COME UNION

Hi There!

So, here's a totally unscientific, non-academic,

take it or leave it, yours for free, observation

on how 'tis with us out here

on the street of everyday living.


     WE HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION

      AND LESS COMMUNION

      THAN ANY PEOPLE
       
      IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY

      OF HUMANKIND


That works havoc for our spiritual lives:

        - sensory overload

        - physic scramble

        - emotional aloneness

        - frigid isolation

        - soul starvation

Consider:

       - Chatter pollution.

       - Digitally disturbed.

       - Squak Radio.

       - Truth twittered away

       - Facebook that doesn't face up.

       - 24/7 news noise.

       - Words on buses and dinner place mats.

       - Junk mail.

Lots of words that don't talk.

Communication Separation.



Happily, though, we are already one.

One at base and core.

Bedrock being shared.

Connected at The Source.

Silence hears oneness.

A new psalm:

    "Be still and know you are one."

A sacrament reclaimed:

     Holy Come Union.



 Thomas Merton pegs it and points to promise:


      THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION

       IS NOT COMMUNICATION, BUT COMMUNION.

       IT IS WORDLESS. IT IS BEYOND WORDS,

        AND IT IS BEYOND SPEECH,

        AND IT IS BEYOND CONCEPT.

        NOT THAT WE DISCOVER A NEW UNITY.

        WE DISCOVER AN OLDER UNITY.

         MY DEAR BROTHERS,

         WE ARE ALREADY ONE.

          BUT WE IMAGINE THAT WE ARE NOT.

          AND WHAT WE HAVE TO RECOVER IS

          OUR ORIGINAL UNITY.

          WHAT WE HAVE TO BE IS WHAT WE ARE.


                            The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton



How's that for a week's worth of meditation,

well, at least for starters?

Consider:

         - observe a Silent Sabbath

         - talk less, say more

        - turn off talk radio and listen to a brook

        - skip the cocktail party,

          get down on the floor

          and play with a baby

        - spend an afternoon in an art museum

        - "Watch the way you talk...

           Say only what helps, each word a gift."

                           Ephesians 4:29

                           ( The Message )

          - "Let me tell you something:

             Every one of these careless words

             is going to  come back to haunt you.

             There will be a time of Reckoning.

             Words are powerful:

             take them seriously.

             Words can be your salvation.

             Words can be your damnation."

                             Jesus

                    Matthew 12:26-37

                        The Message

             - Go Square Dancing

             - Take a Sunday ride in the country

                 with the kids -

                 be sure to stop off for ice cream.

              - Share The Sounds of Silence

                with those closest

              - Compile a family history

              - Have a Family Night twice a week

                (everyone home, supper and dishes together,

                board games and cards).

              - Find ways to connect with neighbors

              - Hug a tree, kiss a flower

              - Adopt a college student in your area

                 who comes from a far away place

                  ( invite in for dinners, holidays,

                   ball games, concerts,

                   a home away from home,

                   a family away from family ).

                 - Do the same with a lonely resident

                    of a nursing home.

                 - Be a pen pal with a service person

                   or missionary over seas.

                 - Connect with a distant relative.

                 - In prayer warmly hold all peoples,

                   especially those of a different culture,

                   religion, political or sexual orientation.

                  - Sit on a park bench and People Pray

                  - Go to church early and stay late

                    for some Holy Smoozing.
             
                 

                  

Good luck with the "start."

Be sure to keep going.

What we have to be is what we are.

How wonderful to share

this Come Union

together here each week..

See you next time round

 ( as in unity ).



Our newest participation

here at "frankly speaking"

is from Denmark.

Welcome !!



In God's Dear Love,

     John Frank


       *****



   "frankly speaking"


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