Jane Note: As fear increases here at home and in the world, it is becoming more evident that we need to recognize each other and connect with each other in a new way (or an old way refreshed). Personally, I have been convicted by the word "objectify". We have lost our ability to connect with each other as human beings. We only see categories of people (we objectify) which seems to make taking the life of another human being ok.
My personal reaction is to speak to everyone I see and ask them how they "really are." (ok so you have to start somewhere!) As I awakened this morning feeling overwhelmed and somewhat defeated about the actions of two young men killed by police, five police killed by a young man on top of the Sandy Hooks, Virginia Tech, Orlando, San Diego, 9/11 et al and now Nice and Turkey, I went searching in the writings of Ben and also of Carl McColman, www.carlmccolman.net/tag/contemplation/
Today, I encourage you to follow Carl McColman if you do not already. Plus read this selection from
Companions in Contemplation Ben Campbell Johnson, 2009, pg 90-91 speak to me to quiet my soul:
"Before I even thought of the silence of contemplation, my reading for the day stopped me cold. The writer said “…contemplation is out of the question for any one who does not try to cultivate compassion for other men.”
I understood this undeniable truth! Christ has formed of all humans his Body on earth (not merely the baptized, but all) and division, exclusion and elitism crucify him afresh by dismembering his Body. The image of fracturing his body evokes memories of a lifetime of withdrawing.
As a child I was taught that our family was different from the neighbors. Our yard was kept better and our family made better choices about with whom we associated and how we managed our money. This distinction between families marked the beginning of my awareness of being different from others.
This distinction grew until my spiritual conversion. I realize today that I was converted away from my sins, rather than to Jesus Christ. I tended then to build a false ego defined by what I did not do – how this made me different from other Christians. I imagine that fear widened this chasm between me and others, a fear that I would fall back into my past practices.
In the early days of this new life in Christ’s Body, I heard my mentors comparing themselves (and me by implication) with other Christians who lacked an adequate view of holy living, of which, of course, we were good examples. This posture put me on the right side of how to be a true Christian and placed others on the left. In my early theological training, the emphasis continued to fall on the difference between “us” and “others” and not on the community of the forgiven.
Over the years this way of viewing myself in the Body of Christ has wielded a powerful, unconscious influence on my perceptions of and reactions to other people. Naturally, this pharisaical way of seeing myself affected both the way I saw both people and situations. After all these years, I must be converted to Christ and his unconditional love.
A new choice is not enough; a resolve will not work; only Christ, Christ alone can make me a new creation. I look to him."
Today, sit in the still quiet heart of our Lord.
My personal reaction is to speak to everyone I see and ask them how they "really are." (ok so you have to start somewhere!) As I awakened this morning feeling overwhelmed and somewhat defeated about the actions of two young men killed by police, five police killed by a young man on top of the Sandy Hooks, Virginia Tech, Orlando, San Diego, 9/11 et al and now Nice and Turkey, I went searching in the writings of Ben and also of Carl McColman, www.carlmccolman.net/tag/contemplation/
Today, I encourage you to follow Carl McColman if you do not already. Plus read this selection from
Companions in Contemplation Ben Campbell Johnson, 2009, pg 90-91 speak to me to quiet my soul:
"Before I even thought of the silence of contemplation, my reading for the day stopped me cold. The writer said “…contemplation is out of the question for any one who does not try to cultivate compassion for other men.”
I understood this undeniable truth! Christ has formed of all humans his Body on earth (not merely the baptized, but all) and division, exclusion and elitism crucify him afresh by dismembering his Body. The image of fracturing his body evokes memories of a lifetime of withdrawing.
As a child I was taught that our family was different from the neighbors. Our yard was kept better and our family made better choices about with whom we associated and how we managed our money. This distinction between families marked the beginning of my awareness of being different from others.
This distinction grew until my spiritual conversion. I realize today that I was converted away from my sins, rather than to Jesus Christ. I tended then to build a false ego defined by what I did not do – how this made me different from other Christians. I imagine that fear widened this chasm between me and others, a fear that I would fall back into my past practices.
In the early days of this new life in Christ’s Body, I heard my mentors comparing themselves (and me by implication) with other Christians who lacked an adequate view of holy living, of which, of course, we were good examples. This posture put me on the right side of how to be a true Christian and placed others on the left. In my early theological training, the emphasis continued to fall on the difference between “us” and “others” and not on the community of the forgiven.
Over the years this way of viewing myself in the Body of Christ has wielded a powerful, unconscious influence on my perceptions of and reactions to other people. Naturally, this pharisaical way of seeing myself affected both the way I saw both people and situations. After all these years, I must be converted to Christ and his unconditional love.
A new choice is not enough; a resolve will not work; only Christ, Christ alone can make me a new creation. I look to him."
Today, sit in the still quiet heart of our Lord.