Living Well: Collages from the Center

God... a cross between Santa Claus and Superman?

2009-12-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

This is a quote from Nevada Barr's book Enlightenment - Hat by Hat (which I know nothing about it). It's quoted by Nancy Boyle in her article in the Lumunos newsletter.

"As long as I thought of God as a cross between Superman and Santa Claus with cell phone and myself as a lobbyist for my own needs, I was doomed to atheism, confusion and resentment... The sea change has been in my internal vision of God..."

What is the character of your God? Of your conversations with God?

An Advent with all our Senses...

2009-12-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

An Advent Reflection
from Kirkridge Retreat Center
December 6, 2009

A reflection for the second week of advent by Peter Pearson

Advent is my favorite season! That may sound odd but it's true. For me Advent, my prayerful experience of Advent, is richer and deeper than any other season of the church year. Could it be that I just like the music or the readings from the prophets or the sense of wonder in the waiting or the glow of the sunsets that happen at this time of year?

Maybe it's all of these and more. It's tied to my memories of a child's anticipation before Christmas and that same child's terror of the readings that are offered this time of year which sound like pages from science fiction. It makes me remember the time when the kids on my block were sitting around one summer's day singing all the songs we could think of and that "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" was one of our favorites. It helps me return to the time of the young seminarian whose community prepared for an evening of carols and lessons in the cathedral in mid-December and the prayerful calm of that night or of all the other Advent nights spent praying with the monks at the monastery that once was my home and of the rose incense we burned only at this time of year. It brings me to times, more recent and the prayers and the song and the silence and the waiting. And above all, the profound sense of wonder.

There is also the memory, or should I say the memories of icons of the Virgin and Child wrapped in a tender embrace before which a small candle burns. Sweetly intimate and yet filled with transcendent power, often this image is the only visible thing in a church or chapel or cell in the darkness of these nights. It is a gentle glow illuminating a gentle image. Soft, warm, inviting.

Somewhere in the midst of this embrace is expressed one of the foundational truths of our faith: God is not distant, God is with us. Advent is a time that is rich in experience for all of my senses. It anticipates the fullness of the incarnation that we will celebrate in just a little while. It is the longing of the human heart for more even as it already tastes what it hungers for. God is with us and has entered into the material world, sanctifying it and giving it the ability to point to the One who first created.

Take the time this Advent to listen to the silence,
to smell the echoes of heaven,
to see the invitation all around you,
to laugh at the playful paradox,
to immerse yourself in the richness
of this barren time of joyful anticipation.
Just as things seem darkest and most hopeless,
a light dawns among us.
How marvelous!

Peter Pearson

Many thanks to Peter Pearson for this week's advent message!

Peter will lead an icon painting retreat at Kirkridge Jan. 28-31, 2010.

Program: A Brush with God: Icon Painting Retreat
During this retreat experience we will paint, pray and study together the ancient art of Byzantine Iconography but using the medium of acrylic paints. There is no artistic ability or prior experience required and each participant will go home with their own icon that will be created during this retreat following step by step instructions.

Friday 6:30 dinner thru Sunday lunch
Cost: $540

Peter Pearson has been painting icons for forty years and teaching for twenty. He is the rector of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in New Hope, PA, a member of an ecumenical monastic community (Community of Solitude), and the author of the popular text on icon painting, A Brush with God.

Convicted in Advent! A Static Belief or Dynamic...?

2009-12-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

From Brian D. McLaren (see his facebook note)...

The religion that was ostensibly founded by a nonviolent man of peace had now embraced the very violence he prohibited. The religion that grew in response to a man who was tortured and killed by the Roman Empire was now torturing and killing others in league with that empire. Dynamic faith that moves mountains was out; static belief that burns or banishes heretics was in. Catalytic faith as an agent of social transformation was out; codified belief as a tool of social control was in. And that kind of belief has stayed “in” ever since. (12)
From A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith (available February 9, 2010)

The Essential of Happiness

2009-12-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

The essential of happiness,” Allan K. Chalmers wrote, “is having something to do, something to love and something to hope for.” At the very outset of the liturgical year, the church presents a model of them all: a Child who lives only to do the will of God, who opens His arms to love the entire world, who lives in hope of the coming of the reign of God by giving His life to bring it. At the very outset of the year, we are given the model of how to be happy.

–from The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister (Thomas Nelson)

People, Look East

2009-11-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

I loved this song which we sang at Lake Street Church on the first Sunday of advent. The tune "put me in the mood." The words in verses 2 and 3 especially moved me: reminders that there is a work of God in "giving up our strength" or in ceasing/guarding the nest. Any poetic metaphors which help us to take seriously the demands of discipleship WHILE AT THE SAME TIME reminding us of necessary seasons of cessation, waiting, preparing, entrusting God to be God... well, those "put me in the advent mood" too. I pray, actually, to live this way all year.

People, Look East

Words and Music: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), 1928MIDI / Noteworthy Composer

1. People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

"People, Look East" was written by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) and was first published as "Carol of Advent" in Part 3 of "Modern Texts Written for or Adapted to Traditional Tunes" in The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928. Farjeon, a native of London, was a devout Catholic who viewed her faith as "a progression toward which her spiritual life moved rather than a conversion experience." (The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, p. 323) She achieved acclaim as an author of children's nursery rhymes and singing games, and is best remembered for her poem "Morning Has Broken." BESANÇON, an ancient carol, first appeared in Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871, as the setting for "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep," and was titled CHANTONS, BARGIÉS, NOUÉ, NOUÉ.

Preparing the Way of the Lord

2009-12-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

This advent... I return to this space for journaling, reflecting, connection. Pondering much in my heart today. This weekend's forgiveness workshop, oriented around this powerful passage, was richly rewarding. I cling today to Emmanuel, the promise that God-with-us is so true, so unshakeable, so vastly beyond our understanding. When we accept this as Reality, all manner of obstacles to Life will be dissolved within and between us. Forgiveness will bring an experience of the salvation wrought with such grace (It is finished!). Our work is to dismantle the judgments, the prejudices, the circumstances which block our Divine knowing of this Good News.

Let us, with John the Baptist, commence with "preparing the way..."

Zechariah’s Prophecy

Luke 1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 68‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty saviour* for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon* us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’

Advent and Anxiety

2009-12-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

My friends at beliefnet.com remind me of the constant anxiety preoccupations to which we are vulnerable in the birthing processes of our lives. Check out Therese Borchard's thoughts about managing anxiety this holiday season.

... and join me in welcoming the stories of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, magi and an infant Jesus into your soul. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who join us with understanding, encouragement and transcendence.

Waiting for a Mentor

2009-05-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

Regular readers of this blog may have followed Reverend Jacki’s sacred journey toward becoming a certified coach. This reflects a commitment on her part to enter into professional relationships with clients who will benefit from her as she anchors their growth.

The kind of support coaches, ministers, teachers, and others offer is valuable. We make a conscious choice to hire, work with, and grow with these professionals. Each time we show up for ourselves by fulfilling our commitments to participate in coaching, worship, class, or other enrichment activities, we send a powerful “yes” to the universe. The universe answers back with all kinds of shiny sparkly stuff that we get to share with our mentor and others. As we share, we become available to move into mentorship roles.

This is a good space to thank Jacki for taking this step and to bless her excellent effort. The powerful influence she is is no surprise to the universe, but the form her new endeavor will take has my attention. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some shiny sparkly stuff, and I am here ready to catch some.

Just as Jacki has concluded her training so she can be available to serve in this new way, I have had new opportunities to move into a career of teaching. This is a welcome change, as I far prefer helping people avoid or solve financial challenges to doing legal work. Although acting as a lawyer gives me an opportunity to help, my true talent is in teaching. Like everyone else, I get tied up in knots I construct of my own fears. I tell myself I cannot support myself as a teacher and that my message of abundance and joy will have an unexpected ending wherein I die broke and living in a paper box. I do my work and recognize that this is untrue, but sometimes god decides to undo some of the knots and give me a little head start in my return to knowing abundance.

The other day, god stepped into a line waiting in the clerk of court’s office. Being clever, though, god did not say, “Hi! I’m god. Cut it out with the broke-paper-box routine. There’s a swine flu thing coming up, and a bunch of people need reassurance and stuff.” Instead, god looked confused and asked if she was in the right line.

“What’ve you got?” I said, by rote. I was hot, tired, and capable of directing a lost non-lawyer to the right line without making any human connection at all.

God snatched her paperwork to her chest. She was not very forthcoming about the nature of her legal matter, demanding I give an easy answer without her doing any work. (The “good for the goose is good for the god” aspect of this is obvious--now!)

Finally, we ascertained god was right where she needed to be.

“It has been a while. I haven’t practiced law for six years.”

“You were a lawyer?” (Who knew?!)

“Yes. I got tired of it. I decided to make a go of it on my investments. I did fine. I don’t miss the money. I thought I would, but I don’t.”

Right then and there, I poured my heart out: I’d rather teach. I fear the loss of income. I might die, you know, broke and living in a box.

God didn’t preach. Instead, she just smiled and told me how much she enjoyed waking up and knowing her day was hers. She told me about her flower garden. Then, when the clerk called my number, she whispered, “Smile.”

I ran from counter to counter, filed my paperwork, and left the clerk’s office.

You-know-who was in the elevator. She touched my arm as we parted ways in the lobby.

“Enjoy your garden,” I said.

“And you enjoy . . . whatever it is you enjoy.”

Our journeys are sacred. Sometimes they take us to a planned activity, but sometimes enlightenment is spontaneous.

Show up to your coaching appointment, celebration service, or class. Enroll in the abundance classes Reverend Jacki and I are teaching. Enjoy food, fellowship, and formal growth. These activities are opportunities to slow down, connect, and listen to the voice of god in us and in and though ministers, coaches, and teachers. These moments prepare us for the other moments, for the opportunity to recognize god as, in, and through the person next to us as we go through what seems like an unpleasant daily task.

A Breath Away's Not Far

2009-03-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

Another song in memory of Tom, who introduced me to this one by Josh Groban when he sang it in a World AIDS Day service a few years back. Tom was always introducing me to wider music and literature. His joy in literature, music and theatre coursed through his veins like blood itself. I'm grateful he was so faithful in passing it on, one way he bore witness to that power that "can't be seen." As loved ones gather to mark his passing, I pray that we all remember "a breath away's not far."

To Where You Are

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory's so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be (?)
That you are mine
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
'Cause you are my
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are
I know you're there

A breath away's not far
To where you are

Bless My Debt? Guest Post by Kelli Dudley

2009-03-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Bless My Debt?

Kelli Dudley

Through all the talk about debt in the newspapers, on television, and on the Internet, there is one consistent theme: debt is a problem. We may disagree on who is to blame, who must bail out whom, and what caused the current catastrophe. But we unilaterally see debt as a problem, something outside of the good order of our lives, maybe even a “sin” or evidence of a life gone terribly awry.

But . . . is debt a problem? Do we need to place blame? Need anyone be bailed out? Is there a catastrophe?

What if the answer is “no”?

We know that we come from an abundant God (or universe or power or spirit) that is in charge of EVERYTHING. Our God synchronizes the dance of life so perfectly that the crocus bulbs in my front yard did not send up their blooms until a fairly late in the season, to my way of thinking, after this very cold winter.

All of my waiting, fretting, and fantasizing about warm weather would not move those blossoms. If I had been in charge instead of God, my delicate purple blossoms would have been nipped by cold and would not have been in my yard just in time to warm my heart in the middle of a busy day in mid-March.

Just as I worried over my bulbs needlessly, we worry about the flow of our money. We imagine that we owe money to someone, that we will not be able to pay, and that we will come to some catastrophe. We remonstrate, we blame greedy corporations, we wish for a financially-successful life partner, we project our solution onto the screen of the future, and we regret our past financial choices.

Indeed, our finances can be cause of concern. Just as a delicate bloom can be susceptible to frost or can reach new heights with a little fertilizer, we can bring loving attention to our finances—mulching with a good interest-bearing account and avoiding the freeze that might nip by holding off buying that item that looks more appealing in the store than it does at use in our lives.

But is debt “bad”?

If you are blaming yourself for incurring debt, consider that you may not have behaved so badly as you think. Think of the experience, the dance of life, that led to your debt. Was there a good meal when you were hungry? The blessing of a good meal over a table filled with favorite foods and surrounded by favorite friends?

Did you buy a home? Why did you want the new tile? The new granite counter top? Could it have been your desire to demonstrate love in your choice of housing for yourself and your family?

Maybe you spent your money on a spiffy car. As it turns out, the car didn’t go fast enough to leave your foibles and perceived flaws in a cloud of dust. In fact, it is the same dusty old you driving that car—and it is getting less shiny by the minute. Why did you buy that car? Was it your desire to express love of life? Your desire to acknowledge the quality of graceful movement through the universe?

Sometimes it turns out that we planned future income that did not materialize. Our debts seem like a burden. We have, it seems, made a mistake.

There are practical steps that can help you choose differently in the future. These may mean expressing your God qualities differently next time—maybe you’ll fertilize your future with a savings plan or prune some wilted edges that no longer serve you. Reverend Jacki and I want to use this space to discuss some of those possibilities.

But for now, if you are feeling a little challenged by finances, open yourself to this possibility: instead of regret, bless your debt.

Allow yourself to remember that delicious meal, the faces of your friends, the waitstaff that enjoyed the generous tip. Remember the feel of the new tile under your feet when you stepped out of a steamy bath in your new home. Breathe in that new car smell. These things were blessings in their time, and they nurtured your soul in an important way then, just as new practices will nurture you in the future. Regretting your choices hurts—every time you remonstrate against your current situation, you tell yourself you never deserved the things you thought money could buy. In fact, you do deserve those things—and you deserve to have them in a higher way that may mean greater financial stability. The God qualities don’t change. You attempted to demonstrate them with material things yesterday; today perhaps you are finding them closer than your very breath.

Right here, right now, you have the God quality of abundance. You may perceive the condition of an uncomfortable credit card statement, and you may want to move toward a positive balance sheet as an expression of grace. But make no mistake: the God qualities you felt yesterday are still here—in the credit card statement, in the bill collector, and in all the challenges that seem to be taking place.

Take a moment: bless the debt and the need that was met when you incurred it. Know that there are other ways for God to express in your life, and that these ways may not involve things that can be charged on plastic. Open to knowing more, and open to knowing that your past cannot rob your present and future of abundance any more than a fretting gardener can know the right time for those delicate purple crocus blossoms to dance in my yard.

It was, is, and will be all God, all good.

***************************************************************************

Kelli Dudley is a lawyer who assists people to change their minds about debt. She defends people who are pursued by creditors, mortgage companies, and landlords. She helps them to negotiate when they truly owe money, and assists them to defend themselves when they are unjustly harassed. Kelli teaches Housing Law at the DePaul University College of Law and teaches in several paralegal and college programs. Her passion is helping people understand money and material resources as tools that can help them attain their true purpose.

Taking Action for Abundance (Guest Post by Kelli Dudley)

2009-04-04T04:10:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to be learning and working with Kelli Dudley, who shares a second phenomenal reflection on financial health below. Together, we're leading a seminar called "Financial Wellness: Tips for Abundance Actions" on May 9 from 9am-1:30pm. Click here for event information.

-- Jacki

Taking Action for Abundance by Kelli Dudley

In my last post, I mentioned that debt may not be all bad. If you have debt, you incurred it buying something you needed at the time. The debt enabled you to reflect some god-quality you were seeking at that time—maybe a good meal, maybe a place to live.

Even if the choice you made at that time is not how you would choose now, you were nurtured by the meal you chose or kept warm in your home. You made the best choice you could at the time, even if you were mistaken, and your ability to obtain credit helped you get what you needed at the time. Your debts represent something you received in the past, and you do not have to live in regret thinking about debt. Instead, think about how to move forward knowing better, knowing you can receive without saying, “Charge it.”

We know god (or spirit or universe) is good all the time. God’s love is not waiting for you to make perfect financial choices. God was with you at the time of your mistaken choice and is waiting to help you make better choices. The knowledge of perfect choices to ensure your financial health is within you: the force within you knows everything that needs to be known, everything that has been known, and everything you need to know. This wisdom is instantly accessible to you. It is sometimes expressed by New Thought folk as the ability to “download” wisdom. It could also be expressed as god giving you what you need, an answered prayer.

Therefore, the first action I am going to recommend for you to grow toward financial health is non-action.

The next time you “need” an item, ask yourself: “What do I want?” Keep repeating the question until you come to a god quality, something that is not limited by the material item in your mind.

Example:

* I need a large SUV; it will cost about $40,000.00.

What do I need?
* I need safety, I need to be able to haul kids/equipment/dogs.

What do I need?
* I need to feel confident and competent.

Your desire for confidence and competence is being expressed as a longing for a SUV.
Will the SUV accomplish this goal?

SUVs are not safer than other vehicles; in fact, they encourage aggressive driving, engender a false sense of confidence (four-wheel drive helps power through snow; it does not help navigate ice), and create greater havoc when involved in an accident than do smaller cars.

Therefore, the SUV cannot give you safety. Safety is within you, a gift of your source, your god, the divine dwelling within you.

You do not need an SUV to be competent. Dogs, equipment, and kids can be successfully hauled in hatchbacks that appear to be tiny, in station wagons, or in old, used vans that sell used for under $3,000.00. At least two of these (dogs and kids) require love far more than they require a fancy vehicle. Fortunately, you can give love regardless of your credit score.

Try the above exercise for some item you want right now. Identify the god quality you seek, and challenge yourself to think of at least one other way you can experience that god quality in your life.

Abundance

2009-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Reverend Jacki’s blog title is a challenge to us to live with a paradox: a rich life is chaotic, seeming to be pieced together into a collage. We hope the diverse parts form a collage that is meaningful to us. At the same time, she refers to an “undivided life.” We recognize the sacred nature of each aspect of life. We are challenged to examine our illusions of divisions between people, places, ideas, preferences, time, and space.

As we approached Easter, I faced my own challenge. There weren’t enough eggs in my basket for my taste. The “reasons” were many: slow-paying clients, a lengthy illness just at the time I left my job hoping to reinvigorate my private law practice, and a recent decision to accept some worthy cases on contingency (delaying my payment until the conclusion of the case).

The truth inside me knew what was happening: I was following Jesus through a perceived desert, pretending I didn’t know how easily water turns into wine. Yet, I persisted in digging around through the plastic Easter grass in my basket, digging for the really good candy—frustrated it wasn’t there. I vacillated between grudgingly sucking on my off-brand chocolates and folding my arms, stubbornly waiting for the peanut-butter filled egg.

Spirit, knowing me better than I know myself, knew it was time for THE SPIRITUAL TRUTH BIG GUN. I needed a good dose of Capital-T Truth, the kind that leaves me in awe of god and the universe.

Where better to hide truth than in a recycled Wal-Mart shopping bag?

This is exactly what my mother did on my visit home last weekend.

“We found some old birthday cards and stuck them in here,” Mom commented nonchalantly.

I groaned a little—I am not a big keeper of cards and have enough challenges with clutter without 39-year-old missives on my desk.

I thought of the cards late one night during the week. David (my partner) and I were watching In Her Shoes, a movie that features a reunion between a grandmother and granddaughters after they find lost birthday cards. I went to the kitchen and got the bag.

The cards were not casual greeting cards. They were cards from my second birthday. Since I was adopted, this was the first birthday I had spent with my family. Money fell from card after card, along with love pouring across the decades.

There were also cards from later years, with half-dollars, silver dollars, and so on carefully included with each.

An overwhelming amount of the money was from my Grandpa. Grandpa encouraged me to pursue a formal education, loved me through all I did, and has stayed with me since his death when I was 15. The sense of loss I felt when he made his transition has followed me through life. Despite knowing that his energy is alive and that his life unfolded perfectly, I have felt a pain at not having him with me through this life.

One especially precious missive is a rare sample of my Grandpa’s own handwriting on plain note paper tucked in with a small bill in a bill protector.

“To Kelli, with love, from Papaw.”

Here we are again, weaving this part of the collage into this undivided life:

“I have all I need. I have all the love of the universe and all the abundance of the universe, right here, right now. Nothing is hidden under the Easter grass, and nothing good has been kept out of my basket. It is all mine, right here, right now.”

Palm Sunday: Two Days Early in Iowa (marriage equality decision)

2009-04-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

Today the Iowa Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY held that the ban on marriage for same-sex couples violates the Iowa Constitution.

Equality Illinois salutes the Court's courage in doing its duty to secure the equal protection of law.

Equality Illinois congratulates our friends at Lambda Legal for their astoundiing victory in the Iowa Supreme Court today.

What Happened to Jesus?

2009-04-02T04:02:00.000-07:00

I got the following thought-provoking Easter reflection from Tikkun. (Tikkun: to heal, repair and transform the world). Living Well Ministries is an affiliate member of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, a project of the Tikkun community.

-- Jacki

[Tikkun Editor's note. The following article provides one possible understanding of the Resurrection celebrated by Christians on Easter--celebrated by Christians this year on April 12. Tikkun welcomes your submission of letters or articles providing alternative interpretations of this or other aspects of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheistic or scientistic theologies. This article appeared in Tikkun March/April 2008.]

What Happened to Jesus?by Walter Wink

Considering the weight the early church attached to the resurrection, it is curious that, subsequent to the empty-tomb stories, no two resurrection accounts in the four Gospels are alike. All of these narratives seem to be very late additions to the tradition. They answer a host of questions raised by the gospel of the resurrection. At the core of all these accounts is the simple testimony: we experienced Jesus as alive.

A later generation that did not witness a living Jesus needed more; for them the resurrection narratives answered that need. But what had those early disciples experienced? What does it mean to say that they experienced Jesus alive? The resurrection appearances did not, after all, take place in the temple before thousands of worshipers, but in the privacy of homes or cemeteries. They did not occur before religious authorities, but to the disciples hiding from those authorities. The resurrection was not a worldwide historic event that could have been filmed, but a privileged revelation reserved for the few.Nevertheless, something "objective" did happen to God, to Jesus, and to the disciples. What happened was every bit as real as any other event, only it was not historically observable. It was an event in the history of the psyche. The ascension was the entry of Jesus into the archetypal realm. Though skeptics might interpret what the disciples experienced as a mass hallucination, the experience itself cannot be denied.
This is what may have happened: the very image of God was altered by the sheer force of Jesus being. God would never be the same. Jesus had indelibly imprinted the divine; God had everlastingly entered the human. In Jesus God took on humanity, furthering the evolution revealed in Ezekiel's vision of Yahweh on the throne in "the likeness, as it were, of a human form" (Ezek. 1:26). Jesus, it seemed to his followers, had infiltrated Godhead.
The ascension marks, on the divine side, the entry of Jesus into the son-of-the-man archetype; from then on Jesus' followers would experience God through the filter of Jesus. Incarnation means that not only is Jesus like God, but that God is now like Jesus. It is a prejudice of modern thought that events happen only in the outer world. What Christians regard as the most significant event in human history happened, according go to the Gospels, in the psychic realm, and it altered external history irrevocably. Ascension was an "objective" event, if you will, but it took place in the imaginal realm, at the substratum of human existence, where the most fundamental changes in consciousness take place.

Something also happened to the disciples. They experienced the most essential aspect of Jesus as remaining with them after his death. They had seen him heal, preach, and cast out demons, but had localized these powers in him. Though the powers had always been in them as well, while Jesus was alive they tended to project these latent, God-given powers onto him. They had only known those powers in him. So it was natural, after his resurrection, to interpret the unleashing of those powers in themselves, as if Jesus himself had taken residence in their hearts. And it was true: the God at the center of their beings was now indistinguishable from the Jesus who had entered the Godhead. Jesus, in many of the post-Easter son-of-the-man sayings, seems to speak of the Human Being (the "son of man") as other than himself. Was Jesus stepping aside, as he seems to do in the Gospels, to let the Human Being become the inner entelechy (the regulating and directing force) of their souls?

The disciples also saw that the spirit that had worked within Jesus continued to work in and through them. In their preaching they extended his critique of domination. They continued his life by advancing his mission. They persisted in proclaiming the domination-free order of God inaugurated by Jesus.The ascension was a "fact" on the imaginal plane, not just an assertion of faith. It irreversibly altered the nature of the disciples' consciousness. They would never again be able to think of God apart from Jesus. They sensed themselves accompanied by Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). They found in themselves a New Being that they had hitherto only experienced in Jesus. They knew themselves endowed with a spirit-power they had known only occasionally, such as when Jesus had sent them out to perform healings (Mark:7-13). In their struggles with the powers that be, they knew that whatever their doubts, losses, or sufferings, the final victory was God's, because Jesus had conquered death and the fear of death and led them out of captivity.

Jesus the man, the sage, the itinerant teacher, the prophet, even the lowly Human Being, while unique and profound, was not able to turn the world upside down. His attempt to do so was a decided failure. Rather, it was his ascension, his metamorphosis into the archetype of humanness that did so for his disciples. The Human Being constituted a remaking of the values that had undergirded the domination system for some 3,000 years before Jesus. The critique of domination continued to build on the Exodus and the prophets of Israel, to be sure. But Jesus' ascension to the right hand of the Power of God was a supernova in the archetypal sky. As the image of the truly Human One, Jesus became an exemplar of the utmost possibilities for living.

Could the son-of-the-man material have been lore that grew up to induce visions of the Human Being? Could it have been a way to activate altered states of consciousness based on meditation on the ascended Human Being enthroned upon the heart? It was not enough simply to know about the mystical path. One needed to take it. And the paths were remarkably alike.

The ascension was real. Something happened to God, to Jesus, and to the disciples. I am not suggesting that the ascension is non-historical, but rather that the historical is the wrong category for understanding ascension. The ascension is not a historical fact to be believed, but an imaginal experience to be undergone. It is not at datum of public record, but divine transformative power overcoming the powers of death. The religious task for us today is not to cling to dogma but to seek a personal experience of the living God in whatever mode is meaningful.

Walter Wink is professor emeritus of Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City and author of 16 books. He is best known for his trilogy on the "Powers" and his fascinating interpretation of Jesus' teachings on nonviolence.
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The Soul of Success (Chopra/Williamson Event)

2009-04-04T03:58:00.000-07:00

Since spirit is the domain of awareness which is infinite it is not subject to compromise or recession.

The economic recession offers us a unique opportunity to understand the difference between money and wealth. Money is a symbol that expresses how we value ourselves and others and also represents society's values at a particular time and place in history. Wealth on the other hand is a state of consciousness that represents generosity of spirit that translates into material abundance.

THE SOUL OF SUCCESS

In this course, Deepak Chopra & Marianne Williamson will take you through an in-depth understanding of consciousness as a field of infinite possibilities, infinite creativity, infinite energy & infinite abundance.

Using a combination of techniques involving silent brain storming, mind – mapping and finding creative opportunities in perceived problems, Deepak will take you through an updated experience of the spiritual laws that create success in all its forms – material abundance, the progressive realization of worthy goals, the ability to have love and compassion, the ability to harness the infinite organizing power of intention, and the ability to always be connected to the source of all creation.

Marianne will guide you in the realization of your career as a spiritual journey, viewing your path to success as an initiation into your higher Self. She will teach you how to tap into the law of "divine compensation" -- the power of love to compensate for any limitations in the material world. Through devotion, prayer, forgiveness and compassion for self and others, we will activate our miraculous power to turn limited probabilities into unlimited possibilities.

The workshop will be intellectually stimulating and spiritually uplifting, grounded in both meta-physics and science, and will teach participants to reinvent themselves and their businesses and reactivate the spirit of success.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tattered, Rudolf Steiner Speaks from my Wallet

2009-03-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

A tattered poem on Winter Solstice tumbles out of my wallet this morning. This Word has spoken to me often from its secure little nest, on the days I pull it out for mantra and on the days it just travels alongside of me.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Behold the Sun
At midnight.
Build with stones
On lifeless ground.

Find in decline,
In death's night,
Creation's new beginning,
Morning's youthful night.

The heights reveal
The gods' eternal word.
The depths guard
The peaceful treasure.

Living in darkness,
Create a Sun.
Weaving in matter,
Know Spirit's delight.

-- Rudolf Steiner

I have carried it for four years, this Word. On days and nights that seemed long, that seemed without light or path for others, it steadied me with an ancient, creation imperative. The Sun was present and I knew it. It brought delight and rebirth.

I wonder now, a few days past a new Spring on the calendar and in my heart, if I am done with it. The wondering passes. I am not. This brings the resolve of Rest. It is not a resolve of tirelessly plodding on, like a sturdy oak, mindless of fatigue or surroundings. It's Presence Possible only in the bearings of that Sun. It's a body-mind-spirit delight found when I sense the right place, the right time, the right work.

It's faith.

Turning World Upside Down with Justice, Compassion, Peace

2009-03-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am so moved by the witness and vision of the Beatitudes Society, which I got hooked up with a few months ago. Watch for a LWM book study on Anne Howard's book this summer. Here's more info on their work:

The Beatitudes Society develops and sustains emerging Christian leaders at seminaries and divinity schools as they build a progressive network for justice, compassion and peace as expressed in the Beatitudes.

How do we turn the world upside down?

One student, one faculty member, one school, one friend at a time, with all of us coming together in a commitment to the spirit of the Beatitudes.

We establish chapters at Christian seminaries and divinity schools across the nation, so students and faculty can gather in community to study, act and pray as they deepen their understanding and practice of prophetic Christian ministry.

We offer chapters financial support for campus activities and speaker events.
We invite everyone to share their thoughts on our Beatitudes Blog.

Annually, we select a progressive conference to which we offer our members scholarships. Click here to view our scholarship policy.

We offer paid fellowships for members at progressive Christian organizations. For more information, visit this page.

We offer an annual Beatitudes service trip for members and friends to do hands-on justice work.

We publish a monthly newsletter, and invite you to subscribe using the "Stay Informed" box at the top of the column to your right.

Anniversary of Iraq War

2009-03-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

The following is from Ken Sehested, fellow traveler and peacemaker, who posted it in the listserv of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.

Friends,

This past week's anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq made me remember the video I made after returning from Baghdad shortly before "shock and awe" commenced on 19 March 2003. With a friend's help, I've put the 7-minute video on YouTube. If you're interested, here's the weblink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTSVa9vFhS4

I escorted the last delegation of short-term volunteers with the Iraq Peace Team, co-sponsored by Voices in the Wilderness and Christian Peacemaker Teams. A dozen of my friends, including my roommate in Baghdad, remained in Iraq during the bombardment, holed up in a hotel basement, in order to be able to report on the invasion's aftermath. During this season of remembrance, don't forget that we've been at war with Iraq for more than 6 years. Remember the first "Gulf War," when on 16 January, the day after the commemoration of Dr. King's birth, the US began attacking Iraqi troops that had invaded Kuwait? By March it was over. But then the US and our British allies established "no-fly" zones in southern and northern Iraq. Combat bombing missions occurred virtually every day from then until the outbreak of 2003 invasion of Iraqi itself. (For 4 days in Dec. 1998 the entire country came under intense US and British bombing and cruise missile attacks.) In other words, the US has been launching combat missions in Iraq for 18 years.

Midway through this period between the declared wars a US-directed campaign of economic sanctions further decimated the country. Then-US Ambassador to the United Nations (later Secretary of State) Madeleine Albright responded to a question on the "60 Minutes" television show about a UN study documenting the deaths of 500,000 children as a direct result of the economic sanctions by saying: "Is it worth it? It's a high price, but we think it's worth it." -------------------------------------------------------------------

"Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,
who sit securely, who say in your heart,
'I am, and there is no one beside me;
I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children'...
You felt secure in your wickedness; you said,
'No one sees me.'
Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
'I am, and there is no one beside me."
--Isaiah 47:8, 10:

Speaking, ironically, of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian superpower in the land now known as Iraq.

Steadfast Love: Holy Relationships and a Wilderness God

2009-03-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

This is what my friend and colleague Rich McCarty and I have been birthing in recent weeks. Saturday's retreat will be a gathering of 20+ fellow travelers seeking "holy relationships." Join me in praying for this rich day...

STEADFAST LOVE …
Holy Relationships and a Wilderness God

Saturday, March 21
10:00am – 4:00pm
3338 N. Broadway Street
Chicago, Illinois

Are you on the journey of embracing spirituality and sexuality? Do you walk beside those engaged in such holy work? This Lenten retreat will provide an LGBT-inclusive space for rest, reflection and renewal in the work of the Holy. Inspired by the witness of Psalm 107, we will celebrate God’s steadfast love in the wilderness. We will also challenge ideas about God and God’s expectations which damage our experience and trust in Divine faithfulness. Attendees of all sexual orientations and gender identities will explore these six dimensions of living in Holy Relationships: trust, mutuality, accountability, unconditional love, boundaries, and intimacy. Together, we’ll give thanks for the pattern of God’s work in our lives, and be empowered for new discipleship commitments. Retreat Facilitators: Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty and Rev. Jacki Belile, members of the Holy Relationships National Steering Committee.

In Support of Civil Unions Bill in lllinois

2009-03-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

This is the letter I wrote and sent to each of the members of the Youth and Family Committee of the Illinois legislature today.

March 4, 2009

Dear Representative _____________:

I write in support of HB 2234, Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, and ask that you work to vote it out of committee at the scheduled March 5, 2009 meeting. Together, we can continue to advance the cause of faithful adherence to two pillars of our free and fair society: religious diversity and individual self-determination for all citizens. I believe that you and your fellow legislators will offer political leadership for the long-term good of all -- supporters and opponents -- by supporting this Bill.

As a Baptist minister, I am deeply grateful to see our leaders lift "religious freedom" in the naming of and discourse about civil union protections. I believe not only that this language offers honor and respect to the concerns of the Bill's opponents, but that it correctly introduces the reality of religious diversity on ALL "sides" of this issue into the debate arena. What is at stake is our will and capacity to live together without legally-sanctioned discrimination against those who disagree with us.

To name our commitment to religious freedom is insightful, fair and fruitful, I hope, for ongoing work of mutual understanding. To delineate exactly how religiously-rooted opposition to same-gender families (or other non-traditional co-habitants making a life together!) will not itself be discriminated against through any coercive measures of the state is also insightful, fair and fruitful. In this regard, I believe it illumines the civic work which the Bill's opponents are invited to continue: acceptance of their freedom of conviction, teaching and even their organized efforts at persuading the public of their views. The limits to that freedom lie along the line that is crossed when others are robbed of their equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Advancing legal protections for our choices of intimate partners, roommates, housing, financial beneficiaries (the list goes on and on) is a CONSERVATIVE choice. Such protection preserves our commitment to safeguard the individual's self-determination in matters intimate and material. It preserves our long-held stated ideals as we seek to live as neighbors who recognize one another's rights, even when we disagree. And, yes, spelling these rights out carefully in law whenever they would be threatened by others (even "well-meaning" others).

I know from life experience that many of this Bill's opponents are good-hearted people. I believe they have misplaced fears and, sometimes, unexamined prejudices. I do believe they care deeply about the common good. I simply believe HB 2234 respects the widest collective good, and thus deserves your full and sustained support. Thank you for all your work so far, and for considering these thoughts as you serve us all.

For Living Well,

Rev. Jacki Belile

Financial Crises and Healing Opportunities

2009-03-18T03:10:00.000-07:00

I receive daily emails from Beliefnet.com and usually find them very meaningful. They've been doing some good stuff on spirituality and money in recent months. Here's a blog entry from a sister coach, Deborah Price, which reminds me of what my colleague Kelli Dudley (a dynamic lawyer and social activist grounded in New Thought principles) and I have in mind/heart behind our seminar "Abundance Actions: Tips for Creaing Financial Wellness." It will be offered again in May in Chicago.

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Welcome From Your Financial Crisis Coach
Thursday March 12, 2009
Categories: Welcome

Welcome to Your Daily Spiritual Stimulus, a blog created to help you navigate this financially challenging time with ease and grace!

It is my hope and intention to become a source of daily comfort and support to our readers. As a Money Coach, I have helped hundreds of individuals and couples overcome their financial challenges and issues. This is not merely my profession--this work is my life's purpose.

I came to this work through my own experience of financial hardship and adversity. I know what it is to be a struggling single mother, to be struck by a disabling illness, and to be a financially strapped business owner. I know first- hand what it feels like to wake up not knowing how you will financially survive another month. I know what it's like to be filled with fear.

I took the powerful lessons that came from my own experience with adversity and turned them into something meaningful. I was able to carve a new life. So, wherever you are right now, in the midst of this economic crisis and time of uncertainty, I want you to know that you are not alone, that there is hope and that with God's grace and guidance, together, we will get through this.

As difficult as it may be, the financial crisis is giving us an amazing gift and opportunity to reconsider our relationship to money and personal finances. Ultimately, I believe, it will give us a chance to heal.

For too long now, our lives have been overly focused on money and material possessions as a way of feeling okay about who we are, when in fact who we are has nothing to do with what we have. Who we are is so much larger and more valuable than anything we could ever hope to own or possess. I strongly believe this is the lesson that we are all being called to learn at this time.

Even in the worst of times, we can and must nurture our souls and continue to grow spiritually. In the coming weeks, I will offer ways to help you discover your own answers and help you to find the richness that exists within you. As we share prayer, community, kinship, stories and exercises to help you cope with the crisis, I hope you will also allow yourself to dream of the life you want to be living. For it is essential to hold onto hope and know that we will find a way to brighter days.

I will also guide you to the rich resources and community support that is available to you right here on Beliefnet. For starters, you might want to share your stories and prayer needs in our community. This is a wonderful time to stay connected and we will help you do just that.

So tune into Your Daily Spiritual Stimulus for ongoing spiritual guidance, support and community. Don't forget to share your comments and questions.

I leave you with this prayer for today.

Dear God,
If it be in accordance with your will,
I pray that this new age in human history
be a time of spiritual renaissance,
a "second Enlightenment"
that will heighten values
and help everyone to realize
their true purpose in life.

I pray for peace and justice,
and love and light.
I pray for an abundance
of beauty, truth and goodness
in the lives of all the inhabitants
of this troubled world.
May there be harmony,
sustainability,
and evolutionary progress.
Thank you for this gift of consciousness,
dear God.
Amen.
- Steve McIntosh

Peace and Blessings!
-- Deborah
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Prayer for Third Week of Lent

2009-03-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

God of Grace and God of Glory,
we yearn for commandments which bring life.

Deepen our longing, fire our questions, order our desires.

Deepen our longing to be a journey people,
known for abiding commitments--
not childish obedience.

Fire our questions about commandments of old,
knowing they bring life--
and sometimes death.

Order our desires as the poet orders your world,
in awe traversing the vast creation--and our depths too.

Fire us with zeal that opens doors,
questioning perverse traditions--
and ego's house.

Deepen our longings for true Glory:
Presence, Love, Wisdom Unshamed--
Foolish Grace.

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Written by Jacki Belile for "Out in Scripture," a project of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program.

"Not a Time to Hide from Our Past" (on torture)

2009-03-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

I got this compelling article today from one of my favorite sources calling for "Living Well Together:" The Daily e-news from Faith in Public Life. Lent calls us to the GOOD NEWS of repentance, that which Paul says originates with the Lord's kindness. Indeed, it is by remembering the Christian claim that repentance is good news (not bad), that we contribute to a world where we do not -- in fear -- hide from ourselves, one another or God. Or, our past.

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Clergy Support Push for Truth Panel on Torture
By: Karin Hamilton

Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 6:26 am

WASHINGTON (RNS) Saying the United States “must never again engage in torture,” a group of religious leaders is supporting a call for a “Commission of Inquiry” to investigate U.S.-sponsored torture under the Bush administration.

“Torture is immoral, illegal and counterproductive. It causes profound and lasting harm, especially to its victims but also to its perpetrators. It contradicts our nation’s deepest values and corrupts the moral fabric of our society,” said the statement from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, which was signed by 23 religious leaders. Signers included the Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ; Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America; the Rev. David Gushee, president of Evangelicals for Human Rights; and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

While President Obama told Congress last month that “I can stand here ... and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture,” a proposal by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for a “Truth Commission” has largely stalled on Capitol Hill.

The religious leaders, however, said Americans “have been kept in the dark about this nation’s involvement in torture for long enough” and a nonpartisan panel with subpoena power would help “heal the nation’s soul.”“This is not a time to hide from our past,” the leaders said. “We must investigate and report on the torture policies and practices of the past and then develop safeguards to assure that torture never happens again.”

What the Apostle Paul and Krishna Share...

2009-03-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ok. That title was to get some attention:)

This is one thing they share, at least as they have touched my life...

Two versions of a provocative reminder that the roles we play in any endeavor -- however great and however we care about it -- are limited, confined, interdependent, and without any guarantee of the results our ego may seek. That, they both say, is left to the One who we believe has the whole picture in providential care. (Frankly, although Paul is familiar, beautiful and vivid in helpful imagery, I prefer the punchy brevity of Krishna!)

Here's the extended passage from Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3: 2-9:

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
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And, here's Krishna, in the Bhagavad-gita:

"To the work you are entitled, but not to it's fruits..."

There are a number of dimensions to my own lifelong Lenten journey. Learning this one may be at the core... Thank you, Paul and Krishna, for calling me to my Center in humility and rest!

4 Kingdom Questions for Activity Discernment

2009-03-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

I'm thankful for the witness of Lifeforming Leadership Coaching, a Christian discipleship coaching school whose newsletter I receive. Here are four profound questions from the recent newsletter:

Here are 4 kingdom questions for your reflection and prayer:

1. What am I doing that does not need to be done?
2. What am I doing that could be done by someone else?
3. What am I doing that only I can do?
4. What should I be doing that I am not? (especially about being intentional in disciple making)

Joseph Umidi,
President & Founder
Lifeforming Leadership Coaching