Seek my face

At our final profession as Secular Franciscans, the psalm respond was to ‘seek the face of the Lord’. To seek the face of God is not a simple scanning of those present in a large gathering. It requires us to enter into the mystery we call God, with an openness and willingness to let go of our preconceived ideas and to be open to experience the Divine Spirit. 

For me it is letting go of theology, of phrases of terminology and head debates. To focus on what I feel and experience. I think the heart responds to an inner calling, a stirring of the Spirit. We respond with awe and maybe a form of worship, a simple thank you to the universe. The starting point has to be the lived religious experience, whether that has its origin in nature, in relationships or the arts. 

Theology, and the doctrines and creeds are the result of lived experience. Although when we try to put the divine interaction into words, theology can help us to make sense of lived experience. To make sense out of religious or sacred experience, people often try to simplify complex thoughts, and the result is not always desirable. 

‘Seek my face’ is a complex undertaking. Where do we start? What does it look like?

The God out there, the God we are encouraged to have a relationship with, is markedly different from the Divine spark within me. The psalmist writes: ”God dwells in heaven”. Having a relationship with God or Jesus (depending on your understanding), are words that roll easily off our tongue, but what does it mean?

Some people say God is within us, or God is among us. Others say we live in God, and there is nothing outside God. I believe all of these are true. I also think that the journey to God is an inward journey, where we get to know ourselves and God. Meister Eckhart told us ‘the best way to find God is to look within ourselves’. 

 Recently I came across an article by Karen Kelly, on the three faces of God. I have listed them here:

1. God as the ground of our Being, the first face. The God within us. We are the light of the world; God is as close as our hands and feet.
2. God is immanent, the second face. You are always with us. We pray to you.
3. The Infinite, third face. God in which we live and move and have our being.

Some mysteries need to be lived and explored rather than solved. I suppose it depends on our circumstances how we relate to these perspectives. I find it easier to relate to the first and third face/image of God. It is the second face, who do I pray to, that is the challenge, and the face I still seek. It is a face that has changed over time, and it is this face or aspect of God that creates the most discussion and diversity in our time. 

The doctrine of the Trinity makes the God we pray to, more complex and confusing. The three faces of God and the three masks of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Creator, Redeemer and Giver of Life) makes for interesting and soul-searching discussions. Some would argue that the three masks of the Trinity are the same as the three faces of God, as Kelly describes. 

I think they are different.

What do you think?

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. - Gautama Buddha

Try or Train

After years of serving as a soldier, Brother Lawrence joined the Carmelite community in 1629 in Paris. The Carmelites were originally a strict order, but things changed overtime. Teresa of Avila together with John of the Cross, reinstated some old habits, making the Carmelites again a strict order.

 

Brother Lawrence (born as Nicholas Herman) was assigned to kitchen duties. He didn’t like doing the dishes, or steaming pots and pans. He didn’t like the same work, day in day out. However, we know about Brother Lawrence because he changed the drudgery to devotion. Nothing changed in the kitchen, only his attitude. His time of prayer continued during his work, and his work continued during his prayer. He said he felt as much peace in the kitchen washing floors as kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

Brother Lawrence was especially known for his serenity and devotion to God. He said: “We ought not to grow tired of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed”.

 

Spiritual practices are creating a habit, regular actions, which may grow into a spiritual discipline.  A spiritual discipline is an action; it is not something that comes over us. Like Brother Lawrence, whose day was filled with conversing with God, growing in awareness that God is close to us, near us and wanting this deep personal connection. His practice became his spiritual discipline overtime.

 

Trying doesn’t create the skills we need. It is about training. A rugby player does not become a star player by simply trying when he is on the field. Every player has to train to be fit, fast and accurate. They train on their own and as a team. 

Spiritual practises are like that; they are part of a healthy lifestyle. We have to be engaged in our practices, in a sense we have to train our spiritual agility. Otherwise, we become like couch potatoes, sluggish and lazy.

 

As Frank Laubach observed: “If you are weary of some a sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are”. 

Spiritual practices require discipline. No matter what your choice of practice is. Practise makes perfect; practice deepens our relationship with the Divine. Attaining to a practice helps us, the practitioner, the Divine doesn’t keep a score.

 

So whether you meditate, practice the presence of God, paint or work in the garden, if that is how you connect with the Divine, it will aid in your spiritual well-being.

Spiritual practices deepen our awareness to awakening and help us to enter the Stillness.

 

Peace  comes from within. Do not seek it without. - Gautama Buddha

Atelophobia – the fear of imperfection

Franciscan spirituality is known for simplicity, joyful living and humility. The essence of Franciscan spirituality is the love of God. That love is central to gospel living; acceptance for those who are different and focused on service rather than selfishness. Francis and his followers lived a 'gospel life'. Gospel living sounds simple; in reality, it can be a challenge. The love of God is central in issues of Social Justice; Pope Francis talks about mercy. Franciscans are also known for their care of creation, sun and moon are as much part of the creation as the animals and all people for that matter.

I am a Secular Franciscan who struggles with some of the Church's teachings. God created the world and saw that it was good. God created every human being in their own image. And it was GOOD. However, as part of the liturgy, we - the people of God- have to say: "I am not worthy..."; This doesn't make sense to me.

Listening to others and reading articles, I am intrigued by the sense of guilt in the Christian faith. I suppose it all stems from the theology of 'Original Sin' (I am bad without doing anything wrong). Whatever happened to 'Original Blessing'? How many doctrines are human-made convenience for power and control? The history of the Church is not without greed and power struggles, and those struggles are not dissimilar to the times of the Early Church. The Church consists of people like you and I. With their own insecurities and weaknesses as well as their egos.

I wonder if the concept of Original Sin lies at the foundation of our general Atelophobia - the fear of imperfection. Of not being 'enough' - smart enough, worthy enough, holy enough... I am not saying we have to be self-sufficient, or self-reliant, not at all.  It is about how we see ourselves in our community. Is this fear of 'not-enough' something we tell ourselves, is it imposed by the Church, workplace or even something we picked up in childhood? Or is 'guilt' and 'not good enough' a human condition?

The not 'good enough' is also fed by the consumer mentality. From what we are supposed to look like as successful people, to the car we drive to be 'cool', how we spent our holidays, etc. etc.

The question is, "How can we build a society where people are accepted as they are"? And when will the Church proclaim love and inclusiveness rather than the 'we are in - you are out' mentality.

Prayer, meditation, mindful awareness and spending time in nature may help us to foster a more realistic image of what it means to be a human-being created in the Divine Image.

 Peace  comes from within. Do not seek it without. - Gautama Buddha