If we truly want to be close to God in this life and come into the fullness of union with Him in the next, then we must empty ourselves of that which is not Him.

That means we will have to rid ourselves of impatience. We must learn how to be kind and stop being jealous. We can't be boastful or arrogant or rude or irritable or resentful. We cannot constantly demand our own way or rejoice in wrongdoing. We must learn to live in the truth and believe with all of our mind, soul, and body that Christ endures and that we must endure with Him (cf. 1 Cor 13:4-7).

This is hard to do in a world that preaches the earthly Trinity of 'me, myself, and I'. But we must decrease so that Christ can increase in us (cf. John 3:30).

As it is written: "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all" (John 3:31).

Seek the one who is above us all and He will raise us up on high with Him.