133 – Lent – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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With Lent arriving in two weeks I see more and more “advertisements” for ways to spend some of your time during Lent.  Publishers and book-sellers offer suggestions, well known (and lesser known) religious/spiritual writers offer suggestions, and churches/denominations/organizations direct you to resources (often ones they publish and sell).

I would like to direct your attention to two resources.  One from Renovare and one from the Episcopal Church.  What I find refreshing about both is the attempt to point us toward balance.

Renovare is offering a devotional booklet entitled, “Less is More.”  It invites us to make time during Lent to practice several spiritual disciplines and presents then as:

Confession:  Less Guilt/More Grace

Solitude:  Less Noise/More Listening

Fasting:  Less Consumption/More Compassion

Simplicity:  Less Stuff/More Freedom

Frugality:  Less Spending/More Peace

Intercession:  Less Me/More Others

Reflective Reading of Holy Week Story:  Less Fear/More Love

I very much like this balancing of less and more with each of these disciplines.  Since I have not read the booklet I can’t speak to how well they “pull-off” this balancing act, but I think they are off to a good start.

At the Credo web site of the Episcopal Church the opportunity to subscribe to a series of Lenten devotions “Feeding and Fasting” is offered.  Again, we have balance in view.  On the site they write,

“We celebrate a holy Lent both by taking on those things that bring us closer to God, and shedding those indulgences, habits, and practices that steal our attention. Ironic as it seems, we sometimes are fed only by fasting—by denying ourselves that which distracts us from the truly nourishing. When we fast, we clear out space for God. We forego the diversions that keep us occupied and instead make room inside for an expanding spirit, one that is nurtured on prayer and worship and the feast of love that is offered to us.”

” … taking on … shedding … fasting … nourishing … “

It seems to me they are encouraging some balance also.

What do you think?  What can you do to find balance in your life this Lent . . . and beyond Lent?

You can find more information about the Renovare booklet at –

https://www.renovare.org/giving/renovars-lenten-guide

http://blog.renovare.org/2013/01/13/new-a-lenten-guide-for-personal-renewal/

and you can find out about the emailed devotions at –

http://episcopalcredo.org/publications/credo-reflection-series/Lent-2013/

 

 

 

 

132 – Kerygma/Proclamation – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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This past weekend I was listening to the radio program “On the Media” and heard a very interesting piece about Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech/sermon.  One thing especially captured my attention, how the sermon took shape as it was delivered.  The commentator described how Dr King began preaching from a “blueprint” and then as he became aware of the people’s reaction (or even perhaps lack of reaction) he departed from his notes.

This has me wondering about what is going on in our churches (and other places) as the preacher is preaching.  Or said another way, as the proclaimer is proclaiming.  Is the practice of proclamation a practice in which the proclaimer alone is active or is it a practice in which both the one delivering the proclamation and the one(s) receiving the proclamation are engaged?  Is it a “conversation?”  Does two-way communication happen?  Please do not hear me making the case for only impromptu or extemporaneous sermons.  But do hear me asking if proclamation is a “living event.”  You might even ask how is it an inspired event.

I am not sure today if I have adequately communicated what is on my mind and I am sure others have discussed and written about the preaching event better than I have.  Nevertheless, I wanted to ask myself and you these questions about proclamation as a spiritual practice and about how all those present are engaged in the practice.

Your thoughts?

ps – you can find the “On the Media” episode at –

http://www.onthemedia.org/2013/jan/18/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-public-imagination/?utm_source=local&utm_media=treatment&utm_campaign=daMost&utm_content=damostviewed

 

 

131 – Evangelism – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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Your assignment for today is read the following articles and write a reaction paper outlining …   no, no,  no,  Just joking.  But I do have a number of articles/blog posts listed below you might find interesting.

My wife and daughter and I saw “Les Misérables” this past weekend.  I was impressed with the music and the power of the story about redemption and sacrifice, no doubt, like many of you.

I am not going to write another review of the movie or a “sermon” about the movie but I am going to ask if you think the movie (or musical or book) could be called a “sermon” or “homily” in its own right.

What does a minister attempt to do in a sermon?  What does this movie attempt to do? And maybe even beyond what the actors and director and producer attempt to do, what does the movie do for it’s audience?

Maybe “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

And these questions lead me to think about the practice of “evangelism.”  When do we as Christians, who have a story to share, do our best in presenting that story?  On Sunday in a “church” building?  When we hand a person a “tract?”  When we “present the four spiritual laws?”  When we hand out food and clothes to those without?  When we tell a story about sacrifice and redemption?  When we go to the theater?

And one more question.  When do people listen to us and hear?  This week NPR is doing a series of stories on the “nones,” those people who report no religious affiliation.  We need to be careful how we characterize these folks and not assume we know more about them than we actually do.  But I wonder how some of them respond to “Les Misérables.”   What do they hear?  What can we learn from them about communicating our story of redemptive love?  What can they teach us about our story?

Just a few questions this morning I am still trying to answer

~~~  ~~~

Here are links to a few items about “Les Misérables” –

Richard Beck, “The Political Theology of Les Misérables”

Morgan Guyton, “Valjean and Javert: The Two Christianities of Les Miserables”

Mike Parnell, “Les Miserables”

Mark D Roberts (he posted a series of articles)

“The Les Misérables Movie: Fact Check”

“The Les Misérables Movie: Script Changes Reflect the Book, Guide the Viewer [Spoiler Alert]”

“The Les Misérables Movie: Suddenly, There’s a New Song [Spoiler alert]”

“The Les Misérables Movie: Surprises at the End [Major spoiler alert]”

“The Les Misérables Movie: Background on the Bishop”

And here are two items from the NPR series about the “nones” –

“Losing Our Religion: The Growth Of The ‘Nones‘”

“More Young People Are Moving Away From Religion, But Why?”

 

 

130 – Prayer – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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I have noticed on the mailing lists I am receiving at the start of this year a number of discussions on prayer.  I wonder if this is a recognition of how important prayer is and a felt need to “start the year right” in prayer.

I want to pass on to you this morning a remark from a mailing sent out by Richard Rohr

The word ‘prayer’ has often been trivialized by making it into a way of getting what we want. But I use ‘prayer’ as the umbrella word for any interior journeys or practices that allow you to experience faith, hope, and love within yourself. It is not a technique for getting things, a pious exercise that somehow makes God happy, or a requirement for entry into heaven. It is much more like practicing heaven now.  (adapted from The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See by Richard Rohr, pp. 22-23)

Are his criticisms of our use of the word “prayer” justified?

Do you think he offers a “better” understanding of prayer?

Or is he “extending” prayer to cover too many things?

What does he “leave out” in this understanding of prayer?

And, what would it be like if we are “practicing heaven now?”

What do you think?

 

 

129 – The Journey – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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I was browsing the shelves at the library the other day and came across a Thomas Merton book that was new to me, Thomas Merton in Alaska.  Not only was the book new to me, but I had no idea Merton went to Alaska.  The title page includes this information, “Prelude to the ‘The Asian Journal‘ The Alaskan Conferences, Journals and Letters.”

In 1968, before Merton left for a conference in Bangkok, he traveled to several places including Alaska and there the gave several talks.  Much in the book is interesting but what strikes me the most is something included in the introduction, Merton wrote two days before he left the monastery,

I go with a completely open mind.  I hope without illusions.  My hope is simply to enjoy the long journey, profit by it, learn, change, & perhaps find something or someone who will me help advance in my own spiritual quest.  I am not starting out with a firm plan never to return or with an absolute determination to return at all costs.  I do feel there is not much here for me at the moment & that I need to be open to lots of new possibilities.  I hope I shall be!  But I remain a monk of Gethsemani.  Whether or not I will end my days, here, I don’t know – & perhaps it is not important.  The great thing is to respond perfectly to God’s will in this providential opportunity, whatever it may bring. (pp xi – xii)

As I have “mulled over” Merton’s remarks I have become more and more impressed with his attempt to be absolutely open to whatever the future may bring.  He seemed to not want to grasp and hold onto the past and likewise not to have any illusions about what the future might bring.

Maybe something of his openness could be ours as we start another year.

Can we pray with Merton, ” … to respond perfectly to God’s will … whatever it may bring.”

 

 

128 – 12 Days of Christmas – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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What does “12 Days of Christmas” mean to you?  The name of a song we hear a lot at this time of the year?   A time to return Christmas gifts to the store?  The designation of the days between Christmas and Epiphany?  The time of the year you “really” get into the Christmas spirit?

In some parts of the world December 26 is called “Boxing Day” and is a holiday.  It is also a day many give gifts.  Where I grew up the gifts happened on Christmas Day.  It seems to me these days we could use a reminder that we are to continue the Christmas spirit of gift giving beyond one day (and not just the kind of gifts we buy at the department store and the mall).

Let me call your attention to another Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas.”  ( http://www.carols.org.uk/good_king_wenceslas.htm ).  The first verse goes,

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath’ring winter fuel

The rest of the song suggests the “Good King” just might have understood something about “gifts” on the 12 Days of Christmas (The Feast of St Stephen is December 26).

How do you want to live out the Christmas spirit these 12 Days of Christmas and beyond?

 

 

127 – Doing Without – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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Today I want to share with you a brief quote and two resources.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in God Is In the Manger wrote,

“Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting – that is, of hopefully doing without – will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment.”

Have you ever connected the season of Advent with the practice of abstinence?  The way we too often speak of abstinence in such a “negative” way, do we divorce it from hope? Can you identify a time you were/are “hopefully doing without?”

For resource one I point you to Emergent Village, ( http://www.emergentvillage.org/ ). The Bonhoeffer quote came in my email yesterday from Emergent Village.  Many of the quotes they share are worth reading and rereading.  You can find a link to subscribe to their daily mailing at http://myemail.constantcontact.com/MINemergent—The-Blessedness-of-Waiting.html?soid=1011297815065&aid=f_tiMZV8IsA .You can also follow them on Facebook

For resource two I point you to Christian Audio ( http://christianaudio.com/ ),  Not only will find many audio books available for purchase at their site, you will discover that each month they offer a free audio book.  This month’s free audio book is Bonhoeffer’s “God Is In the Manger.”  ( http://christianaudio.com/free/ )  You can also follow them on several social media sites.

 

126 – Advent – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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Monday, December 10, was noted by many as the Memorial of Thomas Merton.  Given that and the fact that I have been reading and trying to pay attention to Merton over the past 30 years, I thought it a good time to share a quote from Merton I recently read.

“Meditating on the past and future Advents, we learn to recognize the present Advent that is taking place at every moment of our own earthly life as wayfarers. We awaken to the fact that every moment of time is a moment of judgment, that Christ is passing by and that we are judged by our awareness of His passing.” (from Seasons of Celebration,  page 76)

Is Advent “really” a “moment of judgement?”  Is that too “harsh” for us in this season of “good will to all?”

But the larger question for me, as I pay attention to Merton, is “will I recognize Christ as I pass him today?”

 

125 – Visio Divina – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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I shared this last year and I hope you don’t mind me sharing it again, but when I came across it again this week I found a lot of power in these images.

Devotional Doodle for the First Day of Advent, by Linda Roberts

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2012/12/02/devotional-doodle-for-the-first-day-of-advent-by-linda-roberts/

Sometimes it seems we need an image, an icon, something to help us “see” what we are missing or looking past.  Or maybe the image helps slow us down while we look more deeply.  In this series of Advent “doodles,” Linda Roberts has “packed” a lot.  A “lot” of what, I will leave you to discover.  Maybe some time spent with her doodles will open up for you something new or something more.

 

 

124 – Advent/Christmas – Intention on the Spiritual Journey

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So, we have had Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday,  Small business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.  Christmas trees are going up in many homes and businesses, we see more red and green decorations in the stores and some cities have seasonal decorations on utility poles.

Is there any doubt “the Christmas season” is here?

I offer you two questions this morning,

(1) What will most help you stay in touch with what you regard as the essence of the Advent/Christmas spirit?

(2) What will get in your way and blind you to the Advent/Christmas spirit?

Maybe by spending a little time with these two questions you can keep what is valuable foremost in your mind and heart and actions.

Oh, maybe there is a third question buried in these two: What is the essence of the Advent/Christmas spirit?