Thomas A Kempis 1.22 (Part 1) The misery of the human condition

You are miserable wherever you go, no matter where you turn, unless you turn to God. Why does it bother you that things don't go according to your personal wishes and desires? Can you name one person who has everything the way he wants? Not me, not you, not anybody on this earth. There is nobody in this world who is free from trouble or anguish, not even a king, not even the Pope. Do you know who has things better? It's the one who is strong to suffer something for God.

There are a lot of foolish and weak people who say, “Look what a good life that man has, how rich and how respected, how powerful he is at the top.” But pay attention to the heavenly good, and you will see that all these worldly goods are nothing: they are unreliable; they are burdens; whoever has them has cares and fears. Human happiness is not from having material abundance; a moderate portion is enough. Our life on earth has suffering. The more a man desires to be spiritual, the more bitter the prevailing material life becomes to him, because he has a better sense and sight of human corruption. For to eat, to drink, to watch, to sleep, to rest, to work, and to be subject to the other necessities of nature, is truly an unhappy affliction to a devout man, who would rather be released and free from all sin.

The inner man is heavily burdened with physical necessities in this world. So the prophet devoutly prays to be freed from them, saying, "From my needs, O Lord, deliver me." It is sad that so many do not understand the suffering and shortness of life. And some embrace life in such a way that, even if working or begging they have barely enough to get by, still if they could live here always, they would care nothing for the Kingdom of God.

Oh insane and unfaithful in heart, so deeply involved in the things of the earth, knowing nothing but the things of the flesh. In the end they will feel the weight of how worthless were the things that they loved. The holy ones of God and all devoted friends of Christ did not serve the things which pleased the flesh, or the things which flourished only for a time. All their hope and intent strained after lasting good. Their whole desire was on things that are lasting and unseen, so that they were not dragged down by love of what they see. 

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.22 (first part).

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art