American Macho Spirituality

Today's (shortened) entry from Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning (author of Ragamuffin Gospel--obviously):

Although the Scriptures speak insistently of the divine initiative in the work of salvation, that by grace we are saved, that the Tremendous Lover has taken to the chase, American spirituality still seems to start with self, not with God. Personal responsibility replaces personal response. We seem engrossed in our own efforts to grow in holiness........In seasons of penance, we focus on getting rid of our hang-ups and sweating through various spiritual excercises, as if they were a religious muscle-building program........The emphasis is always on what I do rather than on what God is doing in my life........We become convinced that we can do a pretty good job of following Jesus if we just, once and for all, make up our minds and really buckle down to it.