Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Daily 5 - Day 70

...thé ou café...!!!Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

Today's Daily 5 (and a picture, just because I loved it - I'd totally sit in a spot like that to read):
  1. A mug of lemon mango tea
  2. The scent of candles and scented oil burning in my bedroom
  3. Accomplishing a whole number of little things that have now restored my bedroom to a sort of peaceful refuge (and cleared my sitting, thinking, praying, reading chair for the first time in months - essential, since I'm hoping to spend more time reading in the next while.)
  4. Time spent on self-care and pampering - face mask, fingernails, and toenails
  5. Crawling into a bed with freshly washed sheets, wearing clean, fresh smelling pajamas

A Couple More From Henri on Church

Continuing with a few of the thoughts from Henri Nouwen that I posted yesterday on church, here are a few more...

Superabundant Grace

Over the centuries the Church has done enough to make any critical person want to leave it. Its history of violent crusades, pogroms, power struggles, oppression, excommunications, executions, manipulation of people and ideas, and constantly recurring divisions is there for everyone to see and be appalled by.

Can we believe that this is the same Church that carries in its center the Word of God and the sacraments of God's healing love? Can we trust that in the midst of all its human brokenness the Church presents the broken body of Christ to the world as food for eternal life? Can we acknowledge that where sin is abundant grace is superabundant, and that where promises are broken over and again God's promise stands unshaken? To believe is to answer yes to these questions.

The Church, God's People

As Jesus was one human person among many, the Church is one organization among many. And just as there may have been people with more attractive appearances than Jesus, there may be many organizations that are a lot better run than the Church. But Jesus is the Christ appearing among us to reveal God's love, and the Church is his people called together to make his presence visible in today's world.

Would we have recognized Jesus as the Christ if we had met him many years ago? Are we able to recognize him today in his body, the Church? We are asked to make a leap of faith. If we dare to do it our eyes will be opened and we will see the glory of God.

It Costs the Least?

Every so often Drew writes a post that hits hard between the eyes.

After a weekend of conversations about forgiveness, hatred, and loving people in the context of some difficult circumstances I've existed in for the last two years, this post was one of those that hit hard today. Because my heart has certainly been asking the question of how to engage in that loving forgiveness in the way that costs me the least. And then I think of Jesus, hanging on a cross and strong conviction settles within me... maybe what hurts me least is not the right way...

Thoughts to ponder on this cold and foggy day...