A little bit software engineer, a little bit neo-hippie, a little bit hardcore biker, a little bit celtic monk
Book Review for Busy Pastors (and Others)
by drwinn.com
Looks great! Probably part of the reason many of us are pursuing contemplative spirituality also.
My web-friend Brad Culver wrote a beautiful liturgy for Celtic Advent last year.
Celtic Advent runs a full 40 days, just like Easter Advent - from NovComments [0]
I’ve been revisiting some vows that I wrote and took with several people in our community several years ago. I’m starting to think they may form the contour of a new rule of life/ curriculum for transformation. Here they are (slightly altered and with some more edits needed…)
Simplicity, the focused life: In a world that is frantic and overcommited we’re simple, purposeful lives.
Community, the shared life: In a world that of fractured relationships we’ll display unity through a shared life.
Prayer, the God-centered life: In a world chasing “self-fulfillment” we’ll center our lives on God through a prayerful life.
Study, the transformed life: In a world that is force-fed by self-centered advertising and media, we’ll regular reflect on God’s word and let that transform our minds.
Work, the creative life: In a world drunk on laziness and entitlement, we’ll be industrious and generous through meaningful work.
Service, the generous life: In a world that idolizes power, individualism, and ego we’ll demonstrates Christ’s way of serving through practical acts of love.
Hospitality, the welcoming life: In a world filled with hostility, we’ll be a warm, welcoming place for friends and strangers.
Justice, the active life: In a world full of injustice, we’ll work at local grassroots level for visible social change and be a voice for justice among the world’s oppressed.
Sabbath, the renewed life: In a world frazzled by overcommitment we’ll take time for rest and recreation.
Celebration, a joy-filled life: In a world plagued by apathy and anxiety we’ll regularly and joyfully celebrate all that is good, true and beautiful.
Kevin's been working on a community Way of Life and revisiting some of his previous notes. This one was great, so I'm sharing it in whole.
I'll be writing quite a bit in upcoming weeks about the Way/Rule that I'm developing within the framework of the Community of Aidan and Hilda, the Celtic community of which I am part.
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“Film is a record of the ever-changing face of God. This moment is holy, but we walk around like it’s not holy. We walk around like there are some holy moments and there are all the other moments that are not holy. [But they are] and film can let us see that. Film can frame it so we can see that, Ah! This moment. Holy.” – from the film Waking Life
Photography is a deeply contemplative practice. If we approach it with reverence and intention, it can help us to see the holy moments all around us. In this online class you will be invited to take your camera out into the world each week for photographic journeys based on an adaptation of the ancient monastic practice of lectio divina and specific guided themes. In the process of slowing down and lingering over moments of beauty, you will cultivate sacred seeing, your ability to see the world beneath the surface appearance of things.
Photography is essentially about the play of light and dark, illumination and shadow, much as the spiritual journey is a practice of paying attention to these elements of our lives and how the holy is revealed in each. Photography is also about the choices we make in the visual framing of elements, what to include and what to exclude, whether to zoom or pull back. This is a practice of visual discernment: a way of choosing what is important and what needs to be let go of. We begin to see things differently, and in our images also discover aspects of ourselves and God. In our discussions we will explore how to distill wisdom from the images we receive.
Are you seeking a way to bring more presence and prayerfulness to your creative expression? Are you longing for ways to practice the contemplative life which are more visual and kinesthetic? Would you like to join a supportive online community to offer you structure and encouragement in the creative path?
This class is not about developing your technical proficiency as a photographer - it is about cultivating your ability to see with the “eyes of the heart” (Eph 1:18). In biblical and mystical traditions, the heart is the seat of our whole being. To see with the heart, means we bring the whole of ourselves to whatever reality we find ourselves in. We will explore photography in service of expanding our contemplative practice and compassionate presence to the world and to ourselves.
I've long said that photography - for me, especially street and concert photography - are spiritual disciplines. Christine Painter at Abbey of the Arts is offering this excellent class, which marries photography, contemplative spirituality and lectio divina.
I hope to have a job by the registration deadline so that I can sign up. You may be interested also.
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I found this one online and traced it back to a source (though not the original, it appears).
All in good fun, y'all :-)
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I am deeply impacted by the story of One Day's Wages, a newly launched nonprofit organization which is dedicated to providing simple ways of fighting extreme global poverty. ODW is the child of Eugene Cho, a young pastor who I greatly admire, and the story of Eugene's vision and commitment is moving. I hope it moves you.
A video of Eugene describing ODW is here - have a quick watch, and take the challenge:Comments [0]
Like a wooden spinning top
with its main mass lopsidedly near the edge,
I have wobbled erratically,
weaving an uncertain
inconsistent
and unstable course
through life so far.
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Lectio divina this morning from Psalm 18.
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The Rule of St. Benedict provides practical wisdom for living the Christian life. It is a highly influential Rule of Life and has benefitted communities for 1500 years. When you read through the Rule (and it's very worthwhile to read), you find that Benedict understood human psychology well and was gracious and flexible with people who stumbled.
I recently re-read the Rule, and on this read I was impressed with Chapter 4, in which Benedict lists the good deeds that he encourages his monks to participate in. I'm usually vehemently against lists of spiritual tasks, but Benedict's list feels different to e. I have been thinking and praying through these items, and think that each one would make a good daily emphasis for meditation (one per day).
Below is a translation for Benedictine nuns, from http://www.osb.org/rb/text/rbejms2.html#4.
> Chapter 4: What Are the Instruments of Good Works
>
> 1. In the first place, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, > the whole soul, the whole strength.
> 2. Then, one's neighbor as oneself.
> 3. Then not to murder.
> 4. Not to commit adultery.
> 5. Not to steal.
> 6. Not to covet.
> 7. Not to bear false witness.
> 8. To honor all (1 Peter 2:17).
> 9. And not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself.
> 10. To deny oneself in order to follow Christ.
> 11. To chastise the body.
> 12. Not to become attached to pleasures.
> 13. To love fasting.
> 14. To relieve the poor.
> 15. To clothe the naked.
> 16. To visit the sick.
> 17. To bury the dead.
> 18. To help in trouble.
> 19. To console the sorrowing.
> 20. To become a stranger to the world's ways.
> 21. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
> 22. Not to give way to anger.
> 23. Not to nurse a grudge.
> 24. Not to entertain deceit in one's heart.
> 25. Not to give a false peace.
> 26. Not to forsake charity.
> 27. Not to swear, for fear of perjuring oneself.
> 28. To utter truth from heart and mouth.
> 29. Not to return evil for evil.
> 30. To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to > oneself.
> 31. To love one's enemies.
> 32. Not to curse those who curse us, but rather to bless them.
> 33. To bear persecution for justice's sake.
> 34. Not to be proud.
> 35. Not addicted to wine.
> 36. Not a great eater.
> 37. Not drowsy.
> 38. Not lazy.
> 39. Not a grumbler.
> 40. Not a detractor.
> 41. To put one's hope in God.
> 42. To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in > oneself.
> 43. But to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to > impute it to oneself.
> 44. To fear the Day of Judgment.
> 45. To be in dread of hell.
> 46. To desire eternal life with all the passion of the spirit.
> 47. To keep death daily before one's eyes.
> 48. To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life.
> 49. To know for certain that God sees one everywhere.
> 50. When evil thoughts come into one's heart, to dash them against > Christ immediately.
> 51. And to manifest them to one's spiritual mother.
> 52. To guard one's tongue against evil and depraved speech.
> 53. Not to love much talking.
> 54. Not to speak useless words or words that move to laughter.
> 55. Not to love much or boisterous laughter.
> 56. To listen willingly to holy reading.
> 57. To devote oneself frequently to prayer.
> 58. Daily in one's prayers, with tears and sighs, to confess one's > past sins to God, and to amend them for the future.
> 59. Not to fulfill the desires of the flesh; to hate one's own will.
> 60. To obey in all things the commands of the Abbess, even though > she herself (which God forbid) should act otherwise, mindful of the > Lord's precept, "Do what they say, but not what they do."
> 61. Not to wish to be called holy before one is holy; but first to > be holy, that one may be truly so called.
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