Creative Ministry - Week 3
Reading: Chapter 2
This chapter we explore the aspect of ministry that involves preaching, or sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. But as Henri so honestly notes, many people either see the gospel as a redundant message that they've heard a thousand times before, or they see the gospel as confronting them with such conviction that they resist it all together. So here we explore how we can be the kind of people "who can take away those obstacles that prevent the Word of God from falling on fertile ground" (p 33).
1) Henri clarifies that the "task of preaching is to assist in the ongoing struggle of becoming. And this is accomplished primarily by speaking about Jesus Christ" (p40). Ultimately it is Jesus Christ who came to give us life, and life in abundance. So, let's talk about Him!
a) Who is Jesus Christ?
b) How did you come to know Him?
c) What is your understanding of His heart, His character, and/or His perspective on life?
d) Tell us about the love you've received from Him.
e) Tell us about your love for Him.
f) Is He someone that you'd like to introduce other people to?
Many times we want to speak about our relationship with Jesus Christ, but somehow we feel awkward about it. Henri gives us two concepts that can facilitate the process.
2) Henri first asks us to relate to others in such a way that they are able to respond to what we say by connecting it to their own life experience.
a) What do you think Henri means by "real dialogue" or "real engagement" (p41)?
b) How can we facilitate this kind of connection with friends, family, neighbours or strangers?
c) Have you ever known someone who did this well? What effect did it have on you?
d) Did they reveal something new to you about the Word of God?
3) Henri also calls us to be available to others, in order to lead them to "redemptive insight" into the Word of God (p44). In order for us to do this well, we must first consider if our life is under the direction of the Word of God, and if we are living our lives fully and deeply.
a) What does Henri mean when he asks us to be "available" to another?
b) What habits do you maintain, or would like to maintain, in order to keep your life under the guidance of the Word of God?
c) How does one learn the skill of living so deeply and fully?
d) In what ways can we begin to make ourselves available to others, such they they can be inspired by God's Word living in us and desire it in their own lives too?
There are a lot of important things to ponder in this chapter, but they aren't easy. I'm looking forward to a week of discussion so that we can flesh these thoughts out and see how we can apply them to our daily lives. Always remember that the questions I offer are meant to help facilitate the discussion - but we are not bound to them. Please share whatever came up for you in the readings.
December 3rd, 2012 at 11:47 pm
This was a very interesting and challenging chapter. As I read and reviewed what Henri Nouwen said in the chapter two, I felt I had a notion of what he was saying, but was having difficulty visualizing what he was describing, and difficulty making his concepts concrete so I could understand them.
That being said, I will address the questions above as a whole. I went back over chapter one, as I assumed there was continuity here, rather than disconnect. The big idea I took out of chapter one was the importance of humility in the teacher, and the ability to take the student where he or she is at the moment, and allow them to grow from there. Henri Nouwen alludes to this when he speaks of dialogue, which he describes as “a way of relating to men and women so that they are able to respond to what is said with their own life experience.” Page 41. It is not about us, but about them. That way, as Henri Nouwen relates, the meteorologist, storekeeper, farmer, and laborer who he describes will allow the Word of God into their lives, as they will sense our authenticity and genuineness in the message we convey.
Jesus is our model here. Think about the ministry/teaching of Jesus that we have available to us in the Gospels. Aside from the infancy narratives, there may very well be a reason that we know nothing about the thirty years Jesus spent prior to the commencement of his ministry. Jesus knew that it was not about him, but about those with whom he came into contact. He crossed paths with folks from all walks of life, the poor, the lame, the rich, the sinners, those in power, in short, a cross section of society at the time, and in his wake he left fertile ground upon which the seeds he planted in these folks flourished. Like the meteorologist, storekeeper, farmer, and laborer, they were all in different “places.” He took them where he found them, and met them where they were at, and provided for their needs.
Now, how did he do this? He did not meet people and begin talking about himself, nor did he start preaching at them and telling them how they should be living, or what they should believe. Instead, he asked questions, and made them think about where they were at that moment. This is something he did from the beginning of his ministry. Think about the first disciples, the first two who followed him, literally. John 2: 35-37. What did Jesus do? He turned to them, and instead of telling them what to do, or what they should be doing, or talking about himself, and using himself as an example, he asked them a question. He asked them “[w]hat are you looking for.” John 2: 38. This immediately brought them into a relationship with Him, and drew them near Him. His question resonated with them, and He immediately met their needs at the moment, instead of forcing a theology or way of life upon them.
This relates not only to preaching, but to our day to day interaction with others in our efforts to spread the Gospel. One of the most effective priests I have ever known would pack the church. Upon reflection, after reading this chapter, I now see how he did it. He asked questions. Not the ones that Henri Nouwen mentioned about why there are forty days in Lent, etc., but ones like Jesus asked the first disciples. He immediately was authentic and genuine in the eyes of those listening, and the questions would then resonate in each and every person sitting in the pews, and then they were ready to listen to what was to come, and apply the message to their own experiences at the time. This is the lesson I took away from Chapter two.
I apologize if I was a bit verbose, or if the logic seems disconnected. Just as I was having difficulty wrapping my mind around this chapter, I struggled in putting my thoughts into words. Thank you for your indulgence.
December 4th, 2012 at 9:31 am
(these comments are directed to Week 2 comments)
I appreciate your comments Chuck about putting oneself first and getting one’s own own house in order so you can then go out and begin working with others safely.
Also your shared insights about humility were helpful and after reading Isaiah 38: 10-14, 17-20 (being honest about our human condition) I agree it was humbling.
Brynn your comments about choosing to always listen with ears to learn as a way to show deep respect for another thus contributing to the lifelong positive momentum and growth that God has in mind for those of us, immediately has prompted in me to once again focus on my thinking and responses when interacting and responding to communicating. In my self talk I shall repeat, “listen with ears to learn”.
Elisa you said transition is harder than one realizes. I agree and believe that you are experiencing the gift of awareness which can reminds us of the changes we are experiencing and we can be gentle with ourselves as we journal through the transition. Thanks for sharing the details of helping the 3 people you did.
Looking forward to the upcoming chapters.
Appreciate all of the shared thoughts and comments.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Q1.Consider the experience you have (past or present) as a student or as a teacher
My experience in primary school in the 1950’s was that education was geared essentially to preparing the pupil for exams, for future life and work and to take up one’s place in society. There was an emphasis on ‘chalk and talk’ and on rote learning. In the teacher’s busy schedule there was little time for discussion or for building a pupil/teacher relationship. There was an expectation anyhow in those days that little girls would be seen and ideally not heard!
With hindsight, I know that most teachers were dedicated and concerned about their pupils, but this was not always apparent! Some teachers managed to teach and relate to pupils a little differently though - and it made a difference! They had a passion and an energy for their subject. They were kind. They were generous with their time. There was an emphasis on active learning. They were concerned for the welfare of their pupils - and it showed! They were truly companions on the journey, and they went the extra mile.
Many of us I’m sure, have memories of teachers who befriended and inspired us. I have been blessed with people like that throughout my life both as student and teacher, especially in the areas of Religious Education, Music and Science & Environmental Studies. I suppose that it’s no great surprise to me now as I look back, that there were areas of special interest in my own classroom as well!
There is good reason to be concerned about an approach to teaching which is ‘competitive, unilateral and alienating’. Harry Chapin (one of my favourite singer/songwriters from the 1970’s) in his song, ‘Flowers are Red’, reminds us of our great responsibility as teachers. Hearing it for the first time on the radio back then was a real conversion experience for me. He paints a bleak picture of the negative consequences to a child when the wrong model of teaching is used. Henri Nouwen says in Creative Ministry that, ‘while it may never be found in its total naked destructiveness it, should, nonetheless be clear that elements of it can be detected in many of our contemporary educational methods’(p.16). I so agree from what I have read so far, that the message of Creative Ministry ‘is as relevant today as it was when Henri first published it in 1971′.
With grateful thanks
Blessings
Grace
December 5th, 2012 at 9:38 am
I also found Chapter 2 on preaching very challenging to read, understand and
comment on.
Reading Chuck’s comments has assisted me in understanding this chapter and
encouraged me to read it again & prepare my comments.
Thank you.
December 5th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I have to say that I really appreciate Brynn’s questions. I’m finding this a difficult book to connect with on my own. I read the chapter, then the questions, then re-read the chapter with the questions in mind. It definitely helps. Thanks, Brynn. What really “spoke” to me in this chapter was the need to be authentic, to be honestly who we are in our successes and failures, fears and enthusiasms. Only out of that knowledge of ourselves can we really be open to others as they are, can truly listen to them and can perhaps inspire them. Any time we think we have the answer, we’ve lost it–and them. My “picture” of Jesus is that he always met people where they were and created such a “safe” feeling that they were able to be who they actually were and to accept an invitation to become more (more human, more loving, whatever) without feeling they were being pushed into something and thus developing resistance. Of course he knew all the answers, but he never came across that way. He was integrally interested in each individual and he listened with his whole being–not only to what they said but also to what they feared or dreamed or wondered about. They felt his love for him and were able to risk changing so as to grow closer to him. Those who weren’t ready to change, for whatever reason, were free to walk away. I thought Nouwen’s comments about homilies that answered questions that hadn’t been asked or provided supported that wasn’t wanted (p. 31) were right on. We can’t be totally wrapped up in what appeals to us to the exclusion of others’ needs. I most definitely refuse to listen if someone talks down to me or I see them treating people as lesser beings. To keep from becoming like that, I think we need to read Scripture with a humble heart and a sense of timelessness to our openness to the Word so that it can enter our heart and shed light on those dark areas that need conversion. I love the Liturgy of the Hours because, after 30+ years of praying it daily, those psalms and readings and prayers are good friends, familiar enough that phrases will often float to my consciousness when I’m working or going through the day. I read the daily short quote from Nouwen’s writings when I first get up, as I start chores. Some really hit home and have me sending them to friends who I know will appreciate them. I think it’s also important to have good friends who will “prick our bubbles” whenever we begin to think we know it all.
December 6th, 2012 at 10:22 am
i truly enjoyed this chapter. as i began, i intended to read just the introduction to start off my week. but the chapter was so good, i continued on.
December 6th, 2012 at 10:29 am
i truly embraced the philosophy of being available, and i believe firstly, to be available to the others in my life, i need to be available to myself. so, daily, i practice meditatve and contemplative prayer as i begin my day. i recite the shema prayer every morning, and fnd time during the day to be alone with myself and meditate on the happenings far away and close by.
i try to listen to my heart and be true to myself, even when it is painful and not easy. i was moved to begin this practice when i was trying to make SENSE out of the NONSENSE in my world. i began to practice letting go and waiting (patiently) for MYSTERY to come and visit me. again, it is taking time, and i am still in the process of this, but it makes the truth easier to face.
when i can be honest, and intentional to myself, i can bring that spirit to others. i call it sacred intention: the person i am with can engage with me as i listen, experience, and become aware, i can embrace them and therefore, be available to them.
December 6th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Thank you for each of these comments - truly.
When Henri wrote about being available to another, and allowing our lives to offer a redemptive insight into the word of God… it reminded me that if I truly want to share Christ with others, my first priority is maintaining a heart and life full of the word of God, and living each moment fully with Him. Then, preaching is allowing others to honestly see how God so mightily redeems me, and works in me throughout all the ups and downs of real life.
So, I’ve been pondering how to invite the word of God more and more into my life, and how to bring greater awareness into each moment of my life, so I can live it more deeply, honestly and fully. Certainly this requires time.
I appreciate what Amy said about meditative and contemplative prayer. I’ve learned a little bit about that, and want to learn more.
I also came across this intriguing quote in a book I was flipping through. The book is a devotional by Jennie Allen, and the quote is from Frank Laubach’s Practicing His Presence. I googled Lauback, and it seems like he was a very inspiring and inspired man, and I think I will track down the book. This is the excerpt from the book by Allen:
“In the Christian classic published in the 1930’s, Practicing His Presence, author Frank Lauback decided that there was no reason he should not be able to dwell on Christ constantly He disciplined his mind to surrender wholly to Christ on a moment-by-moment, conversation-by-conversation, activity-by-activity basis. After only a few weeks he journaled,
‘I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself. This sense of cooperation with God in little things is what so astonishes me, for I have never felt this way before. I need something, and turn round to find it waiting for me. I must work to be sure, but there is God working along with me. My part is to live this hour in continuous inner conversation with God and in perfect responsiveness to His will. This seems to be all I need to think about.’” (end of quote)
Intriguing isn’t it? As I read a little more on Google about Lauback, I found he was very real about this whole process. He didn’t pretend it was easy, and emphasized it required daily practice. But what a way to live - surrendered wholly to Christ in each moment.
December 6th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
i thought more people might find their way back to our blog after they went to church and found out it’s already the first Sunday in Advent! Anyway, hello to the people reading the blog who don’t post. We know from experience there are quite a few.
The chapter appears to be about preaching a sermon, but really, all of us are “ministers” in our own lives. Therefore, the question really starts as Brynn has suggested with the person of Jesus. It’s difficult to understand who Jesus is because no one on Earth can love perfectly like him. I came from Protestant tradition and was raised in a wonderful loving home. I came to know Jesus as my whole faith community introduced me to Him - in Sunday School, in discussion and in friendships. I have experienced Jesus’ heart to be un-humanly compassionate. When I look back, I see how Jesus/God planned things out for me better than the things I tried to plan for myself. There are things I can do to separate myself from Jesus. This is when I go off on tangents, try things, plan things that I think are good ideas. I can think of a partnership we formed one time with another Christian. Really the motive was “profit.” Our partner’s methods were unethical, not compassionate, and astonishingly (sarcasm intended) in the end, we lost a lot of money. Once we called a spade a spade, confessed our greed, money didn’t suddenly pour into our bank account, but our relationship with God/Jesus and each other was restored where this partnership and project was concerned. We got out of the partnership which restored our ability to act according to what we feel God calls us to do with the things he has given us. When we confessed our greed, and stupidity, it restored our relationship with each other in the project. So huge tangent there - all to say I had to move back to reconnect with God/Jesus in that part of my life.
So, when I don’t put up a barrier, Jesus is there in the absolute minute details of life. His yoke is easy, his burden is light. Matt 11:30 It’s the burdens I put on myself by taking on too many things, by forming poor partnerships that are way too tough to carry. So…… why wouldn’t I want to share this relationship with everyone? Because my society tells me that I’m supposed to be tolerant of Mohammed and Buddha and any other God people choose to follow. Admittedly I have been struggling with the question of my God’s supremacy. What I have come up with is that I will just talk about my experience of Jesus, because it doesn’t get much better than Him. It’s not my business to know if Mohammed is just another name for God etc, I’m just trying to be a bit more brave in sharing what Jesus provides and has provided for me.
Super long post, sorry - why I love the writings of Henri Noewen is he so succinctly describes God’s love, His Grace, and His Compassion. And it so matches my experience.
December 7th, 2012 at 8:37 am
Good Mornng Everyone,
I continue to read and appreciate all the comments that have been posted.
As I stated earlier I believed I had a better understanding after reading some
posted comments.
My challenge is formulating an insightful comment. I am working on it.
December 7th, 2012 at 8:40 am
Brynn & Amy, what you said about contemplative prayer is so true. Our world does not encourage us to “Be still and know that I am God.” I know that’s been (and of course continues to be) especially difficult for me because I’m always racing around. Aging, with its accompanying experience of less energy, is helping though. Two things I’ve found really helpful. One is working to live in the moment. I love Anthony DeMello’s works. He so stresses that most of us are either thrusting forward or dwelling on things past so that we are not “in” the present moment, which of course is where God is. When I was DRE of our parish our little study/reflection group did a lot of studies on his books. It helped me learn to live in the moment - to truly notice everything around me, to actually taste that cup of tea I was drinking, to enjoy the flowers in my garden rather than just care for them, to quiet myself so that I was truly present to the person before me. I have worked to obtain the discipline that brings me up short from all the “to do’s” in order to listen to someone. I’m getting better but still realize at times that I missed connecting with someone who needed me because I was focused on the task at hand. The other thing that helps me a lot is being a Benedictine Oblate and continuing to study the Benedictine way. There is great emphasis on prayerful reading - reading a short piece of Scripture or spiritual writing and sitting with it, letting it penetrate my heart so that it becomes part of me. To do that one must not try to read a whole passage but maybe stop after one sentence if it speaks to you and absorb its meaning and flavor. We are blessed to have a monastery about 15 miles from here and the sisters are truly a blessing and inspiration. We Oblates meet monthly and then stay for Vespers. I LOVE Advent Vespers, with its chants in minor key and beautiful Advent antiphons. I often go out one day each weekend just for Vespers, to surround myself with that prayer so I am able to remain contemplative. I found Marianne’s comment about the small group doing this study interesting. It’s so sad that, in what I feel is the most beautiful liturgical season of the year, so few people take time from all the busy-ness to participate in something like this.
December 8th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Cel, thanks for the comments on the Liturgy of the Hours. I began praying the morning and evening prayers (after I figured it out!) about six months ago as it has always intrigued me, I was looking for a way to pray more (I am not that good at praying), it is the prayer of the Church and has been for I believe a thousand years or something, and when you pray the Liturgy of the Hours there are people all over the world doing so as well. Your comments reassured me of my decision to begin doing so, and thank you for that.
Amy, Brynn, and Cel, I have enjoyed your conversation on contemplative prayer, another intriguing topic. Thomas Merton had some interesting comments on the subject, but since we are reading a book by Henri Nouwen, I wanted to share some interesting comments he made on contemplation in Beloved, Henri Nouwen in Conversation (Neat book with a CD of the conversation). Anyway, he said “[t]herefore I’ve never personally believed in contemplation as filling up your batteries so you can go back into the world. I think of contemplation as precisely where you go into the world. Solitude and prayer bring you into a spiritual communion with the whole people.” He goes on to use a wagon wheel as an analogy, relating that “. . . quite often we remain on the rim of the wheel. Prayer is to go to the hub. That’s solitude, that’s the heart. Prayer is going to your heart, but it’s also going to the heart of the world and all the spokes get together right there.” He continues to talk about how too often we run around on the rim. He continues, “ . . . every mystic is an activist in that sense, because mystical people are not people who sit there and contemplate. Teresa of Avila ran around founding one monastery after another. John of the Cross was a very active person, and Thomas Merton, a very busy guy.” Henri Nouwen was an insightful fellow. In any event, thanks for the contemplation conversation, you all gave me some things to explore.
December 9th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Chuck, I’m glad you’ve discovered the Liturgy of the Hours. I’ve always been inspired by the knowledge that people all over the world are praying the Hours. It reminds me that Christianity is not a personal event; it is a communal journey. Praying the Hours faithfully helps remind me that I’m not just an individual, on my own, my own boss. I was raised to be independent; our mother told us 3 girls to get an education, to make something of ourselves so that we wouldn’t be dependent on a man like her generation had been. We were the first women in our family to get college degrees and have careers. I was the first to leave the area and go thousands of miles away by myself. I have always struggled to accept help, to admit I need it, etc, including from God. So the discipline of the Hours has been a real gift to me. Some days are inspiring, others aren’t, but I obediently follow what the Church has set up and it has become a part of me. I don’t pick which Psalm or reading I feel like, but accept what is set up for that day. I haven’t yet been able to fit in Daytime Prayer, but the Office of Readings & Morning Prayer begin my day, while Evening Prayer and Night Prayer end the day. In the morning I ask God to be with me and guide me (and help me listen!); in the evening I wrap up the day and give it back to God, giving thanks for whatever I did with him and asking pardon for those times I failed. Talk about peace of mind when you give the day back to God and just ask him to help you do better the next day!
It’s hard to learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours by yourself, so please persevere. Soon it becomes second nature and then you really enjoy it. I was lucky; I learned to pray it in community. After my divorce, when I moved to town and went to work I had a night job. I would get off at 6 a.m. I was seeking comfort for the breakup of my marriage, so I would head to the Mass at the convent before going home to sleep. It was at 6:30 a.m., and I would get there while the sisters were praying morning prayer. At first I just listened; then they gave me a book, and I was hooked. Several months later the wise old priest I’ve talked about pulled me out of the pews to create and run the parish’s RCIA program. On the first Easter Vigil we celebrated, which also happened to be my birthday, he gave me the four-volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours, commenting that he thought it would help my prayer. When I went to work for the parish, he and I began praying Morning Prayer before the 8 a.m. Mass. Soon people were joining us, so the parish bought a dozen of the one-volume sets of Christian Prayer. Some people also bought their own. It was a great way to begin the day. We tried to start evening prayer, but that never took off. Too many people had different work schedules and family responsibilities. But morning prayer was an inspiration to a lot of people for years and years. Unfortunately, it’s no longer prayed in our parish, but I continue to find praying it links me to the Church now and to so many of the saints who have gone before us. The psalms have become a part of me and often bubble up throughout the day as I work.
December 9th, 2012 at 9:42 am
I found this chapter very revealing and Henri Nouwen’s explanation very clear. Like others I found it challenging as well and I had to read it over a few times and needed to take time to reflect before posting a comment. I really appreciated everyone’s comments and I found them very helpful in unravelling my own thoughts!
A few sentences caught my eye on first reading. Henri writes that ‘people have a lasting desire to come to an insight into their own condition… (and that) the purpose of preaching is none other than to help them to come to this basic insight’ (p.29), and the quote in the first question, that, ‘The task of preaching is to assist in the ongoing struggle of becoming. And this is accomplished primarily by speaking about Jesus Christ’ (p. 40). A priest in my local church was speaking on the Sunday readings recently and something he said about Jesus Christ in the midst of it all totally caught me by surprise.What he said came from deep within himself and revealed his deep personal relationship with Jesus. It was only a few words but I was quite stunned by the insight it gave me and its powerful impact. It was as Henri describes (p.42) - I would have found it difficult to put it into words myself. It was a moment of profound self-knowledge. It permeated my whole being ‘from head to toe’. It grounded me at the centre of my being. In that moment I was enabled to accept my ‘deficiencies and mistakes’. I felt at one with God and the world and with those people around me. I remember becoming aware of others around me again and was amazed but relieved that nothing had changed externally and that people around had noticed no change in me! Finally, I remember thinking, ‘I am set free. Jesus comes to set us free’. I remember saying a short prayer of thanks and praise. I left the church with a joyful heart!
As I reflected more on the chapter, I noticed that my focus began gradually to shift from the priest as preacher to Jesus Christ as preacher, and to me as listener, I am thinking in a special way as I write of Mary’s ‘yes’ to God in today’s Gospel reading (Lk.1: 34-36). I pondered on the words in Question 1 - ‘Ultimately it is Jesus Christ who came to give us life and life in abundance’. I began to think of life-giving encounters Jesus had with some people in the Gospels: Bartimaeus (Mk 10: 46-52), The Woman at the Well (Jn 4: 5-42), The Roman Officer (Lk 7: 1-10), Mary Magdalene (Jn 20: 11-18), The Seven Disciples (Jn 21: 1-14). One of my favourite Gospel stories is the encounter Jesus had with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24 : 13-35). We don’t know exactly what Jesus said as he explained the Scriptures to them as they walked along, but later they were to say, ‘wasn’t it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?’ Their insight came when ‘they recognised him in the breaking of bread’ (v.31).
There is a painting in The National Gallery of Ireland that depicts the supper at Emmaus. It is called ‘Kitchen Maid with the Supper at Emmaus’ and was painted by Diego Valazquez, a Spanish painter in 1617. It depicts Jesus with the two disciples in the background , and in the foreground, a kitchen maid with her kitchen utensils. Our eye is drawn to her face. Her head is tilted to one side and she is listening intently to Jesus in the room behind her. I am often amazed by the tremendous spiritual insights of artists who paint religious paintings, what a great gift it is for us to be able to go and see their work, and how taking time to sit with the paintings enriches and deepens my own understanding .
December 9th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
I’m very late in posting this week. I misplaced my copy of Creative Ministry after having read it just once and was hoping to find it before posting. Instead, I will post based on some of the comments above while awaiting delivery of the replacement copy I have ordered.
I really appreciate the strong endorsement of Liturgy of the Hours. I have just started this practice - morning and evening prayer on most days - after seeing it discussed by Fr. Ron Rolheiser in his book Our One Great Act of Fidelity - Waiting for Christ in the Eucharist (p 87-93). Note: I first became familiar with Fr. Rolheiser through his article “The Gift that was Henri Nouwen” on the Nouwen Society homepage. I smiled when I read about the difficulty of learning how to pray Liturgy of the Hours because I have felt called to this before but didn’t take the time to learn how. And then I found the Divine Office app for my iPhone! It automatically downloads the Liturgy of the Hours for each day without needing to carry around one or more thick books and presents the Hours so they can be prayed straight through without jumping between sections etc. This was a real blessing for me this Advent season and provides a way to pray the Hours on my commuter bus ride in the morning and before bed at night.
I also enjoyed Brynn’s reference to the book Practicing His Presence by Frank Lauback. It brought back to mind Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, a Discalced Carmelite Friar, who taught The Practice of the Presence of God — a book that has become another spiritual classic. Brother Lawrence presented a very profound yet simple wisdom and a no-nonsense approach to spirituality that has stood the test of three centuries. In the Forward to the American Edition we read, “God is available in ordinary life, in the commonest of places and most mundane activities. The practice of God’s presence can be as simple as a little interior glance, as plain as a bare desire. For me, I will often take a breathe during the day and praye, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and son of Mary, be with me today and always - or LJCSOG&SOMBWMTAA which is how write it in my notebook when taking a “prayer break” during a meeting at work. It is a pause that lifts my heart and helps relieve stress.
Finally, I want to go back to the book when the new copy arrives so look at what Henri said about preachers and congregations not wanting to listen. It touched and humbled me because we are running an adult education session during Advent where lay people are leading a reflection on the weekly readings in the Liturgy and I was asked to be the speaker this week. How does a minister (and, as Henri notes, we are all ministers) connect with those being ministered to? And I think the answer is this - Be yourself and be open to the work of the Spirit within you. This work of evangelization is the work of the Spirit and we are simply the tools. I hope that is what happened during the talk and discussion at church this morning. I know I got a great deal out of preparing for the talk and hearing the sharings from the other participants.
I’m lookin forward to next week - and the expected delivery from amazon.com.
Ray
December 9th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Thank you everyone for sharing your insights. Truly I find them helpful because you are verbalizing many similar thoughts which I have as well, and to my amazement everyone seems to be on a similar page.
I was most taken by Henri’s statement, “The task of preaching is to assist in the ongoing struggle of becoming.”
• Personal changes require me to continue to change and continue becoming the child of God, He has intended for me to be.
• Becoming must certainly require change and hopefully a better change. However, change is always hard/difficult and I have a natural inclination to avoid change/challenges.
• Real dialogue-a connection. Realizing the connection we truly have with one another, He created us this way. So often we wear masks to hide from others and making it hard for others to see who we truly are to make connections. Are we afraid to make connections because of the cost?
• Making connections-like in school, you build on what you have and make new connections to grow, to grow in faith.
• Like Cel, I’ve always seen Jesus as accepting/loving us as we are (warts and all) and encouraging us to be “more.”
Hopefully my scattered thoughts make some sense. God bless your week.
December 15th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I’m Sharon and have participated in several of these book discussions. The thing that impresses me most about Henri Nouwen’s spiritual advice is that he does talk about humility and not imposing our ways, our human limited understanding on people, and particularly I think, hurting people around us. I’m in relationship with many people who are elderly and, when they seem unhappy or distressed with that, my strong temptation is to try to say/do/think of things that will boost their spirits up. I think that works for a brief time but am concerned that it may be something that is actually more concerned with my own needs for people to be happy as much of the time as possible and not in reality their own needs. The question Brynn poses “What is your understanding of His heart, His character, and/or His perspective on life?” I usually have thought of Jesus being tortured by his persecutors but I wonder now also whether his long ordeal of carrying the cross while his body suffered was something He actively took on, sort of in solidarity with all people who suffer within their bodies, elderly included. The fact that Jesus could care so much for the other thief on the cross is a Jesus that, if someone else had not thought much about it before, I would like to introduce other people too. The fact that Jesus could be forgiving even under extreme physical pain and suffering is also a person I would like to be able to introduce other people to. The fact that Jesus could “Into Your hands I commit my spirit,” is also a person I would like to be able to introduce other people to. The thing is I believe deeply in myself that this perspective is in other people and the physical/emotional pain can be a barrier to them knowing it. Probably my own discomfort with their expressions of unhappiness only shares with them the barrier they may be carrying. Somehow the thing is to give up my own need for other people to be happy so that they can go deeper and get the peace that Jesus had and has in them if it just can be allowed to come out. I notice a lot of people on this blog also have relationships with elderly people and read this evening all the comments. This is a very meaningful subject which people are sharing and my thanks to you Brynn for all your questions and leadership.
Sharon