I am now posting primarily to HolySmokeOnTheWater.com because its structure is better suited to my rambling interests: theology, Christianity, my opinions, snippets of what I am reading and hearing,… NotesFromTheMargins.wordpress.com is where I put the dialogues I have with people. I will continue to post items addressing Teachable Moments here. Please join me on these other sites. I miss you.
Thank you. Catherine (Kitsy) Stratton.
You help me because you hear what I am trying to say.
How do we get people to change their behavior?
They won’t understand until they are ready to; some people never do.
Why am I trying harder than the people I am trying to help?
She could get out of that, if she wanted to.
I want to help him; why won’t he let me?
They are not going to hear what you say until they wake up.
Do you hear me?
It will not happen until you are ready for it
If only my mother had known this before she died…
My goal is to find a way to raise their consciousness.
Lord, show me the way
All in good time…
They are at a higher level of consciousness; that’s why.
We haven’t got that kind of time !
Wake up and smell the coffee
He who has ears, let him hear.
We thought education was the answer, but it hasn’t changed their behavior.
I want the wisdom that is so highly praised in scripture.
If I only knew how to get through to him.
I tell them what to do but they just don’t listen.
It takes one to know one.
Why can’t I change?
Are you ready?
On my former blog, The View from 5022, I wrote about making necessary adjustments to one’s life and efforts by using the analogy of sailing. The post is titled “Coming About.” A few nights ago, I performed the equivalent of pumping out the bilge, trimming the sails, and charting a new course.
To continue with that analogy, since the end of last year, I have experienced stalls, squalls, and I’ve run aground a few times. But more recently, there have been breaks in the clouds and a freshening breeze. When I crawled into bed Monday night, I knew there was much to be thankful for but, because of all of it, I felt a bit battered. I grabbed a pen and the closest thing to write on, a prayer and praise journal (which was fitting), and made an assessment of the gains and the losses.
I had been struggling for months with a particular Canadian-born bank which had mismanaged my account and reversed a payment to the IRS, costing me hundreds of dollars in penalties, fees, and increases in interest. The government consumer protection agency and the senator’s office helping me with the issue informed me Monday that the issue is being dropped. To stay upset would only hurt me. I tossed the issue over-board.
Inspired by the marches on Saturday, I enthusiastically volunteered my services to the senator’s office and was told someone might be in touch…at some point…maybe. Issue tossed.
Since just after Christmas, I have written (actual letters on actual note cards in actual cursive handwriting) to 9 friends and family members. None of them have responded. Looking for addresses of others to write to, I came across an old phone list. On it was the name of a former doctor who, earlier last year, had been enduring cancer treatments and surgery, a long time friend who, earlier last year, had been reeling from the emotional blow of retirement, and a former coworker, from 2001 time-frame, who was likely concerned about the future of her career with a governmental climate science agency. I made the calls and was met with instant re-connection, filling my emotional sails with billowed hopes.
These issues and more were lined up down both sides of the pages like small fishing skiffs bobbing in the waves…but there was something else still disturbing me…
Last Summer, when preoccupied with my sister’s arrival from Alaska, I stopped attending the small Episcopal church on the other side of town. Driving by there late last month, I saw on their marquee a notice about an oyster roast. On Saturday, I noticed the date had been changed to this weekend. I called. I volunteered to help. However, I was informed that the priest I had known there had died, suddenly, in December. (I wrote about several of his homilies last year. See “To the Extent that One is Forgiven, One is Capable of Loving” and “What I Didn’t Know.”) He was one of the few people who has believed my inner experience of God. (Father B: “You help me because you are able to hear what it is I am trying to say.”) Recalling that he was now gone from earth, my enthusiasm was suddenly becalmed; I felt more alone on earth than I had before.
My faith and beliefs have come under attack, recently, by bloggers from opposite ends of the religious spectrum. On the one hand, there are the bloggers who hold that all people should believe xyz, strictly and immediately. (I respond that each person should be allowed and encouraged to be where they are on their spiritual path to God; at least they are on the path and God is not done with them yet.) On the other, there are those who hold a larger view but accuse me of insisting that mine is the only way. (I am out of words with that one; My way is MY WAY and I offer it as an example…nothing more.)
At the same time, ironically, I have discovered that there is a spiritual path…a Christian path…with followers who hold the same beliefs I do. Although I have come to my beliefs, faith, and inner life the hard way, having found them, I sought to join them. It seems, however, that although they acknowledge my interest, I have been excluded apparently because I lack the expected background and education. So, I will continue on my own, navigating by the heavens and sailing ‘solo.’
The course I am left with is a simpler one, lacking an itinerary with specified destinations. It is more a way of sailing: trusting in the guiding stars (Jesus and the communion of saints) and the breeze on my face. Watching the tell tail, testing the wind, keeping an eye on the horizon (and the channel markers),…this is the stuff of life.
(I borrowed the image above from the web)
I am quoting Richard Rohr.
In this morning’s meditation, Richard puts into the proper frame of reference, thoughts that I have been presenting on a friend’s blog post, “What’s God got to do with it?” My friend has lamented, sarcastically, that “believers always have an answer.” Well, there is a reason for that.
Richard Rohr gives this “succinct summary of the Perennial Tradition:
Richard includes in his message…and this is important…that
There have been many generations of sincere seekers who’ve gone through the same human journey and there is plenty of collective and common wisdom to be had. …it keeps recurring in different world religions with different metaphors and vocabulary. The foundational wisdom is much the same, although never exactly the same.
See https://cac.org/ for more from Richard Rohr.
A few days ago, I posted my thoughts on God’s interest in everyday, technically non-religious, and seemingly non-spiritual events like football games.
In this morning’s meditation from Richard Rohr, he does a better job of saying the same thing:
God’s revelations are through the concrete and specific.
We have created an artificial divide or dualism between the spiritual and the so-called non-spiritual.
Biblical revelation is saying that we are already spiritual beings; we just don’t know it yet
Here’s to our learning just that!
Richard Rohr’s daily meditations are found through his Center for Action and Contemplation website.
What was it I thought I knew?
“I have to risk teaching and writing what I must trust as the universal wisdom of God, and not just my own ideas. I have no other choice. In doing so I must be willing to be judged wrong by others more intelligent, wise, and holy than I.” This is from Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation from the Living School for Action and Contemplation…and I echo his claim.
Richard adds, “We all constantly draw wisdom from the ongoing evolution of consciousness…God is very patient.” In Creation is Evidence of God’s Brilliance, I state that
God is in no way threatened by science or technology. Quite the contrary, God is giving us the guidance to learn more about His universe…and more. God reveals Himself to us and empowers us to learn more about Him as we are capable and prepared to know Him. For example, the Holy Spirit is not computer illiterate; God is in control and has led man to develop such technology and inspires men, like you and me, to use it to distribute knowledge, wisdom, and guidance to people all over the world.
Okay, do I know this for a fact? No. How can I?
Is it plausible? Yes. It is a theory…and a theory is good until it is proven to be wrong. As Richard Rohr states, “If it is true, it must always have been true.” The concept that humans are coming up with technology that is beyond God’s creation is preposterous; if we have the knowledge, He had it first. He invented it. Was such technology ‘known’ or conceivable at creation? I say, “Yes, and more.” Conceivable by God…not producible by man.
And now we are back to what I ‘know.’
**************************************************
I am in the process of expanding my knowledge, particularly as it concerns my spiritual beliefs and practice. I intend to write more on this as I learn. Something I think I have realized is that where I believe I am spiritually, can be reached by other more formal ways. I am learning about these other ways…and those paths are apparently ancient.
The good news is, I am not alone. The questions I will be pondering are how to get from my path to one of those other paths…or even, should I? If God has been directing my steps thus far, and I trust He has, why should I leave the path He has constructed for me? But then, He also directed my attention to these other ways. I sense I must trust and be open…inquire and…
Besides, I intend to not only expand my knowledge but also my practice…which includes ora et labora … prayer and work, both alone and with others. Perhaps by spending some time on one of these other paths, I might find opportunities to pray and work with other like-minded seekers.
Thanks be to God and to God be the Glory.
(The image at the top is provided by NASA through the Huffington Post.)
See the full, original post of Richard Rohr’s meditation for January 8, 2017. You are invited to sign up for Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations here: https://cac.org/sign-up/
(repeated and expanded here from my comment to an article in Sojourners)
Those of us who hold fast to truth and Wisdom must also hold fast and protect what we know of God, love, and justice. With Shadrach, Meschah, and Abednego, we know that God can deliver us, but if He does not, we will not bow down nor worship anything else…including fear, hate, or discouragement.
It is my opinion that the best position (in addition to protecting and preserving what we know) is to rise up to take a God-perspective of our situation. ‘Bad’ things are sometimes necessary to bring about world-sized changes. There is much ‘good’ coming from this looming dark time: many people who would ordinarily be going about their business are putting more attention to their relationship with God. There is more praying, contemplating, and discussing.
This is a time to keep vigil. This is a time to bury the silver. This is a time to clarify and strengthen one’s own connection to God…and to do that with others. These are dark times but also times of opportunity to focus on what truly matters.
I agree with Pope Francis; this is a change of era. This is an era when seekers of God in truth can pray in silent unison while darkness builds around them. Travelers on the paths of Wisdom, mindfulness, consciousness,… will find themselves walking alongside one another, humming the same tune, speaking the same language. We see the same light. We hold the same light.
Keep watch. Pray. Hold hands. Hunch up close to Jesus. Do not let the light die.
I have recently weathered another perfect storm: exhaustion and self-doubt met with unjust accusations, betrayal, inquisition, and ambush. Did I mention I have weathered that storm….I came through it in one piece.
When a dear friend asked me today why these things always happen to me, I did not elaborate on my beliefs, but Jackie, I will now. My opinion of why such things always happen to me is 1) difficult for many people to accept and 2) my opinion and I am entitled to one.
When people think about ‘bad’ things happening to good people, their concept of ‘bad’ is not my concept of ‘bad.’ Other people’s list of ‘bad’ things include things like car accidents, cancer, abandonment, birth defects, premature death, etc. To me, ‘bad’ is being so unconnected with God that you wonder if you need to introduce yourself when you start to pray.
I will clarify my definition of ‘bad’ by defining the opposite, namely ‘good.’ ‘Good’ is unconditionally loving God. Walk with me closely here because I am not saying that we should respond to ‘bad’ things by loving God; it’s a little more involved (and possible) than that. When ‘bad’ things happen to me, I can often see how the ‘bad’ thing is connected to (or pointing to) something that is distracting me from God.
I will add another very controversial concept: God lets dark forces interfere in our lives for a purpose. Ask Job. When the dark forces are on me like flies, that is my opportunity to once again declare to Whom I belong.
The purpose of this life is not peace, joy, success, prosperity, abundance, health, blah, blah, blah,… And conversely, hatred, misery, failure, etc. are not ‘bad’ things. The purpose of this life is to give us an opportunity, in the midst of battle, to locate and adhere to God. God wants one thing: our constant awareness of Him. The bad things that happen are God-given opportunities to perfect that.
Remember, this is my opinion and I hold it very stongly…and I can because it plays out repeatedly in my life; each time I weather this kind of storm, and prove my loyalty and faith, my bond with God becomes stronger.
In Shadrach, Meschah, and Whatshisname, I give my battle cry, “I’m with them.”
I serve God, through Jesus, with strength and conviction from the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus, saved by His blood by the Grace of God. I look to Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the very Father God to protect and save me. But if He does not, I will not turn from God nor will I stop drawing close to Jesus and neither will I stop turning to the Holy Spirit for guidance and protection. I will not worship anything else. Are there any questions?
I feel I must point out that holding this belief is easy for me because, unike the rich young ruler and most other people, I don’t have much left to lose. I’ve done this a good bit; I know the drill. That is not to say the battle is over. I have not died yet. I’m sure things can get worse. But I pray for the strength to remain steadfast and that I continue to show up when called upon to do so.
I’m all about ‘teachable moments,’ those special moments in time when we are given the opportunity to alter life. I miss probably 95% of them so when I realize I have walked away from one of the 5% that I am aware of, I lament.
I was late in making the water bill payment and drove to the facility on Saturday morning to put the check in the night deposit box. As I was looking around the front door for anything that might resemble a deposit box, a white SUV drove past the side of the building to a covered drive-through. As I walked around the side of the building, I noticed that the driver of the SUV had his window down.
“Is that the night deposit box?” I asked.
“Yes, it is,” he replied. He opened his door a bit and said, “I can’t reach it.”
I hurried into the space between us and offered, “Here, let me help. You told me where to find it so I’ll put both of our checks in.”
“Thank you,” he said, handing me his envelope. As I slipped both beneath the protective cover, he added, “I’ve had a stroke and I’ve lost a lot of strength in my left arm.”
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
“…but I’m getting better,” he quickly added.
Seeing an opportunity, I prayed, “Thank you, Jesus.”
“You bet. I’ll tell you, this stroke really saved my life.”
“Bless you, dear.” I touched his arm; “You have a good Thanksgiving.”
“You, too.”
But I knew as soon as I turned to go that I had blown it. That man had a story to tell and I cut him off.
Everyone has a story to tell.
Some stories are outrageous tales of abuse, neglect, and unbelievable mistreatment…or they start out that way. Some stories don’t sound like stories at all, but rather as general complaints about politics, family members, illness, or the weather. However, if given the opportunity, the complaints can morph into a sharing of the story teller’s circumstances and experiences…often as an explanation of why the story teller thinks the way he does.
If handled properly (and if trust is built) the story teller may then be empowered to shift his position just a bit, less toward rancor and rage, and more toward patience and forgiveness…even toward a willingness to admit his own failings. In, “What do people do, who don’t have Jesus?” I describe a day of meeting people, listening to their stories, and..in time…getting to the crux of life.
The gentleman at the water department wanted to share his story of how suffering a stroke had saved his life. It is probably a wonderful story; his stroke probably forced a change of life priorities or a re-connection to God. By gifting him with the opportunity to tell his story, I could have strengthened the power of the transforming event in his life; I could have encouraged his willingness to share his story and life with more people; I could even have been blessing, myself, with wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
There are enumerable, but only positive, reasons for listening to another person’s story. Truth be told, I would also be obeying Christ in doing so because several times a day He whispers to me, “Let her talk.”
…not just Donald Trump.
Learn to listen to non-like-minded people. (Take deep cleansing breaths, if you have to.)
If one only listens to opinions that match one’s own, one will never be any wiser than one already is.
Today's Teachable Moment 