This message is vitally important, Jake - because we all have a false self and many of us don’t realize it’s false! I believe that our true identity as God’s beloved child is the most important thing we will ever learn. Thank you again for your weekly homilies!
Thank you, Korie! We’re on the same page. And as you’ve seen that’s one of the central themes of this Lenten series. BTW, I’ll be sharing these talks with the clergy of the Diocese of MO in the Lenten retreat over the next few days. I’ve crafted some different questions for that group.
Oh, my, Jake. This is so incredibly insightful and, from my experience, unique. My combined heart/brain always goes toward unique. Its the artist in me. The questions you pose are worth talking about in a small group, too. I wish I had a small group. Some day. Maybe.
Hello Jake. Marc Braun from Webster Groves Missouri. It was 20 years ago at Emmanual Episcopal where I sat with you and shared that I thought I was seeking God. You said, “It sounds like God is seeking you and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep running from Him. You let me know that all I had to do was to stop running away and simply to decide to receive Him and His love. You said once I make that decision that my life would never be the same again and it hasn’t.
Grateful for you and your heart for guiding others to receive and stop running. I miss you.
Hi Marc! It’s great to reconnect. And I love hearing about the path you’re on. It does my heart good. Lenten blessings and I look forward to your thoughts and reflections
Kia ora. Thanks much for a great post! I'm curious about the tree in your new banner, is that something from your local woodland area? And my, how Colt has grown (it is him?) Cheers!
When you described your interaction at the gas station, I had to laugh a little. The gentleman‘s first response was to feel judgment when he saw your collar because he wasn’t at church. His second response was to justify his decision to not be at church. I wonder how far down the road he was before he realized that. YOU weren’t at church either since you were at the same gas station. Lol 😆.
I wonder why his initial thought was that God would be displeased if he went on the road to take his daughter to her dance rather than be at church.
I’m not sure when exactly productivity became the identifying characteristic of a person. But we do reinforce it every day because usually right after inquiring about somebody’s name (which isn’t the same as asking “who are you“)the first question we ask is “what do you do“.
But I also don’t know that it not reinforced when we read stories of Jesus, separating sheep and goats based on productivity. However, he does seem to have a different definition of what “productivity“ is and to be fair he seems to define it as looking out for each other rather than what occupation that we hold.
Our culture and economy teach us to see ourselves and each other as producers and consumers in all sorts of subtle (and not so subtle ways). As for Jesus, I’m thinking a key parable about productivity and worth might be the workers in the vineyard. Continued Lenten blessings, Renee. Thanks for staying so actively engaged. It’s pretty encouraging
Thank you for this wise reflection. I am coming to see what I would call the 'constructed self' as the accumulation of the things we do to defend ourselves and the things we do to perform a sense of specialness. The true self, the locus of the heart, resides in a spacious center where nothing needs to be defended, and nothing needs to be performed. From this place one can simply be - as onself and with and for others.
(picking up where my comment was prematurely snapped away) … and I must include myself as within range of both sides of this phenomenon … I am saddened by the underlying and unrecognized presumption which prevents the unity of love among us … unity, as I understand it, which is to notably mark togetherness in Christ as so uniquely outstanding as to be readily noticed as a superior model to many other models commonly practiced among and around us. My Lenten meditation seeks a heart open to hearing and learning how to deal with this temptation.
When there arises within a group a kind of competitive “in-group spiritual sharing” which dismisses attentive listening to voices whose expression is not recognized as of the same “spiritual” or “intellectual” calibre …
This message is vitally important, Jake - because we all have a false self and many of us don’t realize it’s false! I believe that our true identity as God’s beloved child is the most important thing we will ever learn. Thank you again for your weekly homilies!
Thank you, Korie! We’re on the same page. And as you’ve seen that’s one of the central themes of this Lenten series. BTW, I’ll be sharing these talks with the clergy of the Diocese of MO in the Lenten retreat over the next few days. I’ve crafted some different questions for that group.
That’s awesome!
Oh, my, Jake. This is so incredibly insightful and, from my experience, unique. My combined heart/brain always goes toward unique. Its the artist in me. The questions you pose are worth talking about in a small group, too. I wish I had a small group. Some day. Maybe.
Thank you, Donna! It’s nice to hear that your artist’s heart resonated with this reflection. Let’s hope together for that small group.
Hello Jake. Marc Braun from Webster Groves Missouri. It was 20 years ago at Emmanual Episcopal where I sat with you and shared that I thought I was seeking God. You said, “It sounds like God is seeking you and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep running from Him. You let me know that all I had to do was to stop running away and simply to decide to receive Him and His love. You said once I make that decision that my life would never be the same again and it hasn’t.
Grateful for you and your heart for guiding others to receive and stop running. I miss you.
Hi Marc! It’s great to reconnect. And I love hearing about the path you’re on. It does my heart good. Lenten blessings and I look forward to your thoughts and reflections
Love this
Thanks Rob. Blessed Lent my brother
Kia ora. Thanks much for a great post! I'm curious about the tree in your new banner, is that something from your local woodland area? And my, how Colt has grown (it is him?) Cheers!
That tree is in Mt. Olivet Cemetery which surrounds the diocesan offices. And both those boys are really growing
I just want to say thank you, I found sitting here with my eyes closed just listening so peaceful
This reminds me of the first time I said, "I am a writer."
And indeed you wrtie with clarity and wisdom
When you described your interaction at the gas station, I had to laugh a little. The gentleman‘s first response was to feel judgment when he saw your collar because he wasn’t at church. His second response was to justify his decision to not be at church. I wonder how far down the road he was before he realized that. YOU weren’t at church either since you were at the same gas station. Lol 😆.
I wonder why his initial thought was that God would be displeased if he went on the road to take his daughter to her dance rather than be at church.
I’m not sure when exactly productivity became the identifying characteristic of a person. But we do reinforce it every day because usually right after inquiring about somebody’s name (which isn’t the same as asking “who are you“)the first question we ask is “what do you do“.
But I also don’t know that it not reinforced when we read stories of Jesus, separating sheep and goats based on productivity. However, he does seem to have a different definition of what “productivity“ is and to be fair he seems to define it as looking out for each other rather than what occupation that we hold.
As always, appreciate your words .
Our culture and economy teach us to see ourselves and each other as producers and consumers in all sorts of subtle (and not so subtle ways). As for Jesus, I’m thinking a key parable about productivity and worth might be the workers in the vineyard. Continued Lenten blessings, Renee. Thanks for staying so actively engaged. It’s pretty encouraging
Thank you for this wise reflection. I am coming to see what I would call the 'constructed self' as the accumulation of the things we do to defend ourselves and the things we do to perform a sense of specialness. The true self, the locus of the heart, resides in a spacious center where nothing needs to be defended, and nothing needs to be performed. From this place one can simply be - as onself and with and for others.
Beth I like the term “constructed self.” It works really well for describing what we do. And thanks for the good insight about the alternative.
(picking up where my comment was prematurely snapped away) … and I must include myself as within range of both sides of this phenomenon … I am saddened by the underlying and unrecognized presumption which prevents the unity of love among us … unity, as I understand it, which is to notably mark togetherness in Christ as so uniquely outstanding as to be readily noticed as a superior model to many other models commonly practiced among and around us. My Lenten meditation seeks a heart open to hearing and learning how to deal with this temptation.
That’s a humble and admirable Lenten meditation, Ruth.
When there arises within a group a kind of competitive “in-group spiritual sharing” which dismisses attentive listening to voices whose expression is not recognized as of the same “spiritual” or “intellectual” calibre …
see you next comment
Thank you Bishop for the heart races. I am learning to be and not do, to learn and not try, to slow down and not hurry. Thank you again.
You are not alone my friend.