LENTEN RETREAT VI
Leave
Solitude
Silence
* Method
Welcome
Session I
PAUSE
Session II
SMUDGE
Session III
LEAVE
Session IV
SOLO SOCIAL
Session V
SILENCE SPEAK
are available
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this session
******
Dear All of Us,
Here in Washington
it seems just about
every other person
is driving a Tesla.
It's probably part
DC Shishi,
part climate care.
It's definitely dangerous.
A Tesla doesn't know how
to pilot itself.
For all the pluses of Tesla,
Tesla's Autopilot
has been involved in
17 fatalities
736 crashes
across the land (1)
In a different
time, place and way
The Desert
Mothers and Fathers
had to deal with a
society's autopilot
wildly out of control,
totally unreliable -
manner and mode of life
dangerously defective.
With all the attendant
chaos, conflict and collision,
they sought
a place and way
to pilot life
sane and sacred.
They ditched the toys,
tools and techniques
that held captive
and compulsive
mind and emotion.
They fashioned
approaches and practices
piloting them free of both.
Different again,
but not,
US
as we seek
a way and place
sane and sacred.
We calibrate,
tone and touch
our life navigation
as did the
Desert
Mothers and Fathers
did theirs
The immediacies
are different.
The direction
and
destination
one and the same.
We slow down
to be caught up in
the sweep of
steady, strong
Reality
We just don't run
rapid ruinous
trying to keep up
with the folly of
incessant motion,
fad adhesion,
pricey real estate,
narcotic noise,
crowded loneliness,
paper thin priorities.
in other words,
things that are
as real and reliable
as the emperor's
new clothing.
WORK
The Desert
Mothers and Fathers
wove baskets
and gardened,
We are at work
quite variously.
Just like them,
though,
we do our work
as a participation
in God's
continuing Creation.
From the desert
Benedict points us
right and real:
"Laborare est orare"
"To work is to pray"
This is central
to navigating a
Christ life.
It informs our
attitude, selection, manner
of work:
vacuuming the carpet,
driving a long haul,
developing public policy,
finance to farming and...
SIMPLICITY
Like those dear desert folks,
we live modestly.
Our setting is different.
Our spirit the same.
Our housing, wheels,
wardrobe, recreations,
are tastefully sufficient,
not at all superfluous
or showy.
We keep things simple
as God simply is.
Our talk is what
is good and necessary.
Our schedules
are paced peaceful.
To help us
steer straight
and appreciate
the journey
as we travel life,
we do occasional
course correctives.
We fast from a good
to refresh appreciation.
Our prayer is sincere,
uncomplicated.
In it we are not trying
to achieve anything.
We leave that up to God.
Sometimes we're flying high.
Sometimes it seems like
same old same old,
flat on the ground floor
for that.
No obsessing about
spiritual stages
and strategies.
We simply show up.
God takes it from there.
We make sure to have
a sturdy spiritual guide.
They don't need
a lot of degrees,
just a deep degree
of lived spiritual wisdom.
SOLITUDE
We're never loners
and we're not afraid
to be alone.
In our aloneness
God shows us
our naked self
and
delights in us.
So revealed
and treasured,
we forth to others,
offering ourselves
for a
Holy Communion
in
The Love
Who Is God.
We are fully present.
It may mean
simply caring,
generously sharing,
creatively cooperating.
We never hide in a herd.
We blend in community.
In our solitude
we come to see that
we are anything but alone.
God is all over the place,
at the center of all that is:
out in the back forty
beside a babbling brook,
leafing through a collection
of art masterpieces,
savoring wine,
walking in the woods,
in a blossoming
cherry blossom tree
enjoying a bowl of
homemade chicken soup.
In our silent solitude
we ache at faraway war,
hold in love a just widowed,
rejoice with graduates,
prayerfully support
social justice advocates.
All in all,
Love leads,
steers us straight,
because
"God is love."
More about that
next week.
This week in our small group,
or with a trusted spiritual friend,
let's focus on
Matthew 6
The Message
Translation
The Message Matthew 6
We soul sense:
giving to the needy
prayer,
fasting,
treasures in heaven,
"not to worry"
as well as matters above
in this posting.
As always,
what's what,
how to,
as we ask the
Holy Spirt
to be our
PILOT
******
(1) The Washington Post,
June 10, 2023
******
Next Edition
Online: Wednesday
March 20, 2024
Email: Friday
March 22, 2024
******
Coming Right After Easter
A Special Edition
ELDERCHRIST
******
This week large groups from
Serbia
Singapore
Hong Kong
gifted us with a visit
. WELCOME
to
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
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thanks!
All the best
on the road to
Real.
We have the
best possible
Pilot.
See you
next week.
Love to all.
John Frank
******
