We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue. I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
Do you believe the God of Scripture is working through various types of religions to be present in the world?
Storm clouds gather on the horizon, as a howling tempest blows it way into one’s life. Battered around to and fro pushes the limits of security and patience. A turning inside, away from the blustery blasts, only leads to isolation and the stark realization that this is all too big for us. Self-centered selves never find shelter, as this belongs to those who admit their need of help from the Infinite Other, who gives the possibility of a dramatic change of orientation and destiny. The unending mystery of community, in this context, offers freedom from the perils of selfhood, without leaving us selfless.
The real problem for philosophy remains, as it has been throughout time, subjectivity, not objectivity.
Let there be light. Viewing graphic portrayals of light is overwhelming. The inability to take in all of what is there enables us to remember that we’re finite. This truth, all too easy to forget, though for the life of me I don’t know why, shines into our very existence, yet fading memory continues to entice us to reach for autonomy. Paying attention to our limitedness, rather, should be understood to somehow give us our deep significance. In contrast to the darkness of self-reliance and self-determination – the aim to be capital “I”, so propagated in Western culture, we need recognize, perhaps again and again, that it is the Infinite One who tells the story of giving us who we are.
A post post-modern malaise permeates the cultural landscape. Political deceit, economic oppression, and social blindness are gaining ground. While the O(other) was of momentary curiosity, the play now goes on and the discourse of a secular kingdom, demeans what it seeks to enthrone. When beauty is exchanged for debauchery and love for possession, it becomes more than difficult to find our way, since the very fabric of what can release us lies deeply buried under the artifacts of self-interest.
We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue. I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
In his book After you Believe / Virtue Reborn, N.T. Wright states on p.202 in the latter:
“To accept appropriate moral constraints is not to curtail true freedom, but to create the conditions for it to flourish.”
What’s your take on Wright’s perspective?
A deep, heavy fog penetrates my flesh and stings my eyes. Yes, I’m outside, but does it matter? Feeling closed like a fragile tulip in light spring snow, I’m unable to see even one meter ahead. This blindness shrouds my very being. Prostrate – leaves me momentarily saturated, as I await an opening for contact and a promised touch of vision to bring hope for clearing.
Drifting away into arctic waters, our hearts and minds slip into glacial uncharted seas. The cold seems as unbearable, as does the lack of direction. Gasps of warmth dissipate and the compass freezes. To be chilled and lost leaves deep traces of disenchantment, piercing flesh and spirit. In the midst of shivers and aimless floating, a gradual but bold divine touch adds renewed substance and clarity to the mission of love, which offers tenderness and an itinerary for shelter to the salvaged.
We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue. I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
What are you most fearful of in 2012, and why?
The call of God to humanity, through creation, biblical text, Christ, and Spirit is a revelation of grace. “Here I am,” says the Infinite One; “these are some of the things I’m doing to promote the rescue operation.” God’s speaking and acting decreases ambiguity, while keeping mystery intact. And that is gracious. Significant questions are answered, while others remain unresolved, and this is as it should be. Graced with the twofold privilege of knowing and unknowing (O)other, self, and world, we can move forward with courage and conviction trusting in God, who is the uncreated Creator.
Walking through the shadows of death is a lifelong journey. As we ramble along, there will be struggles to find the way. The promise of God in Christ is light, a piercing and revealing action that illuminates the path, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will not lead us in a false or dubious direction: life is our destiny. This two-fold covenant blessing ensures us that we are not left to merely our own devices for developing deeper community with God, self, other, and world, even when foreboding silhouettes shroud our every step.
Fallen leaves, so fragile, flutter in the breeze. The dance illuminates, amidst a torrent of voices raging, as beauty fades away. Caught in the throes of decay and winter light opens the possibility of an astonishing renewal, not beyond recognition, yet vague and visceral. To await its coming requires the patience of change in the unchanging, a mystery in speech and act, arising to a disclosure of reality.
I hope the 50 or so Reflections of the Week and other posts this year have been helpful, challenging, and spiritually illuminating. A special thanks to you for taking time to ponder the thoughts expressed here, make comments, and support this blog. Every blessing in Christ to you all this Christmas season.
We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue. I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
Why did Word become flesh?
