31 July 2009
28 July 2009
Anais Nin
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
"Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them."
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."
"Dreams are necessary to life."
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
"People living deeply have no fear of death."
"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
"Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them."
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."
"Dreams are necessary to life."
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
"People living deeply have no fear of death."
He was too much for them
It was the much in Magdalene that Jesus loved.
for, as Mark says,
“He was too much for them”
like a woman who loves too much
like an ointment that costs too much
and is spilled too much
like a seventy times seven God
who forgives too much
like a seed that grows too much
and yields thirty
sixty
a hundred fold
by John Shea
for, as Mark says,
“He was too much for them”
like a woman who loves too much
like an ointment that costs too much
and is spilled too much
like a seventy times seven God
who forgives too much
like a seed that grows too much
and yields thirty
sixty
a hundred fold
by John Shea
27 July 2009
22 July 2009
Easier said than done...
It seems to me that the person who is about to come to prayer should withdraw for a little and prepare himself, and so become more attentive and active for the whole of his prayer. He should cast away all temptation and troubling thoughts and remind himself so far as he is able of the Majesty whom he approaches, and that it is impious to approach Him carelessly, sluggishly, and disdainfully; and he should put away all extraneous things.
This is how he should come to prayer, stretching out his soul, as it were, instead of his hands, straining his mind toward God instead of his eyes, raising his governing reason from the ground and standing it before the Lord of all instead of standing.
All malice toward any one of those who seem to have wronged him he should put away as far as any one would wish God to put away His malice toward him, if he had wronged and sinned against many of his neighbors or had done anything whatever he was conscious of being against right reason.
On Prayer
Origen of Alexandria
This is how he should come to prayer, stretching out his soul, as it were, instead of his hands, straining his mind toward God instead of his eyes, raising his governing reason from the ground and standing it before the Lord of all instead of standing.
All malice toward any one of those who seem to have wronged him he should put away as far as any one would wish God to put away His malice toward him, if he had wronged and sinned against many of his neighbors or had done anything whatever he was conscious of being against right reason.
On Prayer
Origen of Alexandria
13 July 2009
Extreme
"The question is not whether or not we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for love or for hate? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?
In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified......for the same crime. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment....."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified......for the same crime. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment....."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
12 July 2009
The sea, she's angr'y...
"Be firm in your (holy) resolutions;
stay in the boat in which our Lord has placed you and let the storm come.
You will not perish."
St. Padre Pio
stay in the boat in which our Lord has placed you and let the storm come.
You will not perish."
St. Padre Pio
11 July 2009
01 July 2009
30 June 2009
Theological Thursdays: Four Principles for Panhandler Interactions
Last night, I must have encountered five panhandlers on Elmwood, and I did not give to any of them. I did not give, even though I have committed to practice the way of Jesus, and I know that Jesus commanded:
"Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again" (Luke 6:30).
So, by my own standard, I have failed. Of course, I am not the only failure. The fact that people ask other people for money on the street represents a societal failure, even if it does not excuse my own behavior.
We need a framework for making our decisions about how to interact with those whom we see in need
.
While others have tried, I am not interested in providing a theological justification for never giving in any manner. On the other hand, I would also maintain that not every person is called to sell all of his/her possessions and give everything to the poor--even though many people are (and you and I should consider that we may be).
Most of us are seeking a "middle way," and while it may not be the ideal, this "middle way" would provide a tremendous improvement for our community.
The problem with middle ways, however, is that they are difficult to make into easy to follow rules. Thus, I will offer no specific prescriptions in this post--only four principles to serve as a framework to consider as you develop your own theology/practice. (If you want a clear and simple rule, see Luke 6:30)
Principal one: The blessings you receive are for the purpose of blessing others. Abraham, whom three faiths claim as their forefather, was told exactly this, in Genesis 12:2. What you have is given to you for a purpose, and that purpose is not your own pleasure.
Principle two: God is judge. You are not.
This principle is also preached in all of the Abrahamic faiths, even if we fail to practice it sometimes. We cannot judge because we are not fit to judge.
Consider the story of C.S. Lewis, a popular Christian writer, who was walking with a friend and they were approached by a panhandler. The man asked for some spare change and Lewis gave him everything he had. Later, Lewis' friend said, "You shouldn't have given that man all that money, he'll only spend it on drink."
Lewis replied, "Well, if I'd kept it, I would have only spent it on drink."
Who are we to decide whether a person is fit to receive grace?
Principle three: The panhandler is a human, and your neighbor.
While there are good arguments for giving and for not giving, in all things one should follow the golden rule and treat the other as you would wish to be treated. Life on the street is already dehumanizing enough, without people pretending you aren't there.
Principle four: "Helping" maintains unbalanced relationships. "Serving" is subversive.
Not once did Christ command his followers to help. His command was to serve. Lives are changed when power structures are upset. If you are a person with power (as most BRO readers are, myself included,) this means setting aside your own privilege--a difficult, but life-changing, thing to do.
These principles are not intended to be definitive, but the start of a conversation. I look forward to your contributions.
(Via)
"Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again" (Luke 6:30).
So, by my own standard, I have failed. Of course, I am not the only failure. The fact that people ask other people for money on the street represents a societal failure, even if it does not excuse my own behavior.
We need a framework for making our decisions about how to interact with those whom we see in need
.
While others have tried, I am not interested in providing a theological justification for never giving in any manner. On the other hand, I would also maintain that not every person is called to sell all of his/her possessions and give everything to the poor--even though many people are (and you and I should consider that we may be).
Most of us are seeking a "middle way," and while it may not be the ideal, this "middle way" would provide a tremendous improvement for our community.
The problem with middle ways, however, is that they are difficult to make into easy to follow rules. Thus, I will offer no specific prescriptions in this post--only four principles to serve as a framework to consider as you develop your own theology/practice. (If you want a clear and simple rule, see Luke 6:30)
Principal one: The blessings you receive are for the purpose of blessing others. Abraham, whom three faiths claim as their forefather, was told exactly this, in Genesis 12:2. What you have is given to you for a purpose, and that purpose is not your own pleasure.
Principle two: God is judge. You are not.
This principle is also preached in all of the Abrahamic faiths, even if we fail to practice it sometimes. We cannot judge because we are not fit to judge.
Consider the story of C.S. Lewis, a popular Christian writer, who was walking with a friend and they were approached by a panhandler. The man asked for some spare change and Lewis gave him everything he had. Later, Lewis' friend said, "You shouldn't have given that man all that money, he'll only spend it on drink."
Lewis replied, "Well, if I'd kept it, I would have only spent it on drink."
Who are we to decide whether a person is fit to receive grace?
Principle three: The panhandler is a human, and your neighbor.
While there are good arguments for giving and for not giving, in all things one should follow the golden rule and treat the other as you would wish to be treated. Life on the street is already dehumanizing enough, without people pretending you aren't there.
Principle four: "Helping" maintains unbalanced relationships. "Serving" is subversive.
Not once did Christ command his followers to help. His command was to serve. Lives are changed when power structures are upset. If you are a person with power (as most BRO readers are, myself included,) this means setting aside your own privilege--a difficult, but life-changing, thing to do.
These principles are not intended to be definitive, but the start of a conversation. I look forward to your contributions.
(Via)
27 June 2009
The thing you must remember
the thing you must remember is how, as a child, you worked hours in the art room, the teacher's hand over yours, molding the little clay dog.
You must remember how nothing mattered but the imagined dog's fur, the shape of his ears and his paws. The gray clay felt dangerous, your small hands were pressing what you couldn't say with your limited words. When the dog's back stiffened, then cracked into white shards in the kiln, you learned how the beautiful suffers from too much attention, how clumsy a single vision can grow, and fragile with trying too hard.
The thing you must remember is the art teacher's capable hands: large, rough and grainy, over yours, holding on.
-maggie anderson
You must remember how nothing mattered but the imagined dog's fur, the shape of his ears and his paws. The gray clay felt dangerous, your small hands were pressing what you couldn't say with your limited words. When the dog's back stiffened, then cracked into white shards in the kiln, you learned how the beautiful suffers from too much attention, how clumsy a single vision can grow, and fragile with trying too hard.
The thing you must remember is the art teacher's capable hands: large, rough and grainy, over yours, holding on.
-maggie anderson
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