In my daily reading this week, my attention kept being drawn back to the subject of "vastations" (something the Teachings for the New Church actually spend considerable time on).  A term employed in broader theological circles than ours alone, I also enjoyed finding the following definition in the Oxford English Dictionary:  "the action or process of emptying or purifying...".  In the case of the Writings, this refers to the need we all have for the Lord to purify our affections.  Where are we starting in our thoughts about our own spiritual potential?  How about others?  How might the Lord view it?  

As I was reflecting on these things, I was delighted to trip across the following meditations on the subject from the brother of our founder (now, too, in the other world), Rev. Don Rose in a 1976 New Church Life Article.  I include it here in the hope that it may inspire similar pause to consider that most important question: "What would the angels think?"

Love and Peace,

Ethan

It is not angelic to seek for the evils with a person unless we at the same time seek for the goods.  (Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven 10381)

It is really our business to aspire to something of the angelic attitude in this world. The teachings for the New Church remind us that no one becomes an angel, that is, comes into heaven, unless they carry with them from the world something of the angelic character. (Swedenborg, Divine Providence 60). 

Now, a notable hallmark of the angelic character is that one speaks well and thinks well of others. The people living in this world who think and speak well of others are “like the angels."

Such people are contrasted with those who see only evil in others. Only evil? Can't they see good when it is there? "If they see anything good they either perceive it as nothing, or put a bad interpretation upon it."   (Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven 1079) We are further taught that “[such] regard everybody as being in falsity, are ready to rebuke, to chastise and to punish; have no pity, and do not apply or adapt themselves to others."  (Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven 1949)

 If our "prudence" goes to the extreme we will think that the angelic way of looking at others is naive and dangerous. And yet in this very effort to avoid danger we may alienate the spirit of charity and open ourselves to the dangers of infernal influence.

In a cynical world we may fall into the illusion that it is wise to be critical of others and to pick out their errors and to be suspicious of good in them. But the one who does not look for good and who does not look from good is not really wise. 

Even when the good of another is not evident, we should look for [it in potential]. Especially when dealing with children we should look upon them as good, or look for the good in them. For they are potentially good, and of such is the kingdom of heaven. It is very interesting that the people represented by Noah were not at first good, and yet they are spoken of as if they were good because of their potential. In the letter it is said, "Noah was a man righteous and perfect in his generations."  (Genesis 6: 9) 

Describing the internal sense here, we are taught:

"The quality of the person of this church is here described in general; not that they were [of this quality yet]. . . . but such as [could come into it].”  (Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven 615).