Housekeeping - Crystal

I do wish to remain a part of the scripture discussion blog. I know I haven't been posting as much as I used to. Part of the reason might be one thing David mentioned - that I wonder if you guys are getting tired of hearing my catholic pov over and over. The other thing is that I'm struggling, as usual, with personal problems, and those get all wrapped up in religious issues. That can make it hard to write, but I still want to try.

I'm not sure I have any suggestions about how we should proceed. I appreciate both an analytical and a contemplative/emotional approach. The question that arises for me is, I guess, whether the scriptures touch me in some real way that matters, and if so, if I can express that ... for my own clarification and for a sharing with others.

HOUSEKEEPING

Howdy Folks!

A copy of this posting will be sent to everyone on the membership roles for this blog.

This blog has become a bit slow -- partly due to my inattention and partly due to this being the summer season and partly due -- I think -- to the social-dynamics here. While all are welcome, not all participate. Now some may just lurk and enjoy reading other people's postings without comment. That's actually okay -- though it would still be nice to hear from you all once in a awhile.

I also fear those of us with strong theological positions are repeating ourselves -- I rather suspect much of what I say here -- most of you could predict the overall sense of it before you read me.

I also worry those of us who approach matters analytically and from an issues perspective dominate. People with a more emotive approach to faith or a more contemplative approach to scripture reading may feel excluded.

If any of these concerns are even partially correct -- I'm sorry now. What I really wanted was a safe place for folks to come together and have a conversation about how they read scripture.

My plan at this point is to remove everybody from membership. This is not punitive. Its about clarifying who wants to participate and how. As soon as you are removed from membership you will receive an invitation to join. Your choice. Accept the invite or decline.

Once you decide to rejoin I would appreciate a posting to the skripture study blog expressing what works for you best about this group -- and how we can make it better for you.

I certainly hope at least some of you will rejoin. But if you don't -- thank you for your presence here in the past. Sometimes a group outlives its usefulness. Sometimes they need to be laid down.

George Fox Epistle 10

Well everyone seems to have posted something 'cept me. My favourite poem is TS Elliot's Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock and while I think there's spiritual content -- its longish needs digging and am not sure it fits in the same category as Rumi.

Instead let me post George Fox's Epistle 10 -- which I think offers up an interesting spiritual practice -- one I've found especially hard to put into practice.

X. (10) To Friends, to stand still in trouble, and see the strength of the Lord

Friends,Whatever ye are addicted to, the tempter will come in that thing; and when he can trouble you, then he gets advantage over you, and then ye are gone. Stand still in that which is pure, after ye see yourselves; and then mercy comes in. After thou seest thy thoughts, and the temptations, do not think, but submit; and then power comes. Stand still in that which shows and discovers; and there doth strength immediately come. And stand still in the light, and submit to it, and the other will be hushed and gone; and then content comes. And when temptations and troubles appear, sink down in that which is pure, and all will be hushed, and fly away. Your strength is to stand still, after ye see yourselves; whatsoever ye see yourselves addicted to, temptations, corruption, uncleanness, etc., then ye think ye shall never overcome. And earthly reason will tell you, what ye shall lose; hearken not to that, but stand still in the light that shows them to you, and then strength comes from the Lord, and help contrary to your expectation. Then ye grow up in peace, and no trouble shall move you. David fretted himself, when he looked out; but when he was still, no trouble could move him. When your thoughts are out, abroad, then troubles move you. But come to stay your minds upon that spirit which was before the letter; here ye learn to read the scriptures aright. If ye do any thing in your own wills, then ye tempt God; but stand still in that power which brings peace.

friendly skripture study: Love / C

Looks like our archives are attracting some energy. Tim (a youth pastor) dropped by and commented on a posting from June 2005!

friendly skripture study: Love / C

Theology and Poetry

Here's an old article in Theology Today - Poetry and Theology by Patrick D. Miller ...

... The images of poetry speak to startle and puzzle us, to provoke us and cause us to think. They set the imagination free, opening the reader to theological possibilities that might be less acceptable or even unthinkable in the essay mode. Images, dreams, personal experiences, sensual realities-all these aspects of our life that are often filtered out of theological work are front and center when poetry is the medium of faith's expression ....

Below are three poems, all pretty different, that illustrate this ...

* The Angels

They all have weary mouths
and bright souls without marge.
And a yearning (as for sin)
sometimes haunts their dream.

They all seem so alike;
in God's garden silent they remain,
like many, many intervals
in his power and melody.

Only when their wings spread out,
they are the awakeners of a wind:
as if God with his broad hands
of a sculptor went through the pages
of the beginning's dark book.

- Rainer Maria Rilke


* O Deus Ego Amo Te

O God, I love Thee, I love Thee -
Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
in the everlasting burning.
Thou, Thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach Thine arms out dying,
For my sake sufferedst nails and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death, and this for me,
And Thou couldst see me sinning;
Then I, why should not I love Thee,
Jesus, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven's sake; not to be
Out of hell by loving Thee;
Not for any gains I see;
But just the way that Thou didst me
I do love and I will love Thee:
What must I love Thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God. Amen.

- Francis Xavier / translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins


* O Taste and See

The world is
not with us enough
O taste and see

the subway Bible poster said,
meaning The Lord, meaning
if anything all that lives
to the imagination’s tongue,

grief, mercy, language,
tangerine, weather, to
breathe them, bite,
savor, chew, swallow, transform

into our flesh our
deaths, crossing the street, plum, quince,
living in the orchard and being

hungry, and plucking
the fruit.

- Denise Levertov