In turbulent times… politically and in religion, a prophet arises to speak to the world the truth of the call of Christ to be different from the world. In 1951, Thomas Merton wrote the following words in his book The Ascent to Truth. They speak to our world situation today as much as they did to his world when he wrote them seventy-one years ago.
The only thing that can save the world from complete moral collapse is a spiritual revolution. Christianity, by its very nature, demands such a revolution. If Christians would all live up to what they profess to believe, the revolution would happen. The desire for unworldliness, detachment, and union with God is the most fundamental expression of this revolutionary spirit. The one thing that remains is for Christians to affirm their Christianity by that full and unequivocal rejection of the world which their Baptismal vocation demands of them. This will certainly not incapacitate them for social action in the world, since it is the one essential condition for a really fruitful Christian apostolate. (pages 2-3)
I firmly believe that such a revolution must happen today if the church is to remain relevant in the years to come.
“Nonviolence is the constant awareness of the dignity and the humanity of oneself and others; it seeks truth and justice; it renounces violence both in method and in attitude; it is a courageous acceptance of active love and goodwill as the instrument with which to overcome evil and transform both oneself and to others. It is the willingness to undergo suffering rather than inflict it. It excludes retaliation and flight.”—Wally Nelson, conscientious objector, civil rights activist, and tax resister
“You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.”—John Lewis
When you live on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and spend time on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Autumn might not show up in a very prominent way. The beauty of this sunset is as amazing as it is different from autumnal experiences we had in the Rocky Mountains.
Back in the Rockies, the golden aspen leaves are wowing those who take the time to savor and enjoy them before the winds of winter begin. At this time of year, our friends the marmots and pikas are preparing for their winter nap.
Today’s reading from A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals reminded me of those Rocky Mountain Autumns. Evening. A turning point in the weather. The heavy rain clouds broke up a bit in the morning. There were patches of sun, a few short showers late in the afternoon. It is turning cold. I noticed that my woodchuck had buried himself completely, covering up the entrance to his hole, and had gone to sleep for the winter in his bed of leaves. I wish him a happy sleep! And today is very autumn-like—cold clouds flying, trees half bare, wet leaves lying around everywhere, the broad valley beautiful and lovely. The wonderful, mysterious, lonely sense of an autumn evening. October 20 and 23, 1965 — Dancing in the Water of Life: Seeking Peace in the Hermitage (Journals, V: 1963–1965)
May autumn’s blessings be with you, dear reader, as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer.
“It’s okay to be scared, but fear is different. Fear is when we let being scared prevent us from doing what love requires of us.”—Mairead Corrigan Maguire
Verse of the day
Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans, for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.
– Proverbs 23:10-11
Voice of the day
We all moved. We moved across oceans and land. But there is a profound difference between moving and being moved. Between being welcomed and being used.
– Patty Krawec, “Can Christianity and Indigenous Worldviews Be Reconciled?”
Prayer of the day
Creator, move near to those who have been moved. May those displaced know what it means to find home.
After a day of working from home, I decided to take a wee drive. The best part of the drive was catching the sunset on the Gulf. I spent a lot of time there my last three years in the Air Force. Denise and I also spent some lovely afternoons and evenings on this beach before I moved to DeFuniak Springs, FL where I pastored for four years.
It is as beautiful as I remembered it! The only thing missing was Denise who is back in Minnesota fixing my dad’s phones so that he can be connected with his friends and family.
Today’s reading from A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Readings from His Journals spoke to my experience savoring the wonder of God’s creation on the beach. Brilliant and gorgeous day, bright sun, breeze making all the leaves and high brown grass shine. Singing of the wind in the cedars. Exultant day, in which a puddle in the pig lot shines like precious silver. (October 2, 1958 entry in A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life (volume III: 1952–1960)
While I may not have experienced a puddle in the pig lot shining like precious silver, it was an exultant day.
“Creating strong and healthy boundaries is an essential part of this encircling prayer, and we need protection from forces that might drain us of energy and leave us too depleted to do the work that keeps us feeling most alive. “
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
Take a moment today to pray over your calendar. What can be left off the schedule to give you more time for nourishment?
Early this morning I dropped Denise off at the Pensacola airport so she could fly to Minnesota to help my dad with his mobile phone which wasn’t working and his landline which was broken. When I say early, I really mean early! We stayed the night in Pensacola and the alarm went off at 3:45am! 😳 For those of you who truly know me, I am not a morning person in general and definitely not a middle of the night wake up to go to the airport sort of person.
Once I dropped her off I headed back to Orange Beach to get ready for our 8am and 10am worship services at Swift Presbyterian Church where I am the interim/transitional pastor. A little bit of caffeine and a breakfast energy bar helped immensely! It was a wonderful service as we explored Luke 17:11-19 and the story of the ten lepers and the Samaritan who came back to thank Jesus for healing him.
Our church is in a time of discernment as we stand on the threshold and listen for what God is calling us to be and to do. Both services were in the historic chapel where it all began over 100 years ago. It seems appropriate as we continue to come out of the COVID nightmare to go back to our roots with a sense of anticipation and hope. Just as the Samaritan returned to where his life was transformed, we are being invited to return to our roots as we explore who we are and who God has called us to be as the sweet church in the Piney Woods.
At both services I shared with the congregation the following quote from Thomas Merton: You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. (Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, p. 206)
Even though we may not have that exact roadmap in front of us, we do have the promise that God offers us the ability and opportunity to embrace life with courage, faith, and hope. For that gift, I am truly thankful!
Sections of the Berlin Wall at Ramstein AB in Germany… it was a powerful experience to stand before this display and consider what the Wall had seen and how it came down!
33 years ago today the world saw a revolution without a war. The fall of the Berlin wall began with a prayer service at a Lutheran Church in Leipzig...
— Read on bishopmike.com/2022/10/08/the-peaceful-revolution-october-9-1989/
