"The law of God, and also the way to life, is written in our hearts: It lieth in no man's supposition and knowing, nor in any historical opinion, but in a good will and well-doing."
--Jakob Bohme
Meditation
Maturity is the ability to think, speak and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity. The measure of your maturity is how spiritual you become amidst frustration and challenge.
― Samuel Ullman
Week of March 4, 2018
Dear Friends,
I have lately been musing on the question of ‘what has the biggest claim on my life’. Is it my work? Is it my primary relationships? Is it my persona or public image? Is it my political leanings? Is it my religion?
For sure, a variety of things has shaped and continues to shape my life. They have EACH contributed to and influenced my identity. But I am dissatisfied more and more with labels. I am less and less interested in self-defining as white, or well-educated, or Southern, or American, or Democrat, or religious.
I want to be associated with the community of people who care about the heart and will of God. Perhaps one cannot easily know the will of God. But I believe a long train of spiritual teachers across religious divides lifts up the essential goodness and giftedness of life. This declaration of the benevolence of LIFE (God) is a center point, an anchor, and a north star. It is to be celebrated and protected. For the alternative is of course fear, anxiety, cynicism and negativity. We live in that space easily.
What has the biggest claim on my life? I want to answer boldly, “The heart and the will of God.” I want to add my confession, “I am letting go of running my life in pursuit of comfort, security, approval, success, or rightness.” I want to say, “I am living into the call to surrender to a Presence that is bigger, more interesting, and more transformative.”
Let’s call it life in the Spirit. In Paul’s language, it is the great invitation to patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I want all of these to live in my heart.
Please join us on Sunday morning to hear about the fruits of the Spirit and reconsider what needs to have the biggest claim on your life.
Warmly,
Carter
Meditation
Turning
Going too fast for myself I missed
more than I think I can remember
almost everything it seems sometimes
and yet there are chances that come back
that I did not notice where they stood
where I could have reached out and touched them
this morning the black shepherd dog
still young looking up and saying
Are you ready this time
--W.S. Merwin
Week of February 25, 2018
Dear Friends,
I've been thinking about courage the last couple of days. Not a dramatic and heroic courage, but an everyday courage. In 2 Timothy 1:7 we are given a hint about what courage looks like: "for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline." Everyday courage may be about the connecting to the Holy Spirit, living in love and doing these things in a disciplined way. David Whyte has this to say about courage: "courage is a word that tempts us to think outwardly...but to look at its linguistic origins is to look in a more interior direction and towards it original template, the old Norman French, Coeur, or heart. Courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation with life, with one another with a community, a work, a future."
So I think I want to be present to my own life and to those around me in a more heartfelt way. This takes a measure of courage, for it calls for a vulnerability, and authenticity, and a willingness to be less in control and more in the moment. I'd like to say this this is easy work, but it may be the bit of courage I am being called to. How about you?
On another note:
This Sunday we gather to do a little of the work of the church in the annual meeting. Its a old and important part of New England Church culture and the basis of the town meeting. This church is yours. I hope you will come and help us be the church.
Blessings,
Susan