Have found myself in the last couple of weeks, remembering the words of Rabbi Heschel who said that 'the one who works with his mind, sabbaths with his hands'. Have been enjoying a rhythm of labor lately (you may recall I shared about the various rhythms I was hoping for my sabbath to entail), laboring in the confines of my bathroom - ripping apart, putting back together, painting, installing tile. Have enjoyed the feeling of going to bed with a tired and sore body, and a rested and refreshed mind. And as I've worked and listened to the ageless music of Keith Green, have found myself pondering many things - reflecting on my life, the church as I see it, the church I witnessed in India and Bangladesh (yes still trying to comprehend all of those thoughts), and so will simply over the next bit share some of my musings with you - in no particular order. I might add as well, much of my reflecting these days is impacted by the words of Thomas A Kempis, William Law, Brother Lawrence - a few of the wise old sages I find myself reading in these days.
Monica and I had the chance to visit another church together the other day - very different than our usual place of worship. Different in the sense that it was only about 15-20 people. As we worshipped together I found myself struck by the simplicity and the quaintness of our time together. In many ways it felt like a home Bible study group that was blessed to have their own building to worship in. What struck me about this experience, was the tension such a setting has in the midst of our consumeristic culture and faith. I thought about the fact that this church could not rely on all of its programs and ministries to feed people's faith. In a church that small, with a lower budget, one cannot offer all of the stuff that appeals to our desire for more and more. Yet I find myself asking and wondering if there is not much good in that. When one does not have all the 'dressings' to feed one's faith, it really is left to you and God. I wonder sometimes if all we have and do as a western church - has produced a people that hunger after God intensely, or has it left us relying on things to constantly feed our faith - and the reality is sometimes our faith becomes guaged by what we are doing and participating in, rather than daily, delighting in the simple truth that I am a messed up sinner who has been saved by the grace of God - and that is such good news that I should simply want to live to share this message with the world around me.
Was enjoyable to enter a place that at first glance I thought wow, there may not be much happening here, to realizing that they may be staged in a greater place to enjoy the absolute beauty of knowing Jesus and delighting in Him above all things.
Next time I write to you may be from the foothills of Alberta as I get set to head out for a week long, Ignatian silent retreat. A week with just me and my thoughts in quiet - both exciting and very scary!!
Monica and I had the chance to visit another church together the other day - very different than our usual place of worship. Different in the sense that it was only about 15-20 people. As we worshipped together I found myself struck by the simplicity and the quaintness of our time together. In many ways it felt like a home Bible study group that was blessed to have their own building to worship in. What struck me about this experience, was the tension such a setting has in the midst of our consumeristic culture and faith. I thought about the fact that this church could not rely on all of its programs and ministries to feed people's faith. In a church that small, with a lower budget, one cannot offer all of the stuff that appeals to our desire for more and more. Yet I find myself asking and wondering if there is not much good in that. When one does not have all the 'dressings' to feed one's faith, it really is left to you and God. I wonder sometimes if all we have and do as a western church - has produced a people that hunger after God intensely, or has it left us relying on things to constantly feed our faith - and the reality is sometimes our faith becomes guaged by what we are doing and participating in, rather than daily, delighting in the simple truth that I am a messed up sinner who has been saved by the grace of God - and that is such good news that I should simply want to live to share this message with the world around me.
Was enjoyable to enter a place that at first glance I thought wow, there may not be much happening here, to realizing that they may be staged in a greater place to enjoy the absolute beauty of knowing Jesus and delighting in Him above all things.
Next time I write to you may be from the foothills of Alberta as I get set to head out for a week long, Ignatian silent retreat. A week with just me and my thoughts in quiet - both exciting and very scary!!
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