritual rest.”
Julian of Norwich (translated by Julia Bolton Holloway) Showing of Love (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003) 9.