Another Thought from Henri

I needed to hear this thought from Henri Nouwen this morning...

Digging Into Our Spiritual Resources

When someone hurts us, offends us, ignores us, or rejects us, a deep inner protest emerges. It can be rage or depression, desire to take revenge or an impulse to harm ourselves. We can feel a deep urge to wound those who have wounded us or to withdraw in a suicidal mood of self-rejection. Although these extreme reactions might seem exceptional, they are never far away from our hearts. During the long nights we often find ourselves brooding about words and actions we might have used in response to what others have said or done to us.

It is precisely here that we have to dig deep into our spiritual resources and find the center within us, the center that lies beyond our need to hurt others or ourselves, where we are free to forgive and love.

Things Not to Say Out Loud When You Work for Mennonites

I passed a few uncomfortable moments at coffee break this morning. The topic of Catholicism and mass came up, and we talked a bit about some of the traditions. I love the beauty of liturgy and mass, and without thinking about what I was saying before I said it, made the first comment that came to mind. I said that I felt it was quite likely that I would one day convert to Catholicism.

The looks on the faces of the three co-workers with whom I was chatting were rather priceless. Shock, followed quickly by horror and disgust.

I forget that others see the Catholic church differently than I do.

Another coworker who had been listening as the four of us talked stopped by my desk on his way out for lunch. “Big ‘C’ Catholic or small ‘c’ catholic?” he asked before going on to inform me that if we throw out anything that’s been added to church tradition by papal edict since 1060 AD we’d be okay, because then we’d essentially have the “new testament church.”

Sigh.

Another lesson in things not to say out loud when you work for a tiny Mennonite insurance company.

The Oldest Bible and Earthquakes

Some headlines catching my attention today...

World's Oldest Bible Goes Online

Strong Quake Jolts North Japan, 107 Hurt

Powerful Aftershocks Hit China Quake Area, 1 Dead

What We Feel is Not Who We Are - Henri Nouwen

What We Feel Is Not Who We Are

Our emotional lives move up and down constantly. Sometimes we experience great mood: swings from excitement to depression, from joy to sorrow, from inner harmony to inner chaos. A little event, a word from someone, a disappointment in work, many things can trigger such mood swings. Mostly we have little control over these changes. It seems that they happen to us rather than being created by us.

Thus it is important to know that our emotional life is not the same as our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of God within us. As we feel our emotions shift we must connect our spirits with the Spirit of God and remind ourselves that what we feel is not who we are. We are and remain, whatever our moods, God's beloved children.

Home

I'm home, showered, and resting.

The need for sleep is great.

I'm praying the intensity will fade, and deep rest will come.