"Decisive action beyond our fears gives us a sense of our own power and the power of God within us."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.5)
One of my favorite Advent hymns is "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus." The first verse is especially poignant to me. "Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free, from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee."
I actually think fears and sins are often one and the same. Because of my fears I often have the sin of things left undone. The fear of something not working, or of being rejected often gets in the way of actually trying. It is a fear I need to overcome.
I will say that when I get past that fear, I'm often pleasantly surprised by how things actually turn out. More times than not the worst case scenario I've created was false and probably a trap.
The key for me to getting past the fear is to trust God's presence with me and that I have been given already all I need to accomplish the task in front of me.
It takes a lot to trust that. Fear is ultimately the greatest tool of the enemy within and without.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Reflections for 11/29/10
"Wholeness of God is to be found everywhere, but it is only apparent as every part learns to love every other part. I suspect that those who by grace can recognize the Lord within their own puny souls will be the same who will freely and intelligently affirm the Lord's presence in the body of Jesus and the body of the universe."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.4)
While I'm a confirmed Trinitarian in my belief system, I do see the image of God in most of the world around me. I don't believe that these individual things are God, but that they reveal something of the nature of God, and in my appreciation and love for them the whole image of God begins to come together.
I can also recognize where God is a part of me as well. I can also see very clearly the aspects of my life that mar that image. I am also capable of acknowledging that There is enough of God to go around and that Ed doesn't have the corner on God's presence.
One way that I can respect the dignity of every human being is to acknowledge freely and intelligently the presence of God in others. Whether they recognize that presence or not, is for them to decide.
If more of us would spend time finding what is right in our world and celebrating it and nourishing it, instead of wasting spiritual, emotional and intellectual energy on what we perceive is wrong, the wholeness of God in omnipresence would be seen.
Blessings,
Ed
While I'm a confirmed Trinitarian in my belief system, I do see the image of God in most of the world around me. I don't believe that these individual things are God, but that they reveal something of the nature of God, and in my appreciation and love for them the whole image of God begins to come together.
I can also recognize where God is a part of me as well. I can also see very clearly the aspects of my life that mar that image. I am also capable of acknowledging that There is enough of God to go around and that Ed doesn't have the corner on God's presence.
One way that I can respect the dignity of every human being is to acknowledge freely and intelligently the presence of God in others. Whether they recognize that presence or not, is for them to decide.
If more of us would spend time finding what is right in our world and celebrating it and nourishing it, instead of wasting spiritual, emotional and intellectual energy on what we perceive is wrong, the wholeness of God in omnipresence would be seen.
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Reflections for 11/28/10
"Come,Lord Jesus means that all of Christian history has to live out of a kind of chosen non-fulfillment. Yet we demand that our anxiety be taken away. We say 'Why didn't you do that for me?' We tend to get disappointed because reality does not fulfill our expectations -or more likely somebody doesn't: our spouse, our children, our community. We're refusing to say, Come, Lord Jesus."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 3)
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, the church season of preparation for the return of Christ, or probably in many people's minds the arrival of Christmas. Most of the readings in church this morning pointed towards that return, a return that Christians have been waiting 2 millennium for.
It is hard to be that patient. We wait for a promise pretty much unfulfilled, yet at the heart of the Christian faith. We're told we will not know when, in spite of some who claim they know. I'm amazed at the resilience of faith to keep on keeping on with this. I say that considering how impatient we can be with each other.
When others do not live up to our expectations we get really annoyed. When things don't happen as quickly as we'd like, we get annoyed. When a promise goes unfulfilled we get really down.
Perhaps we need to give the same generosity and patience to others that we perhaps give to God. That of course assumes one is patient with God.
In this incredibly manic time of the year, I'd invite you to find the time to just sit quietly and wait in that stillness to see who comes, who speaks to you.
Blessings,
Ed
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, the church season of preparation for the return of Christ, or probably in many people's minds the arrival of Christmas. Most of the readings in church this morning pointed towards that return, a return that Christians have been waiting 2 millennium for.
It is hard to be that patient. We wait for a promise pretty much unfulfilled, yet at the heart of the Christian faith. We're told we will not know when, in spite of some who claim they know. I'm amazed at the resilience of faith to keep on keeping on with this. I say that considering how impatient we can be with each other.
When others do not live up to our expectations we get really annoyed. When things don't happen as quickly as we'd like, we get annoyed. When a promise goes unfulfilled we get really down.
Perhaps we need to give the same generosity and patience to others that we perhaps give to God. That of course assumes one is patient with God.
In this incredibly manic time of the year, I'd invite you to find the time to just sit quietly and wait in that stillness to see who comes, who speaks to you.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Reflections for 11/27/10
"In this we see the gracious love of Jesus. He could not bear that for the rest of his life Peter would carry the guilt of those three denials. So three times he permits him to say publicly and proudly, 'I love you. You know everything. You know that I love you.' Peter has become a disciple. Now he is led to give everything away and follow the Lord."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 392)
Sometimes when I hit a roadblock or wall in my life I have to take the time to seek what the root cause of it is. Is it something outside of my control? Or is it more likely something that happened sometime in the past? Something that until it is reconciled or healed, I can never truly move forward.
The post resurrection story from the Gospel of John, shows us Peter having to work his way back, not so much into the good graces of Christ, but being able to not be stuck in his own guilt. Since he denied Jesus three times, he needs to say I love you three times, and then get moving again. Without that chance at reconciliation he may have never amounted to anything.
In the church calendar today is the last day of the year. The season of Advent begins. A season of preparation. It is now paralleled by the manic level of the secular Christmas and the beginning of the calender New Year. Perhaps this is a time to take a deeper look at what is really frustrating us. Where is that unhealed hurt that we could start to mend? Perhaps an interesting resolution for the coming year would be to finally deal with that issue, whatever it may be, that is stopping you from living fully.
Blessings,
Ed
Sometimes when I hit a roadblock or wall in my life I have to take the time to seek what the root cause of it is. Is it something outside of my control? Or is it more likely something that happened sometime in the past? Something that until it is reconciled or healed, I can never truly move forward.
The post resurrection story from the Gospel of John, shows us Peter having to work his way back, not so much into the good graces of Christ, but being able to not be stuck in his own guilt. Since he denied Jesus three times, he needs to say I love you three times, and then get moving again. Without that chance at reconciliation he may have never amounted to anything.
In the church calendar today is the last day of the year. The season of Advent begins. A season of preparation. It is now paralleled by the manic level of the secular Christmas and the beginning of the calender New Year. Perhaps this is a time to take a deeper look at what is really frustrating us. Where is that unhealed hurt that we could start to mend? Perhaps an interesting resolution for the coming year would be to finally deal with that issue, whatever it may be, that is stopping you from living fully.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, November 26, 2010
Reflections for 11/26/10
"Prayer is sitting in the silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful, praising God until we ourselves are an act of praise."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 391)
For a noisy extrovert like me sitting in silence can be pure torture. Yet in those times when I've allowed myself to be still and be silent, I am often amazed at how the rest of me gets silenced. I find that my mind can shut off, which is often the first step in hearing what God wants me to hear. There is certainly enough of a cacophony in my surroundings and in my head that to hear anything is nothing short of miraculous.
I do believe that I have become more grateful as I begin to understand how important saying thank you is. To offer my thanks to God for not only the incredible and extraordinary things that happen to me, but also for the simple everyday occurrences that I might just as easily take for granted.
I'd like to believe that I am becoming an act of praise, because I believe in optimism, I try to live as joyfully as possible and to rarely allow negativity to rule my day.
Blessings,
Ed
For a noisy extrovert like me sitting in silence can be pure torture. Yet in those times when I've allowed myself to be still and be silent, I am often amazed at how the rest of me gets silenced. I find that my mind can shut off, which is often the first step in hearing what God wants me to hear. There is certainly enough of a cacophony in my surroundings and in my head that to hear anything is nothing short of miraculous.
I do believe that I have become more grateful as I begin to understand how important saying thank you is. To offer my thanks to God for not only the incredible and extraordinary things that happen to me, but also for the simple everyday occurrences that I might just as easily take for granted.
I'd like to believe that I am becoming an act of praise, because I believe in optimism, I try to live as joyfully as possible and to rarely allow negativity to rule my day.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Reflections for 11/25/10
"If I would have to choose between judging myself and being judged by God, I'll take God. Give me God, who sees the whole picture and who is my father and mother. God's going to say what parents say: 'Don't bother me with the facts,this is my child!' We condemn ourselves with facts, but the facts don't mean very much in terms of relationships."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.390)
I wonder if I would make that same choice? I think I would because of what I believe about God being merciful. I fairly certain that I am a horrible judge of self. I don't know that I would give me a break. I see all to clearly my imperfections. I know all too well the facts of my life. I'm still overweight. I'm not as financially sound as I would like to be. I still wait for things to happen, rather than create my own opportunities. I still have a hard time saying "no" to requests. I'm nowhere near perfect.
What I also have experienced is that all those facts are apparently irrelevant to God and to my friends and family. Those who choose to be in relationship with me. Clearly they see something that is not as obvious to me, and for that I'm eternally thankful.
At our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service there was an opportunity given for everyone to say what they were thankful for. And I find that I'm most thankful for the relationships I have of family, friends and God. The one's that know me better than I sometimes know myself.
Blessings,
Ed
I wonder if I would make that same choice? I think I would because of what I believe about God being merciful. I fairly certain that I am a horrible judge of self. I don't know that I would give me a break. I see all to clearly my imperfections. I know all too well the facts of my life. I'm still overweight. I'm not as financially sound as I would like to be. I still wait for things to happen, rather than create my own opportunities. I still have a hard time saying "no" to requests. I'm nowhere near perfect.
What I also have experienced is that all those facts are apparently irrelevant to God and to my friends and family. Those who choose to be in relationship with me. Clearly they see something that is not as obvious to me, and for that I'm eternally thankful.
At our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service there was an opportunity given for everyone to say what they were thankful for. And I find that I'm most thankful for the relationships I have of family, friends and God. The one's that know me better than I sometimes know myself.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Reflections for 11/24/10
"We've got to teach the next generation the real meaning of generosity. Give yourself to your children, as opposed to just giving them things. You can't be with them all the time, but when you do have time, let them see you enjoy being with them. Let them see you value them simply for their own sakes."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.389-90)
You probably would have to ask my children if they feel I've been present in their lives. If what I've been able to give them has made them feel loved and valued. I haven't been able to give them much materially. They tend to be behind the times electronically, but they do have some things.
While financially I may not have been able to give them as much as some of their peers had, I do think I gave them a good amount of time spent together. I hope they will remember the vacations we took together as a family, seeing the parts of our country. I hope they will remember me coaching them in baseball, wrestling and soccer. I hope they will remember going to Phillies' games and Heavy Metal Concerts.
There are two things in this world that we have: time and money. We are called to be generous with both. I hope I've modeled for my sons, how to give of time to family, church and community and to keep a proper balance.
Hopefully when they leave the nest, the world will be a better place for having people like Mike and Pete engaging their world.
Blessings,
Ed
You probably would have to ask my children if they feel I've been present in their lives. If what I've been able to give them has made them feel loved and valued. I haven't been able to give them much materially. They tend to be behind the times electronically, but they do have some things.
While financially I may not have been able to give them as much as some of their peers had, I do think I gave them a good amount of time spent together. I hope they will remember the vacations we took together as a family, seeing the parts of our country. I hope they will remember me coaching them in baseball, wrestling and soccer. I hope they will remember going to Phillies' games and Heavy Metal Concerts.
There are two things in this world that we have: time and money. We are called to be generous with both. I hope I've modeled for my sons, how to give of time to family, church and community and to keep a proper balance.
Hopefully when they leave the nest, the world will be a better place for having people like Mike and Pete engaging their world.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Reflections for 11/23/10
"Many people are incapable of true repentance because they are trying too hard. They get into breast beating ad putting themselves down. It will never work, but only deaden and paralyze. That's never God's work. God enters into our sin and redeems it. God loves us first before we can do anything. And from that experience of unearned love, unprepared-for-love, comes within us the power to begin again. We end up looking good and getting the credit, but we know better inside."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 389)
I'm not the type of person that dwells too much on my sinfulness. That's not to say that I'm sinless, that would be a lie, which of course would then be a sin. What I mean is that I don't try to make a public spectacle of myself as I own up to my faults. Accept the forgiveness given to me and then attempt to build upon that foundation a new and improved Ed.
In some ways repentance, turning one's life around, is like any project, there will be false starts, we will hit plateaus, we will get stuck and feel like throwing in the towel. We might even start the breast beating, self imposed guilt trips, hoping that someone will notice and rescue us.
I take seriously Jesus statement at making a public display of one's piety (Matthew 6)Whether that's showing off with long winded prayers, or letting everyone know how sorry you feel. When I've gone looking for applause, I'm in trouble.
When we see other people who seemingly pulled themselves up, or turned their life around, we want to hear what self-help book they've read. Lord knows I've read enough of those too, but the only thing I can say that has ever truly worked, was relying on God's help that comes through that unearned love.
Blessings,
Ed
I'm not the type of person that dwells too much on my sinfulness. That's not to say that I'm sinless, that would be a lie, which of course would then be a sin. What I mean is that I don't try to make a public spectacle of myself as I own up to my faults. Accept the forgiveness given to me and then attempt to build upon that foundation a new and improved Ed.
In some ways repentance, turning one's life around, is like any project, there will be false starts, we will hit plateaus, we will get stuck and feel like throwing in the towel. We might even start the breast beating, self imposed guilt trips, hoping that someone will notice and rescue us.
I take seriously Jesus statement at making a public display of one's piety (Matthew 6)Whether that's showing off with long winded prayers, or letting everyone know how sorry you feel. When I've gone looking for applause, I'm in trouble.
When we see other people who seemingly pulled themselves up, or turned their life around, we want to hear what self-help book they've read. Lord knows I've read enough of those too, but the only thing I can say that has ever truly worked, was relying on God's help that comes through that unearned love.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, November 22, 2010
Reflections for 11/22/10
"Grace, that experience of unconditional love, breaks through the whole system and can change anything."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.388)
Most people are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace." It is a hymn which can stir deep emotions, has connections to our past and present, and at least the first verse can be sung by people who've never been in a church.
I certainly have had moments of grace in my life. Times where I deserved to fail and somehow didn't. Times where things seemed to be crumbling around me, yet stabilized. Times when I felt very alone, and then saw how surrounded by loving people I really was. I have experienced times when a situation seemed hopeless and for no explainable reason, something turned the event around.
Fr. Rohr writes of radical grace, which I would understand as truly overcoming insurmountable odds. And while I haven't had too many instances of insurmountable odds, I do believe that grace is a pretty radical concept. Some might call it dumb luck. The difference for me is that grace invites me not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Luck rarely brings a change in attitude towards life and others.
Blessings,
Ed
Most people are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace." It is a hymn which can stir deep emotions, has connections to our past and present, and at least the first verse can be sung by people who've never been in a church.
I certainly have had moments of grace in my life. Times where I deserved to fail and somehow didn't. Times where things seemed to be crumbling around me, yet stabilized. Times when I felt very alone, and then saw how surrounded by loving people I really was. I have experienced times when a situation seemed hopeless and for no explainable reason, something turned the event around.
Fr. Rohr writes of radical grace, which I would understand as truly overcoming insurmountable odds. And while I haven't had too many instances of insurmountable odds, I do believe that grace is a pretty radical concept. Some might call it dumb luck. The difference for me is that grace invites me not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Luck rarely brings a change in attitude towards life and others.
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Reflections for 11/21/10
"Because we no longer worship such a Christ, we are condemned to worship smaller stories. We try to replace him with colorized myths of pilgrims, George Washington and General Norman Schwarzkopf, but none of them are big enough or real enough to give universal order and meaning. We look to the private psyche, but it is just not big enough or connected enough to encompass human spiritual longing."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 388)
Today in church we observed Christ the King Sunday. There's of course the biblical witness to that Kingship, but the church observance has a different twist. It came into observance in 1921 as a decree from the Pope at the time. It was meant to be the counter to the Protestant Church's observance of Reformation Sunday, and was held on October 30th. For some reason, Episcopalians like me moved to the end of the Liturgical Year. Probably because we are little bit Catholic and a little bit Protestant, and weren't really interested in the tiff.
Fr. Rohr's reflection for this particular day was on how we've shrunk our mental images of Jesus and have lost sight of the true magnitude of the person. And with that larger than life Christ we've attempted to replace him with a different sort of hero. The problem being that while all those that he mentioned are inspirational in their own way, they cannot fill that spiritual hunger. That need for something greater than ourselves.
There are certainly people throughout history and even in my present life who are inspiring to me, but I won't worship them. They do not cause me to take a look at myself and step out of my comfort zone.
For me it is as a believer in God as revealed in Jesus Christ that I move beyond myself. The eyes of my faith allow me to appreciate the way others live fully into their callings, but I know who is doing the calling.
Blessings,
Ed
Today in church we observed Christ the King Sunday. There's of course the biblical witness to that Kingship, but the church observance has a different twist. It came into observance in 1921 as a decree from the Pope at the time. It was meant to be the counter to the Protestant Church's observance of Reformation Sunday, and was held on October 30th. For some reason, Episcopalians like me moved to the end of the Liturgical Year. Probably because we are little bit Catholic and a little bit Protestant, and weren't really interested in the tiff.
Fr. Rohr's reflection for this particular day was on how we've shrunk our mental images of Jesus and have lost sight of the true magnitude of the person. And with that larger than life Christ we've attempted to replace him with a different sort of hero. The problem being that while all those that he mentioned are inspirational in their own way, they cannot fill that spiritual hunger. That need for something greater than ourselves.
There are certainly people throughout history and even in my present life who are inspiring to me, but I won't worship them. They do not cause me to take a look at myself and step out of my comfort zone.
For me it is as a believer in God as revealed in Jesus Christ that I move beyond myself. The eyes of my faith allow me to appreciate the way others live fully into their callings, but I know who is doing the calling.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Reflections for 11/20/10
"Real faith is too real to ignore. If a person is teaching religion without offering some faith to catch, then teaching religion is largely a waste of time. It becomes an immunization against the real thing."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.373)
Think about the teacher's that have impressed you the most. What was it about them that left a positive impression? Was it there wealth of knowledge? Or was it something else.
For me the teachers that I have gotten the most from are the ones who seemed most passionate about their area of expertise. They didn't seem like they were just regurgitating the facts that they had learned. But more that the subject matter was the essence of what made their hearts and minds race.
This has been true for every academic area I've ever studied, and I've studied most of them. I have never doubted that my teachers have known their material, but some have been much better at conveying their own love and excitement for the material. It was practically contagious.
I know that I've studied theology, bible and religion fairly in depth. I know my stuff. More important to me is my love for the topic. When I have the opportunity to share my faith, under girded with knowledge, I'm at my best, and enjoying myself fully.
What about you, what do you teach well, because you care so deeply about it and it brings you real joy in sharing it?
If you haven't had a chance to reconnect with those areas, I hope you'll find your passion again.
Blessings,
Ed
Think about the teacher's that have impressed you the most. What was it about them that left a positive impression? Was it there wealth of knowledge? Or was it something else.
For me the teachers that I have gotten the most from are the ones who seemed most passionate about their area of expertise. They didn't seem like they were just regurgitating the facts that they had learned. But more that the subject matter was the essence of what made their hearts and minds race.
This has been true for every academic area I've ever studied, and I've studied most of them. I have never doubted that my teachers have known their material, but some have been much better at conveying their own love and excitement for the material. It was practically contagious.
I know that I've studied theology, bible and religion fairly in depth. I know my stuff. More important to me is my love for the topic. When I have the opportunity to share my faith, under girded with knowledge, I'm at my best, and enjoying myself fully.
What about you, what do you teach well, because you care so deeply about it and it brings you real joy in sharing it?
If you haven't had a chance to reconnect with those areas, I hope you'll find your passion again.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reflections for 11/19/10
"We have to learn to live both in the world-as-it-is and the world-as-it-should-be. One is power; the other is loved. Power and love are conjugal partners. Power without love is brutality, but love without power is soon mere sentimentality. We have to put the two together in this world."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.372)
One of the criticisms of clergy is that we appear to care only about an ideal, rather than the realities of everyday life. I would have to admit that I do spend a lot of time thinking about possibilities. I believe I do this to counter balance the day to day realities that I have to deal with.
That Power is the reality and love the as it should be is probably true. We know that in our world, at least the underlying thought is that might makes right. If I'm stronger, faster, or just have more money than you, I win. It is also true that to just sing love me do all the time, is somewhat passive.
As I see it. Power and love working together get a lot done. When I love someone or something, I will do all in my power to help them. But the motivating factor is love. If all I care about is proving my superiority, than I've kicked love out the door. If all I do is talk about how much I love something, with little to no passion or purpose, I've become a hallmark moment.
It is also true that love may temper our need for power and our abuse of it. When feeling called to do something, it may be wise to ask how is this loving? And if you determine that it is out of love that you're ready to act, do so in a powerful way.
Blessings,
Ed
One of the criticisms of clergy is that we appear to care only about an ideal, rather than the realities of everyday life. I would have to admit that I do spend a lot of time thinking about possibilities. I believe I do this to counter balance the day to day realities that I have to deal with.
That Power is the reality and love the as it should be is probably true. We know that in our world, at least the underlying thought is that might makes right. If I'm stronger, faster, or just have more money than you, I win. It is also true that to just sing love me do all the time, is somewhat passive.
As I see it. Power and love working together get a lot done. When I love someone or something, I will do all in my power to help them. But the motivating factor is love. If all I care about is proving my superiority, than I've kicked love out the door. If all I do is talk about how much I love something, with little to no passion or purpose, I've become a hallmark moment.
It is also true that love may temper our need for power and our abuse of it. When feeling called to do something, it may be wise to ask how is this loving? And if you determine that it is out of love that you're ready to act, do so in a powerful way.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Reflections for 11/18/10
"We don't like Jesus' new world order, especially if we think we are on top."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.372)
I do find myself laughing from time to time, when I hear people that look a lot like me complaining about their oppression. It's actually kind of sad in some ways, that the self image of most straight white males is that we're some dying breed. That we are being emasculated at every turn. That everybody else gets the breaks, the special treatment.
While I don't always have the greatest self-image, I know that the only person keeping me down is me. It isn't the color of my skin, my gender, my sexuality or my tax bracket.
The reality is that I probably still get a fairly smooth ride through life, and some of that smooth trip is not earned.
Those passages from scripture that point towards caring for the poor, the powerless are to be treated with the same honor and dignity as I, can be threatening I suppose.
If scripture is correct, and I believe it is, that in Christ there is neither male, nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, then I have nothing to worry about, those labels do not define me, nor do they entrap me.
Blessings,
Ed
I do find myself laughing from time to time, when I hear people that look a lot like me complaining about their oppression. It's actually kind of sad in some ways, that the self image of most straight white males is that we're some dying breed. That we are being emasculated at every turn. That everybody else gets the breaks, the special treatment.
While I don't always have the greatest self-image, I know that the only person keeping me down is me. It isn't the color of my skin, my gender, my sexuality or my tax bracket.
The reality is that I probably still get a fairly smooth ride through life, and some of that smooth trip is not earned.
Those passages from scripture that point towards caring for the poor, the powerless are to be treated with the same honor and dignity as I, can be threatening I suppose.
If scripture is correct, and I believe it is, that in Christ there is neither male, nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, then I have nothing to worry about, those labels do not define me, nor do they entrap me.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Reflections for 11/17/10
"Shame an honor are, in fact, moral values in the culture Jesus lived in. In other words, retaliation was the rule of Jewish culture. Not to retaliate would be immoral because you would not be maintaining your honor. You must be true to the honor of your village, your family, yourself to be a good first-century Jew."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.371)
While not disagreeing with Fr. Rohr's assessment of first century Palestine, I do not believe much has changed.
As a kid, I can remember that someone saying something about my mother, would be "fighting words." I wonder if honor somehow gets confused with personal pride? There are honorable actions that we can take, one's that reflect well on the positive aspects of being a human being. Honor for me should be something that I might receive not something I need to protect.
The Boy Scout Oath, begins with the phrase "on my honor, I will do my best." Honor again not being something to protect, but something that supports my need to do my best.
Jesus' teaching about turning the other cheek is a radical departure from the retaliation in protecting honor. And it is still a hard message to hear in our day.
We live in a society that often reflects the "eye for eye" mentality.
Much of our need for "honor" has more to do with our own self assessment rather than the reality of who we are.
As a person of faith, I believe firmly in being part of the creation that God said is "good." It is an honor to be trusted enough as a steward of creation and to be seen as a beloved child that way. It is a shame when I don't live fully into that original blessing.
Blessings,
Ed
While not disagreeing with Fr. Rohr's assessment of first century Palestine, I do not believe much has changed.
As a kid, I can remember that someone saying something about my mother, would be "fighting words." I wonder if honor somehow gets confused with personal pride? There are honorable actions that we can take, one's that reflect well on the positive aspects of being a human being. Honor for me should be something that I might receive not something I need to protect.
The Boy Scout Oath, begins with the phrase "on my honor, I will do my best." Honor again not being something to protect, but something that supports my need to do my best.
Jesus' teaching about turning the other cheek is a radical departure from the retaliation in protecting honor. And it is still a hard message to hear in our day.
We live in a society that often reflects the "eye for eye" mentality.
Much of our need for "honor" has more to do with our own self assessment rather than the reality of who we are.
As a person of faith, I believe firmly in being part of the creation that God said is "good." It is an honor to be trusted enough as a steward of creation and to be seen as a beloved child that way. It is a shame when I don't live fully into that original blessing.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Reflections for 11/16/10
"And a woman-at least a woman who has had a child-understands something I will never understand: the connection between pain and life."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.370)
I, like Fr. Rohr, do not have a clue about the pain of child birth. I may have been a little closer to the pain, because unlike Fr. Rohr I'm a daddy. I was at the birth of both of my sons, a truly awe inspiring moment.
My eldest took forever to arrive, eventually coming via C-Section, but for 18 hours I did sit with my beloved as she tried to give birth. Holding her hand, getting her water, being as present as I could for this part of bringing life into the world, as I was when it was created.
Bringing life into the world is hard. Hard physically for the woman, hard emotionally for both male and female. So much uncertainty while it is all happening. So much feeling of powerlessness. And yet when it was over, that little creature, was actually there. A child hoped for and soon to be loved.
And of course neither his mother nor I knew what was to happen for the next 16 years. I assure you there were painful moments that are just a part of life as a parent. Probably be more before I die.
I wonder if there truly can be a life fully lived that is pain free. Somehow I sincerely doubt it.
Blessings,
Ed
I, like Fr. Rohr, do not have a clue about the pain of child birth. I may have been a little closer to the pain, because unlike Fr. Rohr I'm a daddy. I was at the birth of both of my sons, a truly awe inspiring moment.
My eldest took forever to arrive, eventually coming via C-Section, but for 18 hours I did sit with my beloved as she tried to give birth. Holding her hand, getting her water, being as present as I could for this part of bringing life into the world, as I was when it was created.
Bringing life into the world is hard. Hard physically for the woman, hard emotionally for both male and female. So much uncertainty while it is all happening. So much feeling of powerlessness. And yet when it was over, that little creature, was actually there. A child hoped for and soon to be loved.
And of course neither his mother nor I knew what was to happen for the next 16 years. I assure you there were painful moments that are just a part of life as a parent. Probably be more before I die.
I wonder if there truly can be a life fully lived that is pain free. Somehow I sincerely doubt it.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, November 15, 2010
Reflections for 11/15/10
"If you've had a moment in your life when you finally get the point, when a world is let go of, they you understands this text. We cannot welcome the new world order until we let go of the old. The illusion is that we can have both."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.370)
I've probably had more than one "a-ha" moment in my life. Those times when everything seems quite clear, doors are opened, paths illumined etc. I've also found that those moments of clarity do not always last, or disappear before I have a chance to truly act upon them.
The text that Fr. Rohr speaks of is Jesus' prediction that the temple will be destroyed. Those who heard the story in the later part of the 1st century, knew that this in fact had happened. The ah-ha being that the world to which they were accustomed had been violently overthrown, not by Jesus, but by the Romans.
When huge paradigm shifts occur that old adage of hindsight being 20/20 kicks in. I'm able to see all that led up to the shift clearer after the fact, than while it was occurring.
Most of the time I find it hard to let go of cherished things of the past, that are no longer working for me. I suppose like many I want to have every choice to be getting it both ways. This is rarely possible, and probably not healthy. What I need is a greater clarity as to how the shift helps me, and to grasp it in a way that doesn't leave me feeling poorer.
Blessings,
Ed
I've probably had more than one "a-ha" moment in my life. Those times when everything seems quite clear, doors are opened, paths illumined etc. I've also found that those moments of clarity do not always last, or disappear before I have a chance to truly act upon them.
The text that Fr. Rohr speaks of is Jesus' prediction that the temple will be destroyed. Those who heard the story in the later part of the 1st century, knew that this in fact had happened. The ah-ha being that the world to which they were accustomed had been violently overthrown, not by Jesus, but by the Romans.
When huge paradigm shifts occur that old adage of hindsight being 20/20 kicks in. I'm able to see all that led up to the shift clearer after the fact, than while it was occurring.
Most of the time I find it hard to let go of cherished things of the past, that are no longer working for me. I suppose like many I want to have every choice to be getting it both ways. This is rarely possible, and probably not healthy. What I need is a greater clarity as to how the shift helps me, and to grasp it in a way that doesn't leave me feeling poorer.
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Reflections for 11/14/10
"But Jesus' new world order is, first of all, utterly subverting the old world order. He doesn't even bother to fight it, and this is what makes the people so furious. He just ignores it. That is utterly subversive."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.368)
Most modern folk do not consider the Christian faith as being subversive. It is not an unfair critique, since we have been in lock step with the powers and principalities of our day for quite some time.
While I'm no advocate for the complete overthrow of anything, government, church or society, I think there is something to be said for being a change agent within the structure.
I recall being told by a long time parishioner that "something had changed, but they weren't sure what." I took that to mean that they could tell that the church was different, but it had not become a please notice this moment, so that you can react before seeing what might become. I like to change structures one brick at a time, so that change can happen without causing too much push back. Makes me a little bit wimpy perhaps, but I get things done.
And even while I have said that I don't call for the overthrow of much, I do find that I will just ignore authority, not in an obnoxious way, I just don't feel called to draw attention to myself.
The vision for what could be as presented by Jesus, was subversive, and perhaps if we took a deeper look we might find that it still could be.
Blessings,
Ed
Most modern folk do not consider the Christian faith as being subversive. It is not an unfair critique, since we have been in lock step with the powers and principalities of our day for quite some time.
While I'm no advocate for the complete overthrow of anything, government, church or society, I think there is something to be said for being a change agent within the structure.
I recall being told by a long time parishioner that "something had changed, but they weren't sure what." I took that to mean that they could tell that the church was different, but it had not become a please notice this moment, so that you can react before seeing what might become. I like to change structures one brick at a time, so that change can happen without causing too much push back. Makes me a little bit wimpy perhaps, but I get things done.
And even while I have said that I don't call for the overthrow of much, I do find that I will just ignore authority, not in an obnoxious way, I just don't feel called to draw attention to myself.
The vision for what could be as presented by Jesus, was subversive, and perhaps if we took a deeper look we might find that it still could be.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Reflections for 11/13/10
"Love is a practical decision to act on what is-and for what is."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 368)
Love is certainly a word that gets used a lot. It is often spontaneously blurted out. It sometimes takes a while to develop. It is certainly something that when absent from our lives, leaves a fairly nasty mark.
Certainly when I love someone or something, there is very little that I won't do for them. Even though Meatloaf sang that he "would do anything for love, but he wouldn't do that," I have yet to figure what "that" is when it comes to people I love.
I try not to delay when acting on something that will affect those that I love. Those people, places and things are what are in my present. They are what call for me to do something for them, out of love.
I certainly have experienced that love is a choice. Just as much as hate is a choice. I know which choice usually works out better for me.
Blessings,
Ed
Love is certainly a word that gets used a lot. It is often spontaneously blurted out. It sometimes takes a while to develop. It is certainly something that when absent from our lives, leaves a fairly nasty mark.
Certainly when I love someone or something, there is very little that I won't do for them. Even though Meatloaf sang that he "would do anything for love, but he wouldn't do that," I have yet to figure what "that" is when it comes to people I love.
I try not to delay when acting on something that will affect those that I love. Those people, places and things are what are in my present. They are what call for me to do something for them, out of love.
I certainly have experienced that love is a choice. Just as much as hate is a choice. I know which choice usually works out better for me.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, November 12, 2010
Reflections for 11/12/10
"There's no pain on this earth like the pain of rejection."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.367)
Most people have heard the phrase "no pain, no gain." This of course is usually said in gymnasiums and in other athletic endeavors. And that is true. I know that when I come back from the gym and when I recall my more athletic days, my body would hurt until it got used to being used.
There is of course also the pain that one can get when we have been hurt physically do to an accident or an illness. The hope with that is that time and proper medical care will take care of that pain.
I've been told by mothers that giving birth to a child is incredibly painful, but of course in the end hopefully quite joyful.
But the pain of rejection is a different sort. It is of course an emotional pain, a memory that can last quite a lifetime. Maybe there are lessons to be learned from it, but that does not take away the hurt.
Every break up with a "girlfriend" at some time in my life has hurt. Being told "it is not about you" didn't help. I lucked out with college applications and didn't get those thin letters of rejection. I started getting those when I entered the job market. And I still get them today. The dejection of the thin letter is never easy to overcome. I just keep doing what I need to do in my current place.
I'm certainly glad that my life has not just been about rejections. I have a person in my life who didn't reject me. I have a job where I am still valued.
I would prefer to never be rejected again. However the only way to avoid that is to never risk. And that would make for a very dull life.
Blessings,
Ed
Most people have heard the phrase "no pain, no gain." This of course is usually said in gymnasiums and in other athletic endeavors. And that is true. I know that when I come back from the gym and when I recall my more athletic days, my body would hurt until it got used to being used.
There is of course also the pain that one can get when we have been hurt physically do to an accident or an illness. The hope with that is that time and proper medical care will take care of that pain.
I've been told by mothers that giving birth to a child is incredibly painful, but of course in the end hopefully quite joyful.
But the pain of rejection is a different sort. It is of course an emotional pain, a memory that can last quite a lifetime. Maybe there are lessons to be learned from it, but that does not take away the hurt.
Every break up with a "girlfriend" at some time in my life has hurt. Being told "it is not about you" didn't help. I lucked out with college applications and didn't get those thin letters of rejection. I started getting those when I entered the job market. And I still get them today. The dejection of the thin letter is never easy to overcome. I just keep doing what I need to do in my current place.
I'm certainly glad that my life has not just been about rejections. I have a person in my life who didn't reject me. I have a job where I am still valued.
I would prefer to never be rejected again. However the only way to avoid that is to never risk. And that would make for a very dull life.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Reflections for 11/11/10
"We share as Christians in the eternal fate of God: not to succeed, to be poor and often to look foolish and defenseless. Once you say, 'I love you,' you stand foolish and exposed until the other says, 'I love you, too.' such is the fate of God."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 366-67)
I don't wish to relive unpleasant memories, but most of us have probably at some point in our lives, risked the words "I love you," to someone we're dating and have them not return the sentiment. That first rejection can often haunt us for a long time.
No matter how many times it happens to us, and hopefully it isn't often, it still stings. Yet somehow we are called to risk those words all the time.
Even in my 20 plus years of marriage, it is still important to say those words aloud to my wife. Even if I believe she knows it to be true, even if my actions should indicate it, they are words that are important to be said and heard.
In all of our most important relationships, family, friends and for some of us God, it is important to say those words. It is even more incredible to hear them said to us as well.
Blessings,
Ed
I don't wish to relive unpleasant memories, but most of us have probably at some point in our lives, risked the words "I love you," to someone we're dating and have them not return the sentiment. That first rejection can often haunt us for a long time.
No matter how many times it happens to us, and hopefully it isn't often, it still stings. Yet somehow we are called to risk those words all the time.
Even in my 20 plus years of marriage, it is still important to say those words aloud to my wife. Even if I believe she knows it to be true, even if my actions should indicate it, they are words that are important to be said and heard.
In all of our most important relationships, family, friends and for some of us God, it is important to say those words. It is even more incredible to hear them said to us as well.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Reflections for 11/10/10
"How, then, do you become pure? By letting someone see and love the truth in you, by letting them see all of you. It's those who know you only partially who don't like you. I've never known anyone who really shared all of their story with me whom I could not love. When you know only the partial truth, you can see them as despicable. When you know the whole picture, people are always lovable, somehow, and purity is regained. One sees with thep pure eyes of god, where all is tranparent, understood and forgive."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.366)
One of my favorite movies is "Shrek." In that movie my favorite scene is when he and donkey are walking and this conversation occurs. "Shrek: For your information, there's a lot more to ogres than people think.
Donkey: Example?
Shrek: Example... uh... ogres are like onions!
[holds up an onion, which Donkey sniffs]
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes... No!
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry?
Shrek: No!
Donkey: Oh, you leave 'em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs...
Shrek: [peels an onion] NO! Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[walks off]
Donkey: Oh, you both have LAYERS. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions. What about cake? Everybody loves cake!
Shrek: I don't care what everyone else likes! Ogres are not like cakes.
Donkey: You know what ELSE everybody likes? Parfaits! Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's get some parfait," they say, "Hell no, I don't like no parfait"? Parfaits are delicious!
Shrek: NO! You dense, irritating, miniature beast of burden! Ogres are like onions! End of story! Bye-bye! See ya later.
Donkey: Parfait's gotta be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet!"
Most of us are like onions or parfaits if you prefer. When people can get past me being a priest, or at least their stereotype of what that may be, there's a lot more to me personally than that. I'll admit it is an important part, but it is not the end of the description. I also like sports, loud music and camping. I can laugh at most jokes and I have problems like any normal human being.
I don't personally enjoy being dismissed because of what I do to earn a living. I try very hard to get to know a person for more than just my first impression. And certainly not through the eyes of any preconceived notions of what "that type of person" might be.
It is not easy. Much quicker to conclude that I know all I need to know about you based on some aspect of you. But not nearly as rewarding.
Blessings,
Ed
One of my favorite movies is "Shrek." In that movie my favorite scene is when he and donkey are walking and this conversation occurs. "Shrek: For your information, there's a lot more to ogres than people think.
Donkey: Example?
Shrek: Example... uh... ogres are like onions!
[holds up an onion, which Donkey sniffs]
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes... No!
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry?
Shrek: No!
Donkey: Oh, you leave 'em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs...
Shrek: [peels an onion] NO! Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[walks off]
Donkey: Oh, you both have LAYERS. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions. What about cake? Everybody loves cake!
Shrek: I don't care what everyone else likes! Ogres are not like cakes.
Donkey: You know what ELSE everybody likes? Parfaits! Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's get some parfait," they say, "Hell no, I don't like no parfait"? Parfaits are delicious!
Shrek: NO! You dense, irritating, miniature beast of burden! Ogres are like onions! End of story! Bye-bye! See ya later.
Donkey: Parfait's gotta be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet!"
Most of us are like onions or parfaits if you prefer. When people can get past me being a priest, or at least their stereotype of what that may be, there's a lot more to me personally than that. I'll admit it is an important part, but it is not the end of the description. I also like sports, loud music and camping. I can laugh at most jokes and I have problems like any normal human being.
I don't personally enjoy being dismissed because of what I do to earn a living. I try very hard to get to know a person for more than just my first impression. And certainly not through the eyes of any preconceived notions of what "that type of person" might be.
It is not easy. Much quicker to conclude that I know all I need to know about you based on some aspect of you. But not nearly as rewarding.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Reflections for 11/9/10
"Our sexual drive is no morality test from God. It is God teaching us we're not whole within ourselves, that we must be in relationship. And God pulls us out of ourselves by every means possible. Without sexuality we would live private, antiseptic lives-and the world would be cold."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.365)
I'll have to admit I like sex. I'll also happen to admit that I only like sex in the context of my relationship with my wife. We of course live in a world that is saturated with sexual images, explicit and subtle. It is very hard to make good decisions around sex, when it is everywhere.
We know that life would cease if it weren't for sex, procreation is often the intended by product of it. Sometimes of course it is an unintended by product, and in our world today you can almost avoid it.
What has yet to be fully developed is a healthy theology of sex. I've had a few classes in seminary on the topic, but it really is a not an easy topic to discuss. The world seems to believe that the only message faith communities have is that sex is a part of our "fallen nature" and to be avoided at all costs. This is an insane stance on a lot of different levels and frankly has never worked.
What would happen if we started our theological discussion with the premise that sex is a gift from God. Instead of an indication of our sin. We might then be able to start creating healthier boundaries and attitudes towards this gift. It would no longer be something to be ashamed of, but at the same time not something to be exploited or abused.
Sex may be the ultimate way of expressing one's love for another person. We might want to be clearer about knowing when we've really found that person.
Blessings,
Ed
I'll have to admit I like sex. I'll also happen to admit that I only like sex in the context of my relationship with my wife. We of course live in a world that is saturated with sexual images, explicit and subtle. It is very hard to make good decisions around sex, when it is everywhere.
We know that life would cease if it weren't for sex, procreation is often the intended by product of it. Sometimes of course it is an unintended by product, and in our world today you can almost avoid it.
What has yet to be fully developed is a healthy theology of sex. I've had a few classes in seminary on the topic, but it really is a not an easy topic to discuss. The world seems to believe that the only message faith communities have is that sex is a part of our "fallen nature" and to be avoided at all costs. This is an insane stance on a lot of different levels and frankly has never worked.
What would happen if we started our theological discussion with the premise that sex is a gift from God. Instead of an indication of our sin. We might then be able to start creating healthier boundaries and attitudes towards this gift. It would no longer be something to be ashamed of, but at the same time not something to be exploited or abused.
Sex may be the ultimate way of expressing one's love for another person. We might want to be clearer about knowing when we've really found that person.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, November 8, 2010
Reflections for 11/8/10
"One of the big myths in our culture is that marriage is the answer to one's problems. Instead, I'm told, marriage reveals one's problems. The people who enjoy marriage are those who first have learned to live life itself. You can't create intimacy without identity."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.364)
Part of the job description of being clergy is pre-marital counseling. I certainly have done plenty of these sessions. I even have what is called a pre-marriage inventory, which is basically a multiple choice questionnaire which forms the basis for our conversations the rest of the time. One of the questions is actually, a yes or no and asks, "I am solving some problems by getting married." Even if the answer is yes, that doesn't mean you shouldn't get married, but it means you might want to address the how and the why.
I have also met couples for whom I'm not as certain that they know who they are as individuals and I get a little anxious about their future. That's a lot of work to do, self-discovery, while simultaneously figuring out what it means to be a couple.
The "Unity Candle" which is sometimes used in Episcopal Wedding services, and certainly in Roman Catholic ones, has some interesting theological statements being made. I tell couples who want to have them, that it is okay, but please don't blow the two candles out after lighting the "unity" one. If you blow the two out you are saying, symbolically, I know longer exist.
While all of this is true in marriage, I believe it is true when we enter into any relationship, work, church, college, friendships. How with all my strengths and weaknesses will I fit in here. Is this a relationship where I can flourish, or will I flounder because I don't know me.
When we have a healthy sense of self, we know where we belong and with whom we belong,
Blessings,
Ed
Part of the job description of being clergy is pre-marital counseling. I certainly have done plenty of these sessions. I even have what is called a pre-marriage inventory, which is basically a multiple choice questionnaire which forms the basis for our conversations the rest of the time. One of the questions is actually, a yes or no and asks, "I am solving some problems by getting married." Even if the answer is yes, that doesn't mean you shouldn't get married, but it means you might want to address the how and the why.
I have also met couples for whom I'm not as certain that they know who they are as individuals and I get a little anxious about their future. That's a lot of work to do, self-discovery, while simultaneously figuring out what it means to be a couple.
The "Unity Candle" which is sometimes used in Episcopal Wedding services, and certainly in Roman Catholic ones, has some interesting theological statements being made. I tell couples who want to have them, that it is okay, but please don't blow the two candles out after lighting the "unity" one. If you blow the two out you are saying, symbolically, I know longer exist.
While all of this is true in marriage, I believe it is true when we enter into any relationship, work, church, college, friendships. How with all my strengths and weaknesses will I fit in here. Is this a relationship where I can flourish, or will I flounder because I don't know me.
When we have a healthy sense of self, we know where we belong and with whom we belong,
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Reflections for 11/7/10
" The natural family and the spiritual family seem to need one another for correct image, focus and direction. The natural family without the spiritual family becomes isolated, insulated, inbred and without vision. The spiritual family (the Church) without the natural family has become cold, ideological, impersonal, task oriented and unable to carry out its purposes."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 363)
Today, we had two baptisms at church. I love baptisms. Families gather for a happy occasion. The gift of a child being celebrated in the context of community. Both babies that were baptized this morning have been regular attendees before today. There was no "getting the kid done." In many ways they were surrounded by 100 other grandparents, uncles, aunts, and siblings.
I've been blessed to have both good natural families and good spiritual ones. Not perfect mind you, but still strong enough to bring about real growth.
It is easy to get trapped into everything being about the kids, or even about church. The true balance is when both are feeding each other.
I try to create a spiritual home where the natural families can be together for a time and see themselves in a larger context.
I think when the spiritual family loses sight of its need to serve others, in this case families, and cannot adapt to the changing needs of these folks, it is signing its own death warrant. The struggle is to keep our core identity as a spiritual family while meeting the changing needs of the natural families that come through our doors.
Blessings,
Ed
Today, we had two baptisms at church. I love baptisms. Families gather for a happy occasion. The gift of a child being celebrated in the context of community. Both babies that were baptized this morning have been regular attendees before today. There was no "getting the kid done." In many ways they were surrounded by 100 other grandparents, uncles, aunts, and siblings.
I've been blessed to have both good natural families and good spiritual ones. Not perfect mind you, but still strong enough to bring about real growth.
It is easy to get trapped into everything being about the kids, or even about church. The true balance is when both are feeding each other.
I try to create a spiritual home where the natural families can be together for a time and see themselves in a larger context.
I think when the spiritual family loses sight of its need to serve others, in this case families, and cannot adapt to the changing needs of these folks, it is signing its own death warrant. The struggle is to keep our core identity as a spiritual family while meeting the changing needs of the natural families that come through our doors.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Reflections for 11/6/10
"Sin might also be described as a culture of blindness, a pattern of agreed-upon lies. It's a system that people get trapped in; We all tell the same lie, and therefore, it isn't a lie anymore. Sin is when life freezes and truth hides out of fear. It's when self--interest tells us what to remember and what to forget."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 362)
I have heard lots of definitions of "sin" but this was a new one for me. I'll admit I don't spend a whole lot of my waking time worrying about sin. Certainly not other people's. I probably do spend an appropriate amount of time worrying about the log in my own eye.
I do wonder about my capacity for self deception. If I keep telling myself everything is fine, is it actually? If I tell myself that I don't worry about the future, does that really mean that I'm not anxious or nervous? Are there other less than idea aspects of me, that I just ignore, because it's less painful to look at.
I try to keep my life moving, to not get stuck, but there are times when it feels like I'm riding a bike in a mud puddle. I also understand that fear of the unknown, the fear of taking a risk because it might not work.
I also know how easy it is to have selective memory and amnesia. To highlight all the wonderful things I've done, and brush away those times that I've messed up.
The good news, at least for me, is those times do not get to be the final answer as to who I am and what I'm about. That's where forgiveness walks in. When I'm finally ready to face the man in the mirror.
Blessings,
Ed
I have heard lots of definitions of "sin" but this was a new one for me. I'll admit I don't spend a whole lot of my waking time worrying about sin. Certainly not other people's. I probably do spend an appropriate amount of time worrying about the log in my own eye.
I do wonder about my capacity for self deception. If I keep telling myself everything is fine, is it actually? If I tell myself that I don't worry about the future, does that really mean that I'm not anxious or nervous? Are there other less than idea aspects of me, that I just ignore, because it's less painful to look at.
I try to keep my life moving, to not get stuck, but there are times when it feels like I'm riding a bike in a mud puddle. I also understand that fear of the unknown, the fear of taking a risk because it might not work.
I also know how easy it is to have selective memory and amnesia. To highlight all the wonderful things I've done, and brush away those times that I've messed up.
The good news, at least for me, is those times do not get to be the final answer as to who I am and what I'm about. That's where forgiveness walks in. When I'm finally ready to face the man in the mirror.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, November 5, 2010
Reflections for 11/5/10
"The axis the world moves on is changing. It's not asking the same questions, and invariably it's not going to come up with the same answers."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 361)
There's a flip statement that goes something like "Just when you think you have all the answers, we change the questions." A hard aspect of living in the era that we live in is that change happens so quickly that we feel like we are constantly playing catch up. Just when we think we have the latest technology it is obsolete, seemingly overnight.
We also know more of what's going on in the world thanks to 24/7 news and satellites. We can no longer say we don't know what's going on. Though we certainly can choose not to know.
Even our understandings of who has power, and what actually power is, changes as well.
One thing that is true as a more global perspective takes over almost every aspect of life, we are forced to at least acknowledge the different questions that the those from the 2/3 world are asking. What works in America and Europe may not actually work everywhere. Our answers may not even be addressing their questions. No wonder we seem so confused and conflicted.
Within our own context, are our children's questions the same as ours? I think the basic questions are the same, but there's a lot of extra stuff that complicates the answers.
Perhaps what all of this is calling for, is a greater amount of listening, looking and thinking. Not just going with what always works as our first response.
Blessings,
Ed
There's a flip statement that goes something like "Just when you think you have all the answers, we change the questions." A hard aspect of living in the era that we live in is that change happens so quickly that we feel like we are constantly playing catch up. Just when we think we have the latest technology it is obsolete, seemingly overnight.
We also know more of what's going on in the world thanks to 24/7 news and satellites. We can no longer say we don't know what's going on. Though we certainly can choose not to know.
Even our understandings of who has power, and what actually power is, changes as well.
One thing that is true as a more global perspective takes over almost every aspect of life, we are forced to at least acknowledge the different questions that the those from the 2/3 world are asking. What works in America and Europe may not actually work everywhere. Our answers may not even be addressing their questions. No wonder we seem so confused and conflicted.
Within our own context, are our children's questions the same as ours? I think the basic questions are the same, but there's a lot of extra stuff that complicates the answers.
Perhaps what all of this is calling for, is a greater amount of listening, looking and thinking. Not just going with what always works as our first response.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Reflections for 11/4/10
"In a culture of affluence, people don't necessarily lose the desire to do good. It's worse than that. They don't even recognize the good anymore. They become spiritually blind. They wouldn't recognize true moral goodness if it were in front of them."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p.359)
As I looked at this quote, I tried to remember when he wrote it originally. I believe it was sometime in the 80's. I was a teenager in the 80's and would have to say that it was coming off an era of true self indulgence, the late 70's.
If you've ever seen the VH1 show "I love the 80's" you start to have flashbacks as to the kind of mentality we as a people, yes I know sweeping generalization, had.
It was about being noticed, but not for what you did to improve the world, but what you did to get noticed.
Here in 2010, while we slowly come out of a recession, where we just had an election that showed how afraid we are of our economic future, it is hard to see ourselves as an affluent people, even though we still are comparatively speaking.
But I'm also not sure that anything is really all that different. Was there really a time when people sought the common good, and where charity was a natural response to the world's situations. Or has the human condition always made us look out for #1? If the only good we can see is what's good for me, then Fr. Rohr is regrettably right. If there is however the possibility of knowing that the common good still needs to be paid attention to, then there might be hope.
Blessings,
Ed
As I looked at this quote, I tried to remember when he wrote it originally. I believe it was sometime in the 80's. I was a teenager in the 80's and would have to say that it was coming off an era of true self indulgence, the late 70's.
If you've ever seen the VH1 show "I love the 80's" you start to have flashbacks as to the kind of mentality we as a people, yes I know sweeping generalization, had.
It was about being noticed, but not for what you did to improve the world, but what you did to get noticed.
Here in 2010, while we slowly come out of a recession, where we just had an election that showed how afraid we are of our economic future, it is hard to see ourselves as an affluent people, even though we still are comparatively speaking.
But I'm also not sure that anything is really all that different. Was there really a time when people sought the common good, and where charity was a natural response to the world's situations. Or has the human condition always made us look out for #1? If the only good we can see is what's good for me, then Fr. Rohr is regrettably right. If there is however the possibility of knowing that the common good still needs to be paid attention to, then there might be hope.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Reflections for 11/3/10
"I suspect we actually are stunted and paralyzed by having too many options. We are no longer the developed world; we are the overdeveloped world."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 258)
I was a tour guide for the admissions office of my college. It is probably where I got the original career notion that I wanted to work in college admissions. I remember giving a tour on which a father asked me the usual question "What is your major?" I responded "I'm a History major." Too which he responded "What are you going to do with that?" Too which, being the quick whit, I responded, "anything I want."
I will admit that I love options, choices etc. Or I should say I like having them. I'm actually not all that good at deciding, but the contemplation of the options is really quite fun for me.
When I went off to college, I believed I wanted to be a lawyer. I took to Political Science classes and that was the end of that. As I related above, I then explored the possibility of a career in college admissions. And in fact my first job after graduation was in that field. What I discovered after 6 months was that it wasn't the wide open field of College Admissions at any college or university that I sought, but the dream to be at my college doing it.
While I have been in my current position for almost 15 years, I continue to fight issues of restlessness, of thinking there are other options, in my case parishes, out there, instead of enjoying a feeling of arriving and being where I'm supposed to be.
I doubt we can ever fully feel a sense of completion and wholeness in a lifetime. Might be possible for some, but I know that it is a real challenge for me. Life has become like a metaphorical super market. That if I don't go into it with a shopping list, I can get overwhelmed pretty easily.
Blessings,
Ed
I was a tour guide for the admissions office of my college. It is probably where I got the original career notion that I wanted to work in college admissions. I remember giving a tour on which a father asked me the usual question "What is your major?" I responded "I'm a History major." Too which he responded "What are you going to do with that?" Too which, being the quick whit, I responded, "anything I want."
I will admit that I love options, choices etc. Or I should say I like having them. I'm actually not all that good at deciding, but the contemplation of the options is really quite fun for me.
When I went off to college, I believed I wanted to be a lawyer. I took to Political Science classes and that was the end of that. As I related above, I then explored the possibility of a career in college admissions. And in fact my first job after graduation was in that field. What I discovered after 6 months was that it wasn't the wide open field of College Admissions at any college or university that I sought, but the dream to be at my college doing it.
While I have been in my current position for almost 15 years, I continue to fight issues of restlessness, of thinking there are other options, in my case parishes, out there, instead of enjoying a feeling of arriving and being where I'm supposed to be.
I doubt we can ever fully feel a sense of completion and wholeness in a lifetime. Might be possible for some, but I know that it is a real challenge for me. Life has become like a metaphorical super market. That if I don't go into it with a shopping list, I can get overwhelmed pretty easily.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Reflections for 11/2/10
"The more I travel, the more it becomes evident that it is culture which finally and firmly forms our attitudes-so deeply that we don't recognize them as chosen attitudes. It is an emotional seeing that is not easily challenged or overcome. How will God ever make unity out of our extraordinary diversity? Especially when each culture is so committed to its own pair of glasses."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 357)
I have not traveled as much as Fr. Rohr probably has. First he's older than me, second he's a celibate Franciscan Priest, no family to tie him down. I have however lived and visited different parts of our country, and will have to say, I think he's correct.
I know first hand how radically different life is in Iowa as compared to New Jersey. I went to college in Iowa for four years. I consider them some of the best years of my life. I attribute it to the more relaxed pace of life. Had I stayed in the hectic pace of New Jersey all my life, I'm pretty sure my blood pressure would be off the charts.
I also have roots in the South, Tennessee and North Carolina specifically and I again know that there is a radical difference in view point between them and what I get in New Jersey. There are aspects of Southern life that I personally like, yet my own NE liberal biases, are easily exposed in that climate.
Why even in my home state and current state, New Jersey, there is a cultural divide between North and South. All of it based on the major Metropolitan area which filters the news. NYC in the North, Philadelphia in the South. I grew up in the northern part of the state, I've lived my adult life in the southern part, so I know what I'm talking about.
I also know from those times when my viewpoint has changed how much easier it is to adapt oneself to the culture of an area. I get a southern dialect after 2 weeks.
Maybe it's because I'm fairly flexible and enjoy people enough that I will to a certain extent become one with the land. There are some values I won't give up, because those lenses have served me well. But I also know that sometimes they can get even more focused or perhaps clarified, when they are no longer the majority view.
Blessings,
Ed
I have not traveled as much as Fr. Rohr probably has. First he's older than me, second he's a celibate Franciscan Priest, no family to tie him down. I have however lived and visited different parts of our country, and will have to say, I think he's correct.
I know first hand how radically different life is in Iowa as compared to New Jersey. I went to college in Iowa for four years. I consider them some of the best years of my life. I attribute it to the more relaxed pace of life. Had I stayed in the hectic pace of New Jersey all my life, I'm pretty sure my blood pressure would be off the charts.
I also have roots in the South, Tennessee and North Carolina specifically and I again know that there is a radical difference in view point between them and what I get in New Jersey. There are aspects of Southern life that I personally like, yet my own NE liberal biases, are easily exposed in that climate.
Why even in my home state and current state, New Jersey, there is a cultural divide between North and South. All of it based on the major Metropolitan area which filters the news. NYC in the North, Philadelphia in the South. I grew up in the northern part of the state, I've lived my adult life in the southern part, so I know what I'm talking about.
I also know from those times when my viewpoint has changed how much easier it is to adapt oneself to the culture of an area. I get a southern dialect after 2 weeks.
Maybe it's because I'm fairly flexible and enjoy people enough that I will to a certain extent become one with the land. There are some values I won't give up, because those lenses have served me well. But I also know that sometimes they can get even more focused or perhaps clarified, when they are no longer the majority view.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, November 1, 2010
Reflections for 11/1/10
"When you talk negatively you invest in your negativism. You justify it, and it becomes harder to avoid. The most nasty and irrational judgments I have received from people have often followed upon a negative bull-session."(R.Rohr "Radical Grace" p. 356)
It has been my experience that when I'm feeling negative that just about every aspect of my life follows down that path. It is also true that when I'm feeling positive about something, many other parts of life follow suit as well.
I generally try to keep a positive outlook, but I'm not always successful. It is usually when I can feel the negativism taking over every aspect that I hit the brakes and begin to ask myself what's really going on. Is my angry response in proportion to the situation? If not what else is going on?
I often find that what I may be presenting as the negative problem is really masking something else.
I also know that when the negativity comes off of a meeting it's best to not bring it home. Why does my family deserve to be sucked into that mire to which they had no role in.
We all know when we've been around truly negative people, it's quite draining. When we are fortunate enough to be around positive people, folks who see things as good and possible, the world is a radically different place.
Blessings,
Ed
It has been my experience that when I'm feeling negative that just about every aspect of my life follows down that path. It is also true that when I'm feeling positive about something, many other parts of life follow suit as well.
I generally try to keep a positive outlook, but I'm not always successful. It is usually when I can feel the negativism taking over every aspect that I hit the brakes and begin to ask myself what's really going on. Is my angry response in proportion to the situation? If not what else is going on?
I often find that what I may be presenting as the negative problem is really masking something else.
I also know that when the negativity comes off of a meeting it's best to not bring it home. Why does my family deserve to be sucked into that mire to which they had no role in.
We all know when we've been around truly negative people, it's quite draining. When we are fortunate enough to be around positive people, folks who see things as good and possible, the world is a radically different place.
Blessings,
Ed
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