Openness

A Good Recipe…

There is a cooking show that I watch from time to time in which chefs compete against each other until one chef is left standing. Throughout each round of the show, there is commentary from the chefs providing an inside view on their thoughts as they compete. Now, it could be that more than one chef states something like this to the camera, but oftentimes, there will be one chef who is absolutely certain that his or her dish is the best and cannot be beat. Without fail, that chef is beat.

Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. – St. Paul

In the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (chapter 10, verse 12), St. Paul is trying to call awareness to the age old danger of allowing oneself to be lifted too high. He is cautioning the people against falling into the trap of seeing themselves, or living, as though above the need for self-examination. He is pointing to the example of the past and saying, learn from it! Do not let history repeat itself.

St. Paul goes on to state that there will be trials, but that they will not be bigger than God, who will provide for, protect, and faithfully guide the faithful through them.

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13   

It is a great time of year to take, or make, the opportunity to reflect upon faithfulness. Not loyalty to any human person, organization, or structure, but God’s faithfulness to us and ours to God. To examine what it means to oneself as an individual, as part of a family or group, as part of a community, etc. and to invite God for insight on how to better live by it.

TheWoundToJesusChest

Breaking Away…

Looking out the window, in the midst of being stuck on something for work, I wondered why the flow of cars had come to a stop. It was not even close to commuter traffic time. I stood up and went closer to the window to try to see what was happening outside. As I surveyed the street to the right and then back to the left, all at once the reasons for the holdup came into view.

The two beautiful horses that are normally fenced in across the street were leisurely jogging on the sidewalk, past the stopped cars on the road. I watched in awe as they calmly made their way down the street. Just as they passed my house, they started to turn left toward their home field, but then briefly paused and turned right, crossing the street at a wide opening between some cars, and taking a break in a next door neighbor’s front yard.

They seemed to be enjoying the air outside their usual stomping grounds. They stood there for a few moments, completely unaware of the angst of those trying to carefully restore them to those very grounds. They looked so very majestic and peaceful too.

While the horses breaking free and strolling around the neighborhood caused a bit of a stir, stopping traffic and leading officers to the scene, they were eventually led back to their enclosure. Everyone, horses, owners, officers, witnesses of the “jail” break, and passersby alike, continued on their way safe and sound. I went back to work, no longer stuck.

It is interesting how taking a little time to check things out, especially the unexpected, can bring with it an opportunity for great joy, an encounter or experience that can brighten an ordinary day, and perhaps even lead to insight and discovery of one kind or another. All of us, like the horses running down my street, need to step away or move into a different space at times, and take a breath of fresh air.

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Continuing Education…

“I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my soul.” –Rumi

Recently I attended a show where one of the scenes had a song about parents and teachers who were not listening to the voices of the children. It was as if in trying to teach and steer their children, they had become closed off to the fact that maybe there were things that they needed to learn too. The show and that scene were striking, calling to mind this Rumi quote and making me think about teaching, learning, and the role of prayer.

After having retreated to spend the night on the mountain, praying to God (Luke 6:12), Jesus returned. It was then, and only then, after prayer, that Jesus took action. Perhaps the most appealing qualities of Jesus are that his words and actions match, and that he teaches with a motivation that comes from wisdom and nourishment received through prayer.

While his disciples and countless others seek to listen to his words, to see what he is all about, and to receive healing from him, Jesus, in his ministry, never seeks to elevate, separate, or cut himself off from others, outside of retreating to pray. In the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-26), Jesus stands on level ground as he teaches… as he ministers.

Throughout Scripture, and throughout the ages, Jesus is always in the midst of those who seek him. As we strive, struggle, and overcome, Jesus is one with us. And we are to be one with each other.

However, just as in Scripture, in order for this to occur, we must be honest, having within our hearts and minds an openness to healing, a resistance to complacency, and a desire to keep learning and to grow closer to God each and every day. Doing so allows for a life that is not only just and honorable, but also faithful.

And he came down with them
and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him
and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.

But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

– Luke 6:17-26

Emerging Grace…

It is a most joyous occasion for all, when the light one carries within burns brightly, emerging into an outward glow.

At the time of birth, we all shine with a radiance that is unmatched—beautiful and unblemished. Our light, new to those already in the world, is received magnanimously, often with open hearts, steadfast love, and faithful hope. In fact, the thoughts and feelings engendered by even just the announcement of impending birth often stirs hearts and minds to great anticipation and excitement. Perhaps it is because the unblemished Love within us recognizes and longs for the companionship and unblemished Love within others.

We delight in this Love and welcome it as Good News. It is unquestionable and so easy to see and to embrace. When faced with the knowledge of new life, the Spirit of connection… of Oneness and Unity that resides within each of us cries out. As we move about each day, the same Spirit is with us. A constant companion, with a desire to fill each thirst and hunger within, to help us to see the new life that is all around us, waiting to come to life, waiting to be received, with the same openness and joy that we hold at the time of birth. The Spirit abides within us and moves us toward God and one another, as in the moment the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy (Luke 1:44). How do we respond?

O God, restore us;
light up your face and we shall be saved. – Psalm 80:4

AFK_In_Womb

The Spirit of…

Throughout the year, all around the world, people of all backgrounds prepare for various holidays, Holy days, and the festivities associated with them. There are many cultural as well as familial traditions. Among the countless possibilities, the fact remains that most people have their own ideas and preferences for what a holiday “should” be. Whether inherited and passed along as they were from their beginnings—with no change, put into practice with some variation of what came before, or created in an entirely new and different way, oftentimes we establish routines and even deadlines for the tasks that have become part of our preparation for a special day.

Yet, plan as we may, preparing the way can end up looking very different from what one may have set out to do, may have pictured, or expected from the image of years passed. Frequently though the places where there seems to be missteps, no time, no room, or where we may least expect something good, are exactly the places where we are apt encounter the gift of God’s grace. That is often the beauty and the blessing of holidays, Holy days, and the events that surround them. In our attempts to make them special and meaningful in our own ways, we often look up and around a little more, changing our ordinary routines just enough that we also, perhaps unknowingly, open ourselves and our environment up to more of the Extraordinary—the Divine.

When it is all said and done, it is not so much what we do that makes these days special, but rather what is behind our words and actions and the ways in which we are inspired to say and do them. As the holidays, Holy days, and festivities continue to arrive, embrace the “the splendor of glory from God” (Baruch 5:1). Live from it, allowing it to flow through you into the moments of each and every day, spreading peace, love, and joy wherever you may go; providing comfort, strength, restoration and healing wherever it is needed; and building and bridging relationships all around. In this Spirit, may we receive whomever and whatever may come as we are, that is blessed with the splendor of God’s glory.

Dove

The Point of Letting Go…

“The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” (1 Kings 17:16). Why? Because the Lord ordained it to be so.

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
“Please bring along a bit of bread.”
She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'”
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

– 1 Kings 17:10-16

God sent Elijah to the widow and her son during a period of famine. God’s plan, always, is to provide sustenance for those who are receptive to it. Oftentimes in order to receive the grace that God has in store, one must let go of something that is “other.” More often than not, it involves changing; adjusting, fine-tuning, or altogether shedding that which we may have resigned ourselves to holding onto.

Certainly, it would have been easy as well as justifiable for the widow at Zarephath to hold onto the last of her flour and oil rather than to share any portion of it with Elijah, the stranger in her midst. At first, it seems to be her intention to do just that. However, she listens to the prophet’s words and trusts the way in which they resonate with her.

Although the prophet, and the widow and her son are different, the same God leads each of them. It is in cooperation with God that they recognize this in each other, and in doing so, become one with the grace waiting to be bestowed upon them.

God calls and sends Elijah to a new place. The same God helps the widow to let go of what little she has, instead of clinging to it, and to trust that it will be enough for all… and it is.

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Tapestry…

Just a few months ago it would have been hard to imagine such a pattern or striking array of color replacing the multitude of green leaves that seemed to be all around. And while the scene seemed so rich back then, it seems even more so now. Though the leaves will be falling soon, with the addition of greater diversity, they paint a splendid picture that brings a sense of joy along with hope and promise.

It is amazing how it can be so easy to appreciate the contrast, depth, and value provided by the many differences found in and among nature. That same beauty exists in a wide array through the variety found in humanity, yet oftentimes it is not seen as such. Whether it be difference in appearance, opinion, or fact, there is always a pearl to be discovered, something of great value to be learned.

Sometimes we can work together and other times we need to work apart, going in different directions. What we end up becoming or what we feel moved to do may look very different. When it is all said and done though, like the leaves on the trees, our uniqueness brought together creates the picture that is priceless, but only when we remain rooted in the Source.

Love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5

AutumnLeaves

In the Way…

In the end, it is usually only one thing that gets in the way, time, and time again.

Throughout chapter ten of the Gospel according to Mark, one thing after another seems to be in the way. There are the Pharisees who see Jesus as being in the way and the disciples who see the people trying to bring the children to Jesus as being in the way. Then, the rich man’s possessions are in the way and the status of the disciples is in the way (when James and John ask to sit at the right and left of Jesus). Finally, there is Bartimaeus, the blind man, seen as being in the way by many in the crowd.

So what is the one thing that in the end is really in the way?

The answer starts, like many things, back at the beginning. In the first section of chapter ten, Jesus speaks about hardness of heart. To varying degrees, whether or not we are able to see and acknowledge it, none of us has a heart that is exempt from hardness. We all have moments, where our words, actions, or inclinations can be rigid and cold rather than pliable and warm.

Throughout the Bible, there are countless times when hardness of a heart(s) in one way or another prevents choices that are in union with God and one another. It can be difficult to recognize when hardness of heart is present or starts to build. However, like Bartimaeus, whether or not we may be in the way of others, we need not be afraid to set our hearts on the Lord, and let our guard down to cry out and say, “Master, I want to see.”

Mercy

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.

– Mark 10:46-52

Discovering the Path…

Upon reaching the other side of the bridge, a path of light appeared across the top of the water. Prior to that point, and from various other angles, there was no evidence of any such path. It was only through staying the course, while continuing to look around, that the reflection of light that was there all along could be seen as clear as day, creating a path where before there was none, or so it seemed.

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” –Charles R. Swindoll

Each of us has unique characteristics. At times these qualities can surface in ways that may tempt us into being at odds with each other or seeing each other in lop-sided ways… as not having enough in common to make trying to work together and work through conflicts a worthwhile endeavor. It seems this is often the case in today’s world. However, in most cases, when both sides honestly strive to be united with God and each other, we are able to move into a position where the light shines and the path becomes abundantly clear.

A fish cannot drown in water,
A bird does not fall in air.
In the fire of creation,
gold does not vanish,
the fire brightens.
Each creature God made
must live in its own true nature,
how could I resist my nature,
that lives for oneness with God? – Mechthild of Magdeburg

Path

 

Opening Up…

A couple of days ago, the skies opened up, and the rain poured down as periods of thunder and lightning worked their way through the area. While the cloud masses wrestled, trying to push through to the other side, the torrential rain was unrelenting and seemed as if it could go on without end. It drenched everything in its path, washing away loose sediment and cleansing what remained.

Waiting in the car for a break or a slow-down in the rate of precipitation, I watched with apprehension as the thunder and lightning continued, the wind picked up, and a steady overflow of water traveled down the windows. After what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, rain still pouring, I made a dash, through the stream of water across the entire driveway, into the house. I too was now drenched. However, somewhere between the car and the house as the skies remained loud as well as fully opened, and the ground beyond soaked, trepidation gave way to a spirit of courage and excitement as I made my way to the threshold and crossed over it. Once inside, I looked back, amazed at both the way the rain continued to fall and how exhilarating it was to go through the rain and water to get to dry “land.”

There is always a way, even in times when it may seem like the roads are all washed out, or there are no paths to take. Listen, and as Jesus said, “Be opened!” (Mark 7:34)

Direction