Christianity
« Previous EntriesIt Should Be Given Entirely To Love
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008More and more since living alone I have wanted to stop fighting, and arguing, and proclaiming and criticizing. I think the points on which protest has been demanded of me and given by me are now well enough known. Obviously there may be other such situations in the future. In a world like ours—a world […]
Authentic Creation
Monday, April 21st, 2008Critics slammed Denise Levertov when religion became an obvious element in her poetry in the ’80s. They said she was making her writing inaccessible to readers who didn’t share her religious sensibilities. What an asinine criticism! How could she not write what was inside of her? As she became more religious, naturally, her art reflected that […]
On Not Hiding Our Heads In The Sand
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008To paraphrase Karl Barth slightly, he said we should carry the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other (he was actually talking about preaching, but it’s highly relevant to daily life, no?).
I read once that the Dalai Lama listens to the news on the radio every morning (this, even before the recent uprisings). […]
Ascending To Love In Spite Of Myself
Thursday, March 27th, 2008In the book Silence by Shusaku Endo, there is an unlikeable, quivering character—a cowardly fellow—who keeps asking, Is it fair that I was born weak and not strong? Is it fair to judge me harshly when I can’t help who I am?
While he was an entirely distasteful character, I could not help empathizing with him. Could […]
My Easter Journey
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008Good Friday. Prayer pilgrimage in the format of stations of the cross, organized by the local chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
As we prepare for our pilgrimage, may we be stripped of our own security to experience the vulnerability of others around us.
We walk from the church to a homeless shelter, a day laborer center, a […]
Friday, March 21st, 2008
In Its Proper Place
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008The mind with all its powers would like to hold first place among all the instruments employed by God, but it must, like a dangerous slave, be reduced to the lowest place. It might be of great service if made use of in a right manner, but it can do much injury if it is […]
More Polishing
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008Life smooths us, rounds, perfects,
as does the river the stone,
and there is no place
our Beloved is not flowing
though the current’s force you
may not always like.
-Teresa of Avila
Choices
Monday, March 17th, 2008About a year ago, I read Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, by Sharon Begley, a fascinating look into recent discoveries in the field of neuroscience, particularly in regard to neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to adapt and change.
The video of Jill Bolte Taylor reminded me of Begley’s book, especially the portions about attention and […]
Polishing The Stone
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008Ruth Burrows writes:
We find it hard to give up the idea that there is a magic answer somewhere, that it must be possible to get this burden off our backs. We have a deep conviction that we are being wronged: our environment is wrong, our companions are responsible; if we had a different job, if […]