Integrity

Blown by the Wind…

As the waves rose to the height of their ascent, each carried a line of mist as the force of the wind surfed across the top. Water and wind driving against each other, competing, wave after wave. Which would win? … As if only one could.

Be driven, not aimless, or as if by wind.
Be driven, not reckless… ruthless, or by tide.
Be driven, not fearful… anxious, or by mind.
Be driven by heart, soul, and Spirit combined.

WindBlown

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” – Luke 16:19-31

Something to Chew on…

These days so much in life can be rather easily accomplished “on the go,” or with a simple click, press, or swipe. Convenience and moving from one thing to the next without skipping a beat, at times almost mindlessly, or without taking a breath, is more commonplace than not. One can only wonder, how much is missed or falls through the cracks along this way? Or, perhaps an even better question, how is the time saved by all that serves to make life convenient being spent? Which path am I following? And society?

We have been blessed into creation with the capacity to decipher that which is of true benefit… that which is authentic. Not only that, but we have also been graced with a deep-seated desire to be connected to and guided by Wisdom… Love… Justice as we navigate our environment. Sometimes, with convenience, we somehow become busier—having less time to breathe properly when by all accounts it seems there should be more time. It can be easy to slip away from taking the time not only to discover and recognize what we are really consuming, but also to be filled by God with all that we need to speak up, making clear what is unacceptable, refusing to look or walk the other way… refusing to support or consume garbage.

Jesus tells us to know what we are eating. In order to take and eat of the goodness of God, we must take the time to chew before we swallow. It is in the chewing, that we come to see the Truth, and through the Truth that we find the courage and wherewithal to remain firm, resolved to being faithful to God, standing up in the face of all that would serve to strike down that which is good and honorable in and through each other.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord. – John 6:56

The Greatest Show…

Last night I had the opportunity to see a musical movie that portrayed the rise of P.T. Barnum and showed how his circus came to be. It was both interesting and remarkable to step into the life and times of the main character and those previously hidden, shut out, and silenced, but who came to be at the forefront and an important part of the show. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the movie was how beautifully the uniqueness of each individual came to be celebrated and the spirit that was born out of it.

While it may seem odd to pair a variation of the word “beauty” with the word “circus,” it also seems so relevant. We live in times that can feel like a non-stop circus with all the happenings in today’s world. However, in it all, there is still so much beauty to be found, and to be celebrated.

Through many heated disagreements and debates, especially of recent times, silence is being shattered and a spirit that celebrates the unique and diverse, but more importantly, the authentic, is growing. While the events around us can be upsetting and trying, they can also lead to becoming more in touch with values and beliefs, feeling compelled and moved, and living more deeply, or intentionally. In the chaotic and unexpected (as well as in the humdrum and typical, and everything in between), it is remarkable how present God, the author of creation… the author of diversity, is.

“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” – P.T. Barnum

If God intended for all to be the same, or to be uniform, the ark would not have been a zoo, rainbows would be bland instead of full of color—life, and Jesus would have added to the over 600 Mosaic laws instead of simplifying them and being an example of love, mercy, compassion, acceptance and integrity.

Celebrate individuality; it is part of how the human race was created and it honors God. Encourage truth; it is important to keep it real. Embrace all that is humane and always carry hope, remembering that the heart of God is in each of us.

TheGreatestShow

Wholehearted…

There is the saying, “Silence is golden,” yet we know this is not always the case. Oftentimes silence can cast a shadow, creating division and unrest, perhaps worse than words of ill will. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

As with so many things, there are appropriate times and places for silence, as well as ones for speaking out and making noise. While the times and places may vary, what is to be held back and what is to be spoken is best done prayerfully, with an open heart and mind.

In Psalm 95, it is written, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” It is easy for our minds to conjure up an image or description of a hardened heart. Surely, a person with a hardened heart is easy to spot… angry, grumpy, bitter, frowning, self-righteous, etc. However, a hardened heart is also, among other things, one that is superficial, looks the other way in the face of wrongs, or causes one to remain silent at a time that calls for speaking out. A hardened heart, at its root is self-serving and self-interested. It cannot be judged solely by appearance, and if being honest, we all have times in our lives or instances where, whether we realize it or not, a part of our heart, is in fact, hardened.

We are all called to live authentically in both word and deed. Throughout our lives, we are called to face challenges when the temptation might be to recoil from them. This is something that is only possible with a pliable heart… one that is intent on listening to the Voice that truly matters.

“If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.”

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Waterloo…

Surrender, keep doing it, I thought as I heard the beginning lyrics to the song. On the 18th of June, in 1815, Napoleon surrendered at the Battle of Waterloo, ending the 20 year span of Napoleonic Wars. Just five months earlier, on January 18th, the War of 1812 ended as the Battle of New Orleans came to a close, also with surrender by another general, from another country.

In all the years prior to 1815, and all those since, many a battle has been fought throughout the world. Sometimes they have been to make right, wrongs, and oftentimes they have been to take or keep hold of power, land, and possessions. Throughout time, who is “in charge” and of what they are in charge changes. Also over time, as things change, we may change, and our perceptions of events tend to shift too.

Just as battles have raged on, around the world throughout the centuries, they also occur within our souls. There is so much that perhaps we see only in hindsight. Why is that? Or, even better, what causes that?

Possessions, of one kind or another, clearly seem to take hold, to strike up life, and attempt to take root inside us, creating a fog along the way. However much that might seem to be part of human nature though, it does not have to be the rule. How so?

Seek to uncover, or if you have already discovered it, each and every day, seek to cling to and keep embracing, the truth of who you are, the ways in which you are blessed, and what your universal purpose is. That is, strive to be one with the mission and version of you that is simpatico with the good of all. Live from that place, and you will be set free of all that might otherwise possess you, and cull you into seeking possessions and territories.

And when you slip, or fall, because we all do, go back to that place, and “waterloo”.

Waterloo

The Great Wide Open…

In passing by and at times being surrounded by farmland over the past few months, the beauty and vastness of the countryside has been striking. Against the occasional backdrop of mountains and the many fields of crops and shades of green, there has been much to take in and a great sense of freedom and openness to be felt. There have also been the more confining structures one would expect to see, such as barns, fences and silos. These structures serve to protect what is within and in doing so they create boundaries and barriers. Of them, perhaps the silo, into which one cannot readily see, is the most compelling.

FarmSilos

A farm silo functions as a holding place for storing grains. It is a strong, tall, rounded container with generally no openings for the elements, including light, to penetrate. Its purpose is to prevent the grain inside from becoming compromised or spoiled. A silo does a great job of protecting grain and is both necessary and good. However, personally or in an organization… figuratively, a silo is bad news. It seeks to control the environment in ways that both compromise and spoil forward progress. It also holds back the spirit of integrity and ingenuity necessary to flourish and genuinely thrive.

As we go through life, we all come across situations, organizations and/or people through whom we experience a silo effect—having helpful information withheld, being undermined, being shut out, pushed away or alienated. Often we can easily point to or name such cases. However, it can be more difficult to see or name the instances where we may be helping to foster that experience or effect… allowing it to continue… perhaps even creating or contributing to the creation of even more silos.

The way of the world puts emphasis on acquiring and storing up things, status, reputation, chips on one’s shoulders, etc. Ultimately, they can, and often do, bring us down or cause us to be less than what we truly are. It can be difficult to recognize, yet alone to resist being swept up or carried away by this mentality, or even fighting against it. It can keep us from doing and from being… from living out our deepest, purest desires in a way that is encouraging and uplifting to others as well as ourselves. We can be led astray, fooled, or lulled over time by that which masquerades around providing a false sense of reality as well as security. We can be lured and led away from being a place of growth and harvest to a place of storage.

“You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.” – Andrew Murphy

From time to time, it is important to pause, to let the Light not only in but also to fully penetrate one’s soul, and to ask, am I a vessel or have I become a silo?

StoreHouses

Along the Path…

Stepping out for a walk, not too far along the path, there it was, a most beautiful tree. It had a strong, healthy trunk and rather smooth bark, a bounty of branches and countless leaves of green. I had noticed it previously, but today, with the light from the morning sun it captured my attention more fully, beckoning for me to come closer. In doing so, I found myself under a canopy provided by the branches and leaves. Looking up, I was filled with awe.

At the base there appeared to be two trunks that, not all that high off the ground, had changed course and melded into one, continuing to grow strong for many, many more feet toward the sky. From the trunk, it was striking to see the branches of varying size growing out in many different directions and all holding leaves of green – full of character and life. And though each branch and leaf has its own peculiarities, essentially every part of the tree shared the same essence.

Marveling once again and breathing in, I think, “Freedom.” This is what freedom is. It is to stay connected, drawing strength and sustenance, inspiration and wisdom… to hold fast and firm to authenticity in environments of all kinds. Truly, freedom is to choose and walk the path, ever mindful and ever faithful to the Source.

But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:9

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Be the Church…

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

Venturing out on a beautiful day, I came across a banner with writing and a broad spectrum of colors in the background. Initially it was the array of color, against a mostly white backdrop, that caught my eye. However, upon further examination, what seemed to be horizontal bands of color, now appeared to be pieces of wood, shaped and stacked as if they were part of a log cabin.

The colors were beautiful, but underneath them, each piece…each log still showed signs of the grain that is part, and parcel, of wood. This background image, along with the words written across some of the logs, gave it character and made it compelling. Perhaps the most thought provoking part of the banner was the first line of words, “BE THE CHURCH.” I cannot help but wonder, what church? Is there a church that offers the experience of the words that followed (protect the environment …fight for the powerless …embrace diversity, etc.)?

“BE THE CHURCH.” Next I think, who? Who is to be the church? Is it the priests or ministers and staff, or the people who attend? Is it a combination? Is it for all to partake in?

Then, a childhood rhyme, one accompanied by hand and finger movement, comes to me. “Here is the church. / Here is the steeple. / Open the door, and see all the people.” It used to seem true. Only, I had just been to church and I did not see “all” the people.

“BE THE CHURCH.” Upon further reflection, I am sure many people already are the church, even if they are not “in” the church. In fact, I know many who take being the church to heart and strive to do so in their daily lives. Perhaps those who have left the building, do not enter because it lacks the character, diversity and integrity… because it is no longer (or maybe it never was) a place where they can truly “BE THE CHURCH.” Perhaps it is because so often, those who “run” the church forget about the people, and more importantly, lose sight of the purpose. Then again, that would be the people.

“BE THE CHURCH.” Be who God created you to be, and wherever you are, be faithful to God.

To truly serve and honor God is to serve and honor God’s people and all creation. We must remember that God’s people are ALL people.

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Legacy…

While oftentimes society can see “legacy” in terms of what meets the eye, and what can be measured, legacy is much deeper than that. William Shakespeare wrote, “No legacy is so rich as honesty,” in his play All’s Well That Ends Well (Act 3, Scene 5). Catherine of Siena wrote, “For people become like what they love,” in a portion of a letter (Letter T29) to Regina della Scala, a noblewoman. When fiction gives way to truth, and one scratches beyond the surface reaching the heart of the matter, therein lies what will be left behind and passed along, whether individually or collectively. What stands the test of time, whether for good or bad, is legacy.

Often a question or thought like, “What is this about?” or “There has to be something more than this,” leads one to pause and take notice. In spiritual direction, we strive to discern and live out choices that uncover and align with one’s deepest, God-given, desires. In the process, whether or not one is aware, the force within that often works to serve one’s own legacy becomes tamed, almost naturally. Over time, when one works consistently, in union with God, at being faithful and honest, persevering and following through, trusting the call to rise above and move beyond, though there may be moments of fear or shadows of doubt, the transformation occurs. When it does, legacy is turned toward serving that which is greater, the legacy that is God.

It does not stop there though. Perhaps that is the true beauty of legacy. In relationship with God, while the promise remains the same, we are called to be not only faithful, but also ever-growing and ever-changing. We are called to evolve. We are challenged to take stock of what is around us, and what is within us, as we go through life and each situation we encounter or interaction we have.

The lesser legacy (personal legacy) secretly seeks to keep us where we are spiritually. It seeks to keep one’s sight on the best way to reach one’s own personal goals and ultimately to serve oneself. While the legacy that is God always seeks the greater good. It reveals the way to move beyond and rise above that which would look to undermine, drive a wedge between us—or bring us down—individually or collectively.

Since the beginning of time, a divine desire for unity and wholeness has existed within and among all creation. Throughout time, many a soul has searched to discover, to become one with, and to live from that place of legacy. The contemplative, spiritual life is all about legacy. It is a shared legacy that calls us to remember, to see and to be the light. This is what truly makes us one with God and each other.

It can be good to ask oneself, from time to time, “How is legacy operating in my life?”

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SDIBlog

Here we go again…

The current state of affairs throughout the world, the vast unrest, seems so unreal. Have we really fallen this far? One can only imagine the reaction of all those who have come before us.

What is it that has led to what seems like an inability to be objective? How did behavior that wreaks of an “everyone out for herself or himself” attitude become so widely acceptable and celebrated? While there are so many things that one could debate, it seems reasonable to say that in the quest to win or be the best, integrity, fair-mindedness, and dignity have been obliterated.

Amongst all the hullabaloo and distractions, is there any substance? It seems that so often the meaningful is hidden, squashed or perverted to the point of being hardly recognizable as what it once was promoted as or intended to be. From where does this confusion come?

It leads one to think. What’s the point of all the non-sense going on in the world today? I guess that depends on what one’s goal is.

As unreal as the happenings in the world seem to be, they are not really all that new. We have been at the same, or very similar, crossroads many times before and have risen to the challenge. People of all different races, religions and cultures have persevered through faith, learning and re-learning to work together, from age to age since the beginning of time. We are no different. Believe…

“God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us,
you entrust us with the freedom to choose life…”
– Joyce Rupp, OSM

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