'...IN STILLNESS AND SILENCE..."

Colin Coward at Changing Attitude:

On the contrary, from my experience, I know that Christian worship is often complacent, reinforcing tradition, focussed on maintenance and survival, bums on pews, money on the plate, rather than the redeeming, liberating power of being born anew in the Holy Spirit into the resurrection energy of Christ. (And a danger here is to think emotionalism equates with this experience – I’m writing about something far deeper and more disturbing)

I don’t think that what I’m trying to describe has been researched. Maybe it’s impossible to research because as I know from experience, it’s hard to talk about and describe to other people, the feelings, ideas, insights, intuitions, that can flow when, in stillness, silence and open-hearted contemplation you open yourself to the infinitely loving presence of the living God. In that space, resistance melts, dogma becomes irrelevant, and deep truth seems to grasp awareness. (My emphasis)

Read Colin's entire post.  It is excellent.  Colin is one of a group of six members of the LGB&T Anglican Coalition who will meet with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby this coming Thursday for a conversation.  Since the discussion is confidential, Colin will not issue a report.  Pray that the conversation will bear good fruit.

I, too, find it difficult to describe the effect of the presence of God in my life, but Colin comes quite close in his words - so close that I felt a frisson.  And it's not that we suddenly become saintly in all we do and say, but the change of heart runs deep and changes how we think and view the world and each other.  For me, the best way I know to move forward in living the Gospel is to keep things simple and be mindful of the Two Great Commandments and the Golden Rule.

He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
(Matthew 27:32-40)
 
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
(Matthew 7:12) 

IS THE HONEYMOON OVER?

Pope Francis has backed the Vatican’s doctrinal crackdown on a major group of American nuns, reasserting the Roman Catholic Church's conservative approach to various social issues in a move that could cool the warm reception he has received from some liberal Catholics since taking office last month.
 
The Vatican said in a statement Monday that Francis had reaffirmed the doctrinal evaluation and criticism of U.S. nuns made last year by the Holy See under his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. The assessment accused the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an organization that represents most U.S. female Catholic orders, of promoting "radical feminist themes" and ignoring the Vatican's hard line on same-sex marriage and abortion.

"[R]adical feminist themes"?  It is to laugh.  Perhaps I am what the Vatican would consider a radical feminist today because of the fine example of the nuns who taught me in my Roman Catholic elementary and high schools.  Not that the words were ever mentioned, but the great majority of my teachers set an example for me by their intelligence, kindness, knowledge, and common sense.  That the investigation of the nuns will continue is disappointing, but, on the other hand:

Father James Martin, a prominent Jesuit priest in the United States who led a Twitter drive last year to defend the nuns, said it was too soon to say whether Francis, the church's first Jesuit leader, was shutting the door on dialogue.

"Given the long history of the LCWR investigation, it's not surprising that Pope Francis is asking the Congregation [for the Doctrine of the Faith] to continue its work. It would have been odd for him to halt things at this point, so early in his job," Martin said. "But given that he himself is a member of a religious order, I would imagine that the sisters will get a sympathetic hearing from him."

I hope Martin is correct that the nuns will get a fair hearing, and their harassment will soon be a matter of history.

PRAY FOR BOSTON

Pray for those who died and their loved ones. Pray for the injured, some of them horribly. Pray there will be no more explosions.

SHINYRIBS - "BOLSHEVIK SUGARCANE"

If you're not awake, wake up. Spring is here!

From Music Fog.

STORY OF THE DAY - FALLING INTO PLACE

deciding everything is falling into place perfectly as 
long as you don't get too picky about what you mean 
by place. Or perfectly.

From StoryPeople.

RIVERBEND RETURNS

If  you remember the Baghdad blogger, Riverbend, a young Iraqi woman, who blogged from post-invasion Iraq at Baghdad Burning, you'll be interested to know that, she posted for the first time in five and a half years.  After suffering hardships during the occupation, Riverbend and her family, concerned for their safety, made a harrowing journey from Iraq to Syria.  Subsequently, she and her family left Syria before the worst of the fighting began there for another Arab country, stayed a year, and then left for a third Arab country. 

She asks of the people of the US:

Finally, after all is said and done, we shouldn't forget what this was about - making America safer... And are you safer Americans? If you are, why is it that we hear more and more about attacks on your embassies and diplomats? Why is it that you are constantly warned to not go to this country or that one? Is it better now, ten years down the line? Do you feel safer, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis out of the way (granted half of them were women and children, but children grow up, right?)?

No, Riverbend, we are not safer.  The invasion of your country was a mad scheme of the Cheney/Bush maladministration based on lies and misinformation.  Americans owe you and the people of Iraq our deepest apologies.  Some of us tried to stop the madness, but to no avail.   May you be safe and at peace in your present home.  Although you say your post may be your last, I hope you change your mind and let us hear from you again.

... I'll meet you 'round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend...

H/T to Athenae at First Draft.

SPRING IS HERE: CATKINS ARE BACK

The catkins pictured are male flowers from one of three oak trees in our yard. The picture above was taken three years ago when we had another bumper crop, as we are having this year.  The picture below is by Bill Fieg from the Baton Rouge Advocate, but the link to the photo no longer works .

As you see in the closer view, catkins resemble caterpillars.  Grandpère finds the flowers annoying, because he likes our driveway clear.  The flowers produce pollen which can cause discomfort for people with allergies.  Fortunately, we do not seem to be allergic to the pollen.

TOMORROW

 

True for me.

HELLO JOSEPHINE - FATS DOMINO

Friday night with Fats Domino.

ENERGY EVERYWHERE

Think Keystone Pipeline.