Weavings Diving Deep for Wisdom: Spiritual Discernment
End of month 5 of my healing - restoration - retreat from paid accountable ministry I celebrate:
- grace bestowed by the Great Mystery.
- the consciousness sharing provided by the Internet.
- the spiritual tradition of lectio divina.
- love that is incarnate in all life.
- patience - silence - and the gift of hearing the "spirit".
- Kairos time to interpret and reflect apart from cultures dominant "Chronos as money".
Only in the past few weeks have I begun to feel again.
The lectionary for this week contains the beatitudes - Matthew 5: 1 -12.
As I listen - I hear words of feelings. The intangible - the unseen that can not be measured as facts that can be scored on a form. The wisdom that confounds those who believe they know.
I give thanks to Ann Siddall for her offering linked above expressing many of my experiences in pastoral ministry the past 11 years. Living Christianity is not a set of words - repeated in a ritual on Sunday mornings. Living Christianity is informed by the Spirit of the Living Christ in "all that we think say and do" expressed often in Rotary International gatherings 4 - way Test.
I give thanks to the sense of wondering /wandering in the wilderness - allowing me to be challenged - transformed - and led to a promised land. May I be grounded in humility - knowing the spirit will dance within and beside me all the days of my life.
Amazingingly Graced by all continuing to heal
To understand the world often one must look from the bottom up. We are who we are by how we treat the weakest, vulnerable, and voiceless amongst us.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, December 3, 2010
Drumming For Healing
Drumming for myself has been a liberation journey. My health and sense of well - being has improved greatly. Drumming allows the emoting of unhelpful energy and often brings me back into rhythm with what is going on around me. The circle is a gathering of support and each person brings their own dimension and spirit to the expression of diversity in the community.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Slow Transition
October is a good month for the Spirit to appear as if I am on a vision quest. Deep listening - awakening - attentive to what is present in presence around me - dreaming - visioning the future beyond the church walls in the community.
Finding the courage to take the steps into another way of being seems to running in the family. I walk a little more gently now. I am able to listen a little more deeply. All is good.
Finding the courage to take the steps into another way of being seems to running in the family. I walk a little more gently now. I am able to listen a little more deeply. All is good.
Monday, August 23, 2010
A new page - a new path
I want to thank RevThom for his post on why ministers burn out. It affirms me this day as I begin to walk a new path apart from the congregation where I last celebrated at two wedding services on Saturday Aug 21. Today I am attending a new course on 'spiritual companioning' which is what I believe I am called to be about. This is not a recent call but one that I received many years ago.
I have been given the blessing of working in a congregation for the past 8 years. Much of what is mentioned in the article on why pastors burnout applied in my situation. In reflection and prayer I was able to say good-bye and now am concentrating on refining my gifts to be able to offer my calling in the community in a different way.
From Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre - and the Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Companioning I give thanks.
Oh freedom is a blessing - and I give thanks and praise to the source of life - the sacred way.
Peace be upon you all
Bruce
I have been given the blessing of working in a congregation for the past 8 years. Much of what is mentioned in the article on why pastors burnout applied in my situation. In reflection and prayer I was able to say good-bye and now am concentrating on refining my gifts to be able to offer my calling in the community in a different way.
From Rosemary Heights Retreat Centre - and the Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Companioning I give thanks.
Oh freedom is a blessing - and I give thanks and praise to the source of life - the sacred way.
Peace be upon you all
Bruce
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
DND, families of dead soldiers say leaked friendly-fire report is wrong - thestar.com
DND, families of dead soldiers say leaked friendly-fire report is wrong - thestar.com
"A truth about war is the first thing lost, is truth itself." Much of what happens in war has an "official cause" and then there is the actual. The island of Kiska in the Aleutian islands during WW2 was suspected of being occupied by the Japanese. Indeed the Japanese had been there and had even had supply bunkers equipped and filled before they vacated the island. A veteran who was in the landing party to recover the island of Kiska, shared the incident of the American soldiers to be killed following such landing. The troops had been ordered to dig in and not to move until they were given the word. The "trained" soldiers were tired of doing nothing and decided to sneak up the hills from the coast to figure out what was going on. This was when they found the supply bunkers and went in to investigate. They found uniforms and armament and decide to fool their buddies and dress up and come down in the new found uniforms to have a little fun. This is another story from those who were their - http://canadianheroes.org/henri/the-battle-for-kiska-story.htm
When they were spotted by the Canadians coming down the hill, they were mistaken for actually being Japanese and were shot by the Canadian soldiers. The newspaper and official release was that they had died in battle fighting the Japanese. My source who shared the story with me several years ago, I believe he told the truth. My father discovered the truth of war several times in his military career that was different from the "official decision". His dream of what he was being offerred to serve was not what he had signed up for either.
I mourn the loss of all soldiers who for what ever reason ended up dying, when it was the leaders of their countries who reclined in soft chairs wearing their white gloves to cover up the blood they did not want to show their mothers.
May we one day end the madness of recognizing what are leaders say is the truth and realize what it really is. Just another little lie in the scheme of the mission. Remember that power - politics and priviledge are the steroids that feed and grow the bulk of arrogance, that people believe is strength and character behind the padding and glitz of the uniform.
"A truth about war is the first thing lost, is truth itself." Much of what happens in war has an "official cause" and then there is the actual. The island of Kiska in the Aleutian islands during WW2 was suspected of being occupied by the Japanese. Indeed the Japanese had been there and had even had supply bunkers equipped and filled before they vacated the island. A veteran who was in the landing party to recover the island of Kiska, shared the incident of the American soldiers to be killed following such landing. The troops had been ordered to dig in and not to move until they were given the word. The "trained" soldiers were tired of doing nothing and decided to sneak up the hills from the coast to figure out what was going on. This was when they found the supply bunkers and went in to investigate. They found uniforms and armament and decide to fool their buddies and dress up and come down in the new found uniforms to have a little fun. This is another story from those who were their - http://canadianheroes.org/henri/the-battle-for-kiska-story.htm
When they were spotted by the Canadians coming down the hill, they were mistaken for actually being Japanese and were shot by the Canadian soldiers. The newspaper and official release was that they had died in battle fighting the Japanese. My source who shared the story with me several years ago, I believe he told the truth. My father discovered the truth of war several times in his military career that was different from the "official decision". His dream of what he was being offerred to serve was not what he had signed up for either.
I mourn the loss of all soldiers who for what ever reason ended up dying, when it was the leaders of their countries who reclined in soft chairs wearing their white gloves to cover up the blood they did not want to show their mothers.
May we one day end the madness of recognizing what are leaders say is the truth and realize what it really is. Just another little lie in the scheme of the mission. Remember that power - politics and priviledge are the steroids that feed and grow the bulk of arrogance, that people believe is strength and character behind the padding and glitz of the uniform.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Scharper: The price of political expediency - thestar.com
Scharper insight and reflection on democracy and what is happening needs to be shared.
Scharper: The price of political expediency - thestar.com
Maintaining vigilance and awareness by naming and helping others to perceive how the actions of the minority and people with power can abuse others is critical in a democracy. One should not fall asleep in our lawn chairs without pondering the consequences of the actions that go hardly noticed. Hope people can rest up and prepare themselves for the hard work of the elections and resitance needed, to prevent the abuse and misuse of power by those whom we have turned over our political power to in our complacency.
Other wise the world is alive and life is amazing. Such a paradox we live within.
Happy fishing in the lakes with no fish.
Scharper: The price of political expediency - thestar.com
Maintaining vigilance and awareness by naming and helping others to perceive how the actions of the minority and people with power can abuse others is critical in a democracy. One should not fall asleep in our lawn chairs without pondering the consequences of the actions that go hardly noticed. Hope people can rest up and prepare themselves for the hard work of the elections and resitance needed, to prevent the abuse and misuse of power by those whom we have turned over our political power to in our complacency.
Other wise the world is alive and life is amazing. Such a paradox we live within.
Happy fishing in the lakes with no fish.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Abram - Mary - Martha - Spiritual awakening
I must pay attention to the strangers who arrive in our midst especially when I find myself sitting under a tree in the desert. Like Abram, when I perceive the 3 strangers coming toward me, it is better that I welcome them and call for the celebratory banquet of welcome and sacrifice - the giving up of something in expectation of something to be better in future.
Perhaps as I prepare myself for the journey to follow the wandering Aramean where the holy mystery leads, I look forward to the spiritual direction course and further discernment of call. I yearn to be like Mary and sit at the feet of the teacher and allow the wisdom to emerge. Is such wisdom already there, and do I only need to let it come out like a doe and her fawns who wait by the water's edge to safely drink at the lakeshore? Can I give up my busyness - and distractions like Martha with all my attendent duties and obligations that I have entwined myself in as a result of my covenant and promise to settle amongst the people of the whispering hills?
Why is it when we want someone else to do something we ask Jesus or some other authority figure to do our asking for us. As I am discovering the idea of being triangled into someone else's issue is never comfortable for all involved. Why do we hesitate to ask directly? Fear of rejection - fear of not being listened to? Is the deeper fear of abandonment and how such request for them to join in what we believe is our duty or obligation somehow tied to our worthiness and acceptance?
When the holy angels or agents of the divine appear, how do we respond? Do we deny and ignore - so we do not allow ourselves to be hurt again by relationships gone wrong and hang onto the special intended lamb for the future that will not really sustain us or may never come? Do we let go - call for the celebration and in return be given the promise of a new birth - and Isaac the one who laughs in our midst in the near future? Such is faith - trusting in risking and welcoming and offerring hospitality?
Can a faith community become such a place of welcome - that in the days to come we will give up like a new parent the self-centered narcissitic life realizing our responsibility to the next generation and our brothers and sisters who dwell with us on spaceship earth? Will we give up our need to be voyeurs on the pain and sufferring of those who are not in our over-privileged status that we believe has been endowed upon us by reason of our intelligence and hard work and actually befriend them as holy guests? (one might consider a case for delusional living) and recognize the need for treatment and healing).
What will be your response to the visitors? Will you seek the spiritual dimension of eternal life and wholeness - sharing the banquet of life with all? Or remain distracted by duty and obligation imposed on us by the pharoahs and our own unconcious behaviors that lead to the abyss rather than life in all its glory, struggle and resurrection into the ever-birthing options that the holy - mid-wife births us into!!
Perhaps as I prepare myself for the journey to follow the wandering Aramean where the holy mystery leads, I look forward to the spiritual direction course and further discernment of call. I yearn to be like Mary and sit at the feet of the teacher and allow the wisdom to emerge. Is such wisdom already there, and do I only need to let it come out like a doe and her fawns who wait by the water's edge to safely drink at the lakeshore? Can I give up my busyness - and distractions like Martha with all my attendent duties and obligations that I have entwined myself in as a result of my covenant and promise to settle amongst the people of the whispering hills?
Why is it when we want someone else to do something we ask Jesus or some other authority figure to do our asking for us. As I am discovering the idea of being triangled into someone else's issue is never comfortable for all involved. Why do we hesitate to ask directly? Fear of rejection - fear of not being listened to? Is the deeper fear of abandonment and how such request for them to join in what we believe is our duty or obligation somehow tied to our worthiness and acceptance?
When the holy angels or agents of the divine appear, how do we respond? Do we deny and ignore - so we do not allow ourselves to be hurt again by relationships gone wrong and hang onto the special intended lamb for the future that will not really sustain us or may never come? Do we let go - call for the celebration and in return be given the promise of a new birth - and Isaac the one who laughs in our midst in the near future? Such is faith - trusting in risking and welcoming and offerring hospitality?
Can a faith community become such a place of welcome - that in the days to come we will give up like a new parent the self-centered narcissitic life realizing our responsibility to the next generation and our brothers and sisters who dwell with us on spaceship earth? Will we give up our need to be voyeurs on the pain and sufferring of those who are not in our over-privileged status that we believe has been endowed upon us by reason of our intelligence and hard work and actually befriend them as holy guests? (one might consider a case for delusional living) and recognize the need for treatment and healing).
What will be your response to the visitors? Will you seek the spiritual dimension of eternal life and wholeness - sharing the banquet of life with all? Or remain distracted by duty and obligation imposed on us by the pharoahs and our own unconcious behaviors that lead to the abyss rather than life in all its glory, struggle and resurrection into the ever-birthing options that the holy - mid-wife births us into!!
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