In Switzerland

After a wonderful week of talks in Assisi Italy with our CAC team, Jim Knipper and I have now moved into Switzerland. This morning awakening in beautiful Lake Lugano, and off to Flueli Ranft in a few hours. This is the home of Bruder Klaus, who is the mystic saint of this country, and we will give a few days of talks on contemplation here based on Pure Prezence, which is the German translation of the Naked Now book. St.Nicholas von der Flue is the only canonized saint of Switzerland and is sometimes considered the father of Swiss neutrality because of his ability to reconcile and heal opposing forces from his spiritual wisdom and his uneducated but non dual mind.

In Assisi

I wonder what Francis would think about one of his sons emailing a blog from right below his old house? Where he left everything, I seem to have everything, health, a wonderful crowd of students, beautiful weather, pasta and vino, and a bittersweet heart. I know this is the last time I plan to visit here and Europe, and so it all has a feeling of “no more” to it, but also a great joy that I can be here at all!

All of our 150 attendees here at the Cittadella are so responsive, and praying for all of your intentions out loud each day (we asked to bring your prayer intentions with us, and many of you
happily obliged, making us aware of how much need and suffering is out there). We are from many countries and backgrounds, but enjoying Jesus’ prayer “That all may be one”.

I am sure “the little poor man” would not begrudge us this bit of technology if it allows us to send you our love, our prayers, and our solidarity.

Thank you for caring. We do too.

Vatican Versus American Nuns

We must be honest and admit that there are only two remaining large systems in the world that are totally patriarchal in their style and in their leadership: Communist states and the Roman Catholic Church. Ours never looked quite as bad since we at least used the language of Jesus, the symbols of communion, humility, and service, and we men even dress in rather feminine robes. The Communist states make no display of humility themselves or respect for the feminine side of anything. But the real bottom lines in the Roman Church are becoming more and more apparent to thinking and spiritual people in the last decade or so. Despite the very clear reforms of the II Vatican Council in the 1960′s, the Roman patriarchy, a closed system that allows no prophetic critique, and their branch appointed officers (bishops), are step by step rolling back both the spirit and the letter of the Vatican II reforms–while pretending and saying they are not. (Remember, if you can reject this Council, then you have the basis for rejecting the other 20 Councils of the Church too! The Pope and bishops had better be very careful!)

Deceit and supposed magnanimity are at the heart of all patriarchies, or otherwise their subjects would see what they are actually doing. North Koreans also believe their “Great Father” is protecting them, as did many Filipinos under Marcos, and Russians under their Czars and Czarinas.

No group accepted the reforms and tried to renew itself following the Council like the American Sisters. Yes, they made their mistakes, and also enjoyed certain matriarchal benefits over the laity. Nevertheless, this cruel, humiliating, and intimidating attempt by the Roman Curia (“the place that cares for”) to punish and control the American sisters is being seen for what it is, and what it is not:
It IS male patriarchal control, hurt feelings because they are not that much in control any more; and it is certainly NOT anything like Jesus or the Gospel. Patriarchal systems normally engineer their own demise by such gross misuse of power.

We all need to sincerely pray–and speak much needed Gospel to very worldly power.

The Great Nevertheless

My favorite single Scripture scholar is Walter Brueggemann, who often strikes me as an Old Testament prophet himself. He has given me so many insights into the Hebrew Scriptures, always filled with faith and passion and intelligence. Several came to me this week, as I was going through a few personal trials myself. He says that Psalm 73 is the “Linchpin Psalm” that almost divides the two major themes of the Book of Psalms, from obedience to the law and will of God–to the increasing sense of pure praise and elation at the goodness of God. It is illustrated in the Psalm itself where only starting in verse 23 can the Psalmist move beyond his fears, resentment of enemies, and doubts to shout out with loving trust.

This is also mirrored in the very last verses of the Prophet Habakkuk, which Brueggemann calls his “Great Nevertheless”. After three Chapters of moaning and cursing, old Habakkuk (wonder why that name never caught on?) magnificently ends his writing with 3:18-19 “I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will exult in God my Savior. Yahweh is still my strength. He makes my feet as light as a doe’s feet in the high places!”

Hind’s Feet in High Places, became a lovely spiritual book written by Hannah Hurnard, who created a complete allegory around this brilliant metaphor of Habakkuk.

I hope both of these sources might empower and encourage your own “Great Nevertheless” when you need it,  and let you know that it is THE PROCESS ITSELF–OF GETTING TO YOUR NEVERTHELESS– that is your great spiritual teacher.

Which Venus?

I so love and enjoy my 11 year old Black Labrador named Venus, and dread the thought of her passing and her unconditional love.
I would sooner go first, but that would leave her only confused and abandoned. I also look most nights at the
lovely New Mexico sky and see the planet Venus in the heavens. There she shines and sparkles for all to see who are willing to look and enjoy.
Which is the better Venus? As always, I will choose earth over sky, my dog over distant planets. But the planet keeps me connected to all of you and to the universe, my dear black Lab keeps me connected to myself and to life itself. Both connect me to God and to you.

Is Liberal and Conservative in our Hard Wiring?

Mike Dodd in LiveScience.com says that researchers at the University of Nebraska have found evidence that there is a basis in the nervous system as to why people strongly identify with the conservative or liberal end of the spectrum.  It does not appear to be a biased study, and I must say what I read largely matches a lifetime of observations in my own family circle, in religious life, and in long term acquaintances (Again, with people strongly identified as either liberal or conservative).

It seems that conservatively inclined people show greater interest in negative images of accidents, crime, scary possibilities, threats, and anything “alarming”.  They tend to spend more energy and make longer eye contact “monitoring things that make them uncomfortable”.  Liberals tend to give more energy to hopeful plans and possibilities for the future, and their eye movements stay on exciting things.  According to political scientist, John Hibbing, the two groups really do perceive the world quite differently. 

I guess we need both WATCHDOGS and LICKING PUPPIES, but it would sure be good for all of us if they could play together a bit, and maybe balance one another out.  Maybe they would look like ”positive responsibles” or “realistic visionaries”!

What does it mean that “Christ died for our sins”?

This common phrase used by Christians, and first used in the letters of Paul, has caused a lot of confusion. It is as if our sinfulness caused him to be killed and his dying caused God to love us. It leaves us very guilty, usually grateful, but not really empowered or transformed.  Redemption is something we “watch” more than participate in.

The Western mind prefers to  interpret things “instrumentally” that is, in terms of cause and effect  This is what Scholastic philosophy called an “efficient cause”, but it is not really helpful in understanding spiritual things.  It is too linear, mechanical, and never gets close to the multilayered mystery of any event, least of all something as profound as this.  Redemption becomes a kind of heavenly transaction between Jesus and God– but we are not really in on the deal. It happened then but not also now.  I might be grateful but I am not really engaged.

So try this:  “Christ died for our sins” means that he died in solidarity with– and in loving communion with–all human failure, mistakes, and absurdity–and thus made them non-absurd!  (“With our sins” might be the more helpful preposition than “for our sins”.)  All human suffering and even our failures can henceforth be seen as part of the entire mystery of transformation into God.  Thus he rightly renamed (“redeemed”?) the dark side of everything, which is what always discourages and defeats us.  Now we can be both grateful and highly motivated.  Life and death are both good!   We are now participants instead of spectators.  We are still very grateful but now gratitude is the very ground floor of our universe, because nothing, absolutely nothing is wasted in the Divine Economy of Grace.  All of your life and all of your dyings are indeed part of the deal!

“Let me tell you a secret:  “We are not going to die, but we will all be changed”  (1 Corinthians 15:51)

Home Again

So good to be home, back with my dog Venus, and a desert springtime here in New Mexico.
The staff has done some lovely landscaping in the back and front yards of the Center, and all seems happy to be alive,
as God bursts forth in every bush, grass, and tree. The tulips, forsythia, and pansies are
already in full color, foretelling Easter more than a week away. So perfect when the soul, the season,
and the Scriptures all coincide. The pear tree in my front yard glows like a white lantern!

So Grateful!

I return home in a few days, after a blessed month here on the California shore.  The book Immortal Diamond:  The Resurrection and the True Self is largely finished.  I redid the final chapter yesterday on love and death, and now the editor will have to clean up my grammar and logic, I am sure.  When you get so close to a theme for this many days, you loose the fresh perspective of an outsider reading it for the first time.  God willing, it will come out in December and pass on some things that can truly help people know and enjoy “resurrection” a bit themselves.

As I turned 69 while I was here, I am sure, like all books, I am writing it primarily to myself! I sincerely thank so many of you for your caring prayers.  It is the whole “body of Christ” that has been doing the knowing, the loving, and the writing here.  The Risen Presence, I am convinced, is experienced as a very real “force field” that we can all live within–and do!

Hypothetical Questions in Religion and Politics

As I write a book on “the Resurrection and the True Self”, I am researching a lot of Scripture, solidly for three weeks now.  One of many patterns that is becoming clear is that Jesus almost always refused to answer hypothetical questions.  He must have known the distinction Parker Palmer makes between honest and dishonest questions.  The only honest questions, Palmer says, are those that you do not already have an answer for.  Hypothetical questions are almost always meant to trap the other in an either-or dilemma, and to force the individual to reveal his or her group loyalties through stating this or that position.  They usually state the question on a highly theoretical level, where you can force a show-down.  Too often, they are not concerned about helping anybody in particular but making points with the crowd.

Check out these hypothetical questions:  Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (Matthew 22:17)  Is divorce OK or not? (Matthew 19:3) Do you have authority or not? (Matthew 21:23)  Which is the greatest commandment? (Matthew 22:35) By whom do you cast out devils? (Luke 11:16)  Are you for or against this adulterous woman? (John 8:6)  Who sinned, this man or his parents? (John 9:2)  Is the kingdom here or is it there, now or then? (Luke 17:20). These are the ones I noticed.  Jesus’ answer in every case, refuses to let hypothetical questions impale him on the horns of theoretical dilemmas. In many cases, Jesus moves it to a specific example (which in the seminary we disparagingly called “situation ethics”, and where everything was also discussed theoretically!).

Hypothetical questions have been a high percentage of questions I have been asked from the crowd for over 40 years on the road.  I wish I had learned from Jesus earlier, because such questions are usually not a sincere search for truth or for God

Of course, all of this applies in politics too.  And people take it seriously!