Silence is almost to simple

The simplest spiritual discipline is some degree of solitude and silence. But it's the hardest, because none of us want to be with someone we don't love. Besides that, we invariably feel bored with ourselves, and all of our loneliness comes to the surface.
We don't have the courage to go into the terrifying  place without Love to protect us and lead us, without the light and love of God overriding our own self-doubt. Such silence is the most spacious and empowering technique in the world, yet it's not a technique at all. It's precisely the refusal of all technique.

Richard Rohr

Spiritual Exercises

I've been thinking of 2013 and Spiritual Practices. I read a useful post on Jonny Baker's blog http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2013/01/space-to-think-pray-relax-meditate.html where he wrote about how he and his wife Jen plan spiritual practices for the coming year. It's true that if we don't plan and are not intentional we will most probably not 'practice' what we dream of doing.

McLaren in his book 'finding our way again:The return of the ancient practice' also underlines the importance of intention. Like someone who would like to play an instrument, she has to rehearse and practice so as to become an accomplished musician.

McLaren seeing the reason for Spiritual Practices as: Character building, (an) Awakening, and Experiencing God.

In the Abrahamic tradition there are 7 practices:
Fixed-hour prayer, fasting, Sabbath, Sacred meal, pilgrimage, sacred seasons, and giving.

These practices are seen in 3 way:
The Contemplative Way (practices by which we become prepared for grace to surprise us)
The Communal Way (practices the lead us from into me to into we; practice of liturgy)
The Missional Way (Jesus called disciples so he could send them out).

In 2013 by the grace of God (and some work on my part), I want to continue to develop Spiritual practices...
Prayer, Meditation, Study of Scripture, seeing God in the ordinary, reflecting on art and culture, expressing thanksgiving to God, wonder and awe, pilgrimage, following the sacred seasons, helping the poor, crying out for justice, demonstrating the love of God through Jesus in both deed and word...

The Problem with Scripture

I think Richard Rohr is right when he says the follow about Catholic and Protestant weaknesses concerning Scripture:

Thomas Merton said it was actually dangerous to put the scriptures in the hands of people whose inner self is not yet sufficiently awakened to encounter the Spirit, because they will try to use God for their own egocentric purposes (This is why religion is so subject to corruption!). Now, if we are going to talk about Lent being a time of conversion and penance, let me apply that to the two major groups that have occupied Western Christianity—Catholics and Protestants. Neither one has really let the Word of God guide their lives.

Catholics need to be converted to giving the Scriptures some actual authority in their lives. Luther wasn’t wrong when he said that most Catholics did not read the Bible. Most Catholics are still not that interested in the Bible (historically they did not have the printing press, nor could most people read, so you can’t blame them entirely). I have been a priest for 42 years now, and I would sadly say that most Catholics would rather hear quotes from saints, Popes, and bishops, the current news, or funny stories, if they are to pay attention. If I quote strongly from the Sermon on the Mount, they are almost throwaway lines. I can see Catholics glaze over because they have never read the New Testament, much less studied it, or been guided by it. I am very sad to have to admit this. It is the Achilles heel of much of the Catholic world, priests included. (The only good thing about it is that they never fight you like Protestants do about Scripture. They are easily duped, and the hierarchy has been able to take advantage of this.)

If Catholics need to be converted, Protestants need to do penance. Their shout of “sola Scriptura” (only Scripture) has left them at the mercy of their own cultures, their own limited education, their own prejudices, and their own selective reading of some texts while avoiding others. It has become laughable, as slavery, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia have lasted authoritatively into our time—by people who claim to love Jesus! I think they need to do penance for what they have often done with the Bible! They largely interpreted the Bible in a very individualistic and otherworldly way. It was an evacuation plan for the next world—and just for their group. Most of Evangelical Protestantism has no cosmic message, no social message, and little sense of social justice or care for the outsider. Both Catholics and Protestants (Orthodox, too!) found a way to do our own thing while posturing friendship with Jesus.

Interpretation of Scripture is no easy task. I think it was Brian McLaren who helped me when he suggested that all Scripture should be understood in the light of Jesus. The old testament  massacres and other inhumane actions should not be seen as God inspired but rather man's incapacity of discernment - some of the Pauline epistles may also have some incompatible verses - concerning women, authority etc.. Let's face it Paul wasn't God, so he was prone to making mistakes in his judgements and advice.

But Jesus - He's unique - he's the only man who ever walked this planet who fully reflected the character of God (He was and is God!). So if passages in the Old or New Testament seem to contradict the life and teachings of Jesus - consider them as the error of man. His misunderstanding of God's will.

The key is to contemplate Jesus, mediate on his teaching and his life...

                                                       and with the help of the Spirit live it out...

Meditation and the Virus of Perfectionism

Came across an interesting article in the Financial Times (Christmas eve) on meditation - yes that's interesting in itself. The journalist interviewed Laurence Freeman, a benedictine monk and catholic priest. He's the director of the World Community for Christian Meditation http://www.wccm.org/

On my 40th birthday i was given a book by Laurence (Jesus, the teacher within) - i tried reading it (that was almost 10 years ago) and couldn't get into it. A couple of years ago I picked it up again and enjoyed the read. He was at Greenbelt Festival 2 years ago http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ - he spoke about Christian Meditation and taught some of the techniques. From then on I've practiced meditation (on and off)...it's a great way of entering into the present.

Here's a couple of quotes from the article:

“What people really mean when they say they can’t find time to meditate is that they can’t manage their time or good intentions. It’s a bit like New Year resolutions. But the biggest barrier is perfectionism.”

Freeman warms to this theme. “Perfectionism is like a virus. In religion, it can lead to fundamentalism and self-loathing. The secular equivalent is success. If you only judge yourself by success – of your job, your marriage, your children, even – you are setting yourself up for failure or a sense of inadequacy. Learning to meditate, you have to unlearn perfection and the need for success.”

read the entire article :

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/b5c16414-265c-11e1-85fb-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1iacLRRlj

I think that this is a big challenge for us, our society insists that we need to succeed - or else we're losers - and the church/religious organizations imply that we need to be perfect (in order to be accepted by God and included into the religious community...

we're already accepted by God...just accept his acceptance and stop trying to be perfect...

As Augustin put it "Love God and do what you want!"...

Christian Meditation could help ?