Immersed In Mystery: August 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Truth I Seek

Seems like this is the week for poetry. Here is another one written while on retreat at Qu'Appelle House of Prayer these past couple of days.
____________

The Truth I seek
is not a set of propositions
lined up neatly
so I can understand
and agree completely.

The Truth I seek
is no static group of words
noted by black and white,
contrasts only, without
the full spectrum of light.

The Truth I seek
lives in the midst of eternity -
relating and creating -
continually new, continually now -
unceasingly seeking.

The Truth I seek
is Christ, and Christ alone.
All truths find their source in Christ.
All creation is centred in Christ.
I seek the very centre of Truth.
I seek Christ, the centre of Love.
I seek Christ, who is seeking me.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Light Shone In

Some recent thoughts set down in free verse poetry.
____________

The Light shone in
breaking the oppression of darkness
and the people said
“This is wonderful”

They loved the Light
because it did great things for them
They wanted to protect the Light
from the forces of darkness
"threatening to devour it"

so they gathered round
in a tight circle
firmly resolved to guard the Light
and without realizing it
they ended up
only blocking it out

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Eight Words

This past weekend my wife and I spent time in the Kenosee Lake region of southeast Saskatchewan. We were there for the wedding of David Ruecker and Bethann Husband. David was a youth worker at Christ Lutheran Church for many years, and I got to know Dave well as we spent many hours doing youth ministry together. It was a joy to be part of the wedding ceremony of Dave and Bethann - a beautiful couple in a beautiful setting on a beautiful day - how much better can it get than that?

Bethann's pastor, Rolland Bouchard (who serves Moose Mountain Church of Christ), told my wife and I about a great place for coffee and cinnamon buns in the town of Carlyle, a few miles south of Kenosee Lake. The place is called 8 Words Café, and was opened by Michael Ellis (a pastor, entrepreneur and mayor of the nearby town of Arcola). According to Pastor Rolland, the 8 Words in the name of the cafe refer to the way Michael Ellis distills down the great command to 8 words.

I can't remember the exact 8 words Rolland told me, but as I thought about this further driving back from the wedding I had an inspiration for my own version. The summary I came up with uses just 4 words twice, arranged in different order to make two short sentences. Before I reveal my 8 words let me clarify what I consider the great command.

Jesus is once asked to identify which commandment in the law is the greatest. Jesus responds "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40). This is Matthew's version, but a similar response is found in the other synoptic Gospels: Mark 12:28-34 and Luke 10:25-28. In Luke's version the clarifying question is posed "Who is my neighbor" to which Jesus responds with the parable of the good Samaritan, a response that indicates that Jesus understands neighbor to mean anyone we encounter, regardless of any similarities or differences one might have with the other.

It should be noted that neither of these two commandments that Jesus links together are new. They show up in the Torah - the law that faithful Jews have learned throughout the generations. Deuteronomy 6:5 is the first proclamation of the great commandment, initially given by Moses to the people of Israel in the wilderness. The command about loving neighbors is found in Leviticus 19:18, the culmination of a command to not take vengeance or bear a grudge. Jesus identifies these two laws from the Torah as the greatest, and uses love as the common denominator linking these two commandments.

This two-part command of Jesus - to love God with all that we have, and to love others (indeed to love all of God's creation) as we love ourselves - this I take to be the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Love is God's gift to us, and love is our response to God. This is the centre of our faith. How thus to state this commandment and all that it encompasses in 8 words? This is what I came up with:

Love God with all.
Love all with God.

Those two statements work in many ways, and as such they function like poetry or parable - with many layers to uncover. May these 8 words be a simple way to remind us of what we are called to do as disciples of Jesus.

Love God with all.
Love all with God.

By the way, the coffee and the cinnamon buns really were great, and Beth (my wife) and I would recommend the 8 Words Café if you are ever in the vicinity of Carlyle, Saskatchewan.

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Books I've read recently

Font of Life: Ambrose, Augustine, & the Mystery of Baptism

by Garry Wills

Under the cathedral floor in Milan archeologists have uncovered the baptistry where Ambrose baptized the newly converted Augustine in the late 4th century. Having visited this site I was interested to read Garry Wills book which looks at the life, teachings and ecclesiastical careers of these two significant leaders of the early church. This book is filled with many insights into these two giants of faith, as well as how differences in theology and praxis has been around for a long time. Of particular interest was how Ambrose used portions of Hebrew scripture as metaphor or allegory relating to baptism and the gospel.

An Acceptable Time

by Madeleine L'Engle

The fifth and final book in the Time Quintet, this was a most enjoyable read, one that I had not read before - which turned into a problem when I couldn't put the book down as I got into the final chapters and stayed up far too late in order to finish the book (which had a satisfying and appropriate conclusion). I liked the inclusion of the Bishop Heron character, which allowed for specific theological reflection. I enjoyed how the grandparents do not believe the strange happenings with a time gate even though they themselves experienced strange events when they were younger - a nod to age and responsibility distracting us from mysteries that we don't like. I also was surprised to find 'ley lines' in the story and wondered if this is where Stephen R. Lawhead got the idea for his Bright Empires series.

Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way

by Lars Mytting

This book was a recommendation of a friend who shares a Norwegian heritage. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and how much I learned. Who knew there was so much to know about wood for heating homes?! Throughout the book I found myself longing for a home with a good wood stove in it (and access to forests) - maybe some day... until then I will have to content myself with the occasional wood felling and burning at the cabin.

Glory Season

by David Brin

An interesting premise for this sci-fi work, a world where women are in control and men are second rate citizens. The question in such a scenario is "would such a world be a better, more peaceful place?" Brin paints a highly detailed picture incorporating cloning, pastoralism and outside influence (in the form of a visitor from space). The conclusion seems to be that such a world would look more peaceful externally, but would still be fraught with inner tensions. It also makes a case for neither male nor female domination of the other, but of a partnership and valuing of each individual's strengths. Brin is the favourite author of a friend who recommended I give his books a try - I was glad to have read this one.

The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential

by N.T. Wright

Though known as a New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright turns his considerable skills to look at the Book of Psalms resulting in some helpful insights and commentary. Wright uses the "mystery of space and place" as a set of lens to consider the importance of the Psalms - and I will need to re-read this book to more deeply understand these connections. What I found most enjoyable was the Afterword, a chapter called "My Life with the Psalms" where Wright gives poignant examples of how specific Psalms were meaningful to him in various circumstances of his life.

The Whistler

by John Grisham

A parishioner of mine thought I should read something other than religious books, that I needed to read something just for enjoyment, then she lent me this Grisham book. It certainly was an easy read (unlike the Kierkegaard book I'm trying to work my way through currently). The themes of greed, corruption and perseverance certainly resonated with truth from my perspective. The ending was almost too happy, the bad guys (and gals) got their due and the pursuers of justice got their rewards. I wish it worked out that way as nicely in real life.

To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again

by Mary C. Neal, M.D.

This book contains far more than an account of this person's NDE, it also sets out the many ways in which Mary has experienced God's presence and guidance throughout her life. I found the story around her death, NDE and resuscitation while kayaking in Chile the most intriguing. Other parts were also interesting, though not as gripping. Many who experience NDEs say they believe they are still on earth because they have something they need to do or finish, Dr. Neal's reason was incredibly personal and painful. A faith story in more ways than one.

The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

by Philip K. Dick

Unlike any other PKD fiction I have read, not science fiction at all, instead it tells the story of an Episcopalian Bishop who was ultimately interested in finding the source material for the Gospels, which led to his untimely death in the desert of Israel. This novel is apparently a thinly veiled story about Bishop James Pike, whom Philip K. Dick considered a personal friend. This work explores many themes including faith, gate, destiny, sin – all set in California in the height of the cultural revolution that was the late sixties. It is hard to say whether PKD has any personal affinity for Christianity based on this book, but he certainly doesn't dismiss it outright either. It felt like an honest attempt to explain this man and the reason for the choices he made.

The Farthest Shore - Earthsea Cycle Volume 3

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Exploring the age old questions surrounding life, death and immortality, Le Guin weaves a fantastic tale with wizards, dragons, princes and incredible journeys. In a sense I understood this story to be a version of Genesis Chapter 3, with the fall of humanity being linked to our desire to be God, to achieve endless power and immortality on our own – and the devastation that such grasping reeks on the world and on human relations. What is interesting is that Le Guin tells such a tale of ultimate violence with little violence in the telling. In the end, much like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it is friendship and love that restores things to their rightful manner. An enjoyable read to be sure.

Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences

by Jeffrey Long, M.D. with Paul Perry

Doctor Long has conducted the largest study of NDEs so far, and this book is a summary of his findings. Having read many other books about NDEs before there was not a lot of new information in this book for me, but having the information organized in a methodical manner was very helpful. Essentially what I learned from reading this book was that there is a high level of consistency between NDEs, in spite of the unique qualities of each one. This consistency spans age groups, cultures and religious beliefs (or lack thereof). This book would be a great introduction to someone wanting to learn about this fascinating subject.