Lilies… a Story of Love, Redemption and Spring

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(Lanie mentioned this story to us during our "gathering question" last week, and she elaborated it at my request.)

My son’s home in Alabama had an added bonus that he didn’t seem to appreciate… a beautiful line of hosta lilies down the side of his house. As the weather warmed up these brave lilies bloomed and were so happy. Come fall, my son decided to use his weed whacker to ‘mow them down’ and cover them with rocks (he was a geologist). Next late spring these troopers emerged and bloomed again, beautiful and cheerful as ever. This became a ritual for my son and the lilies.

When he passed away and his Dad and I had to sell his home, I had a clause in the sales contract granting me five of the lilies to bring home to Georgia. My neighbor went with me to get these five plants; we dug them up and, lo and behold, each one had at least 8-10 bulbs!

[the Georgia lilies are first and Alabama lilies are the second pic]

I now have several rows of hostas in front of my house. Last year was the second year that they bloomed and what a glorious sight it was. I am pretty sure my son was smiling down at me every time I walked by them. The beauty of all those bulbs is that I was able to share with my neighbors and my sister-in law. My son and the lilies continue to live on, just as I am sure that we all will live on through our faith and the promise of eternal life.

Thanks be to God!!!

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Yr. D, Wk. 23: Ezekiel, Ephesians, Erasmus - EZ does it!

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Worship and Gathering
Susan led worship from the Northumbrian community. I especially enjoyed a line, "may my dreams and sleep be deep and soft so my work may be fresh and hard."

The gathering question concerned any first signs of spring. The farmers market had spring flowers and green garlic... the neighbor's crepe myrtles sprouting... tiger lilies coming up (lilies that Lanie brought from her late son's home)...flip-flops... putting on the bike shorts for a ride.

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: Daniel, Donfred.

Discussion of the Readings

Susan - Ephesians and Philippians (she read ahead) show Paul being happy and cheerful. Joyce elaborated: "Ephesians in a time of peace, and going to plan, and no factionalism or scandals… here it’s good! He's talking about how they’re battling the devil, principalities and powers! We’re battling them together – forces stronger than we are, and not battling each other."

Jessica saw a connection to Christendom in the early 16th century -- where battling each other was about to burst into full-scale religious Civil War. An important figure in that was Erasmus, who wrote about reformation of the church but opposed breaking away from the Roman church. Erasmus was snarky. Very revered at that time. He made a living by writing. [Note: that wasn't possible until Europeans used the printing press technology that they got from China. Writers before that were paid by patrons -- usually the church. Erasmus was what we'd call a free agent -- a pioneer in the history of writing! - Scott]

Holbein's portrait of Erasmus. Holbein's most famous portrait is the one we all know of Henry VIII.

We discussed his pamphlets and his hope to improve society by dint of his writing. Scott asked, “Did Paul resemble Erasmus?” Joyce said, yes, they liked Paul when he was around and then drifted away. Paul wanted to go everywhere, Jessica said, but Erasmus drew a line at the Rhine.

Lanie introduced the prophets in time of exile by saying, "Jeremiah: bless his heart." He was drafted for prophecy early in his life… lost his wife … buried in the mud (and then rescued). His words written down by his “henchman” Baruch. Lanie asked about why he advised the king to go along with Babylon, against all the prophets who were saying "trust in God."

As I type this, the daily news has handed me a modern analogy: Jeremiah is like an advisor to President Zolensky in Ukraine today who might look at the world situation and say, "Don't count on the USA and Europe to help you; cut a deal with Russia before we're totally destroyed." The king ripped up his written words one column at a time; Baruch had to re-write the whole thing.

Ezekiel put on a play about the siege that would bring misery to Jerusalem. For the play, he enacted the part of the invading army, lying down on his side by his model of Jerusalem. For 400 days, he had to eat left overs and bake his bread on dung. He talked God out of making him use human excrement. Scott read the part in Ezekiel where he foresaw the sudden death of "the delight of his life" and God's command to show no sorrow -- as God has endured the sorrow of his People's loss to Him.

How do these readings relate to the theme of this unit, "integrating belief, behavior, and doctrine?" Paul pushing people to live life by their beliefs. Jessica said the rulers in the 16th century were trying to figure out the doctrines and Erasmus was the only one who lived as he preached (though he wasn’t a priest) – in a time when a lot of people were burned at the stake for what they said they believed. Jessica also remembered that sad truth that priests, living out their responsibilities to minister to those with plague and syphilis were carriers of the diseases.

Lanie said that Ezekiel and Jeremiah were role models living their prophecies in public. Scott added that Ezekiel stands out for introducing to the Jewish religion the idea that it's the individual's responsibility for sinning or not, compared that to the older idea that a whole community would be punished for the sins of "their fathers," i.e., the rulers.

Susan connected that to the time of Erasmus by pointing out that princes in the 16th century would decide what kind of church their subjects would go to -- thus, the wars of religion when citizens revolted.

On a lighter note, Susan told about the text book's great pictures about the Ephesus gateway and temple of Artemis. Joyce told about a paving stone embossed with footprints that advertised the location of a certain brothel and its prices.

Theological Reflection
Jessica had to leave early. Without her, Donfred, and Daniel, the TR would have been three observers (Scott, Susan, Joyce) and only two participants. We decided to wait.

For Monday:
Joyce will bring her source for a TR. Daniel has to leave early for a softball game, but perhaps he can get us started with worship. If not, I'll do it.

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Yr. D, Wk. 22: Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine

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Worship and Gathering
Joyce brought us prayers chosen for us with care. Scott noticed a preponderance of references to heat, warmth, and sunlight -- but that may have been his wishful thinking, as he was feeling cold.

To Joyce's gathering question about favorite time of day, we heard anytime I can go home... bedtime...the hour between work and dinner...sunset ("I just love sunsets!")...the first hour of the day when everything is routine and I don't have to choose anything.

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: None.

Discussion of the Readings
First, we simply shared what struck us in the chapter. Pierre Chardin de Tielhard, his correlation of science and theology, and the moral discussion of scientific advances such as stem cell transplants -- something that Lanie has experienced. Susan brought up the moral discussion about the status of the android Data on Star Trek TNG. Donfred differentiates believing in Christianity and just "having a religion."

Daniel enjoyed the coherence section, and he enjoys the process of conversation. Scott related to that with the section of the essay that warns that argument is not the same thing as conversation and does not necessarily lead to wisdom. Jessica enjoyed the way that asking questions is the way recommended for approaching coherence. This tied in with Donfred's question about "heresy," as our essayist laid out questions under the surface of strict opposition to the ordination of women back in the 1970s. In any case, Donfred pointed to reconciliation as a goal for conversation.

Then we followed instructions for the "Response" in the RRG, exploring the doctrine of the Trinity, looking for coherence among the quadrants in a chart marked Research, Experience, Beliefs, and Behavior:

Theological Reflection
After the break, we read a poem by Marie Howe, "Singularity." Howe was doing what we talked about earlier, finding a kind of spiritual reality in the scientific theory of the Big Bang. (Note: Scott has learned that the Big Bang is Old Hat, and that Stephen Hawking himself revised the whole notion of "singularity." Who knew?)

Our discussion was wide-ranging. We reached these insights, some of which contradicted each other:

• It is our knowledge and intentions that take us out of being present in the moment and to thinking of other things as “distractions” from our intention.
• “Living in the moment” is over-rated! We would give up a lot of good if we were like our pets.
• Having no conflict, having no worry is also having no life or no joy? Yes, Donfred says.
• Peacefulness is still appealing. If you don’t know what you’re missing, then you don’t know it’s peace. Ignorance is bliss.
• We are close to Buddhism, here: hold pain and joy to be equal. Don’t cling to either one.

We worked to create a prayer:

To God of the Big Bang, Singularity… you brought us out of a single speck like dust to become infinite space, energy, matter, and variety:
“God is in the details” wrote Emerson, in the joy, the chaos, the quiet, you are in it with us – and you have a plan… contrast to the “unity” when all the material that became stars and atoms was just one infinitely small infinitely massive point.
Help us to accept (and appreciate?) our discreetness that we are temporal I, you, me, us… … that we may find our Unity in You
Relates this to the Trinity… discussion!

While we tried to find a collect among these themes, Jessica composed this prayer in the "chat" space:

Almighty God, You are the source of all peace and unity.
We seek to draw near to You, to merge our hearts with Yours,
That we may walk in harmony with Your will,
And live in the light of Your eternal presence.
Grant us the grace to surrender ourselves fully to You,
To find our strength in Your love and our purpose in Your truth.
May we know the deep communion of being one with You,
And through this oneness, may we reflect Your goodness to the world.
In Your sacred name, we pray. Amen.

For Monday:
Susan brings worship; Joyce inspires our TR with a source!

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Yr. D, Wk. 21: Sarcasm in Scripture, Redemption in Russia

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Worship and Gathering
Donfred wasn't here to see how the prayers he chose for us brought us into a proper mindset for the discussion ahead. His gathering question about "your favorite place in the world" had us laughing and comparing experiences: Israel, where I prayed at the Wailing Wall... Greece, where I felt totally at home, not just because of the old ruins but because of natural beauty... Italy... Key Biscane, Nantahala River where we rafted as children... Aunt and Uncle's mansion open to any who came to their Monday night dinners.

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 1 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality: 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: Susan, Daniel, Donfred.

Russian architecture in Red Square, photographed by Scott in 1977, revisited on Scott's virtual world tour, 2024. See Bike in the USSR

Discussion of the Readings
Jessica led with the tsar who earned the name Ivan the Terrible, and moved on to tell us about Russia's development from a spiritual standpoint – how people in far-flung towns relied on each other to survive in very cold, dark year – lived in solitude – developed spirituality in the village churches.

Joyce was amused by Paul's frustration, first with Corinth, then Galatia -- church communities led astray by "the latest thing." She especially enjoyed Paul's side comment that circumcision is not big deal, provided the knife doesn’t slip. Paul says you have to trust in Jesus to grow – Joyce says you need Jesus to get through the day… (Scott related how he was comforted by Paul's outburst “I wish these people would mutilate themselves” when a sect briefly made him fear that he wasn't doing enough to be saved. So, Joyce, the latest thing keeps happening.)

Lanie said she wasn't exactly "delighted" but "enlightened" by three parts of Isaiah. It was interesting to her that some of the stuff prophesied was same in Micah. Scott jumped in with a recitation of Micah's greatest hit: "Does God want thousands of rams, rivers of oil, the blood of my son? No: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God." As Lanie pointed out, Micah seems to have been a nobody of low class, very critical of the upper class. Scott saw sarcasm in Micah's writing, as where the prophet lulls his audience to complacency as he tells how foreign nations deserve punishment for their evil ways, then slaps down the hypocrites in Israel and Judah.

Theological Reflection
With three absentees, we didn't meet the quorum for a TR.

Instead, we closed out this unit 3 by expressing what "spirituality" means to us now that we've spent some time reading and talking about it.

• an awareness of God's presence that colors/shapes how I go through my days
• Several of my friends have told me that I am a 'spiritual' person... I am not sure just what that means.
• Trusting in God
• seeking a deeper understanding and connection with God who is greater than oneself, acknowledging His presence and existence
• often connected to physical actions -- we discussed labyrinth, also kneeling, also rosary, also deep breathing and quiet meditations... I'd add, singing in harmony!!!
• These days, it's also about turning OFF the radio and having just me, the dog, God, and breakfast going on in the kitchen after I do the daily scripture readings
• spirituality is looking for God's hand in everything that has happened and is happening... singing, sunsets, moon...

For Monday:
Joyce will lead worship for us. Susan will be back with her source for a TR. We'll all be reading the essay in the RRG for week 22.

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Yr. D, Wk. 20: Communication by Body and Spirit, Speech and Silence

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Worship and Gathering
We celebrated better health, a car still chugging along, and something else that we swore not to tell anyone! Light was a theme in prayers and scripture that Jessica gathered for us, including an excerpt from Year 2's reading in 2 Corinthians. For a gathering question, we imagined how we might use an extra hour each day: sleeping... going outside ... fiddling... going on a "sniffathon" with the dog. Joyce guessed that the extra hour would just give someone else the opportunity to find something else for her to help them with.

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 3 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality: 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: None.

Discussion of the Readings
First, we looked at the labyrinth on p. 123 of the RRG and shared experiences of physical actions that we associated with heightened spiritual awareness or feeling. Donfred said that the labyrinth for him was "amazing," involving him with others, too. We heard about the rosary (like the "finger labyrinth" in the RRG), singing during a walk... and, on the other hand, feeling nothing more than annoyance at the pressure to have "an experience."

Jessica connected her Y3 reading to that last idea. With the rise of mysticism, Orthodox leaders tried to weed out the “forced” or faked experiences. Mystics were focusing all their attention on a word or icon.

About Hosea, Lanie was mystified by the point of Hosea’s marrying a prostitute, although she gets his analogy, Israel is like that prostitute. Donfred suggested that the community would see the power of the metaphor as it was lived out in their midst, year after year, child after child, make up after break up. Daniel, anticipating what Yee will probably write, saw again how women are used as the negative (Hosea marries unfaithful woman). "This negative attitude towards women is so ingrained in the writing."

Daniel wonders about “literal” or “metaphorical." Susan observed that the Hebrew scriptures are so physical, not ethereal. Daniel related this to James – don’t get caught up in checking the boxes of ritual and leaving behind the poor and needy. That's a message of Amos and, to a lesser extent, Hosea. It's also a tie-in to Jessica and those mystics, their "ethereal" experiences actually having a strong physical manifestation -- correct me if I'm wrong, Jess!

Donfred commented on Corinthians, Paul's challenges in the lack of understanding among the Corinthians. Paul trying to keep Christian unity. About Paul's strictures about women, Donfred sees Paul's concern about Christians serving as role models within their Roman-dominated communities. Daniel added another angle, from his experience as a teacher, and Susan concurred: you give oral instructions, they misunderstand; you add more instruction based on their earlier mistakes; they still don't get it... Each time, longer, more confused -- like Paul!

Donfred touched on a theme of our discussion, getting the message by hearing. He told the story of his grandfather learning scripture by hearing only, as books were not available.

Theological Reflection
Communication, especially by voice, was a theme that emerged from Daniel's story. Three men drive dozens of hours without speaking, each wrapped in his own thoughts and feelings about what has happened. After much discussion, we settled on the image of the "silent scream" that people around don't hear or respond to.

The joy of life before the event is what Donfred saw when we wondered, "What is the created nature of the world of the silent scream?" Sin , brokenness – you want to scream, but afraid of starting something, afraid to spread the emotion, or afraid that they won’t feel the same thing and you’ll feel even more isolated! Bridging, redemption might be found in sharing memories? It feels good to get it out… finding someone who can hear it… Or someone looks at you and says, "you look like you need help … to scream… to let it out."

Looking in our Tradition, we found these: Job – so much suffering and the comforters don’t really hear him or see him, only they’re lecturing him… Joyce says Job says “you’re not hearing me.” Psalm 46.10 - be still and know that I am God -- seems like God’s response to this silent scream situation. Lot’s wife looks back longingly, is not allowed to "look back" at what she's losing, but does, and turns into pillar of salt (has no feelings, no sound). Jeremiah, threatened if he speaks the truth, says I can’t keep quiet, it’s a fire in my bones.

Position: Some of us were taught not to speak out… don’t make a spectacle of yourself. But there’s also reality shows where spilling guts is expected and probably performative.

Culture: Munch's popular the painting the Scream, so often reproduced and parodied. Susan brought up a Vincent Price vehicle directed by schlock shocker William Castle, The Tingler (1959) about an invasive creature that can be expelled only by its victim's screaming. If you don't scream, you die. The experience in a movie theatre was one of communal screaming.

Insights and applications:

• Our culture trivializes expression of feelings by overdoing it.
• When you’re afraid to scream, it can be good to just take a breath… pause --- God can respond in the silence.
• "There are two kinds of silence: one when nothing is said, one where a torrent of words is being used to cover up what you’re feeling." – Harold Pinter, playwright. We need to hear the silence under the torrent of words.
• I would hope to be the person who notices that someone needs to scream. (teachers…)
• Ministry – responding to a cry for help is such an opportunity to do good for someone, but also danger of getting it wrong. Taking time and training to get that response right is important…
• Recognize the difference between sincerity and spectacle. (Scott got advice from his first Middle School principal: When a girl cries, there's nothing more for you to do or say; you have to accept it.

Prayer for the Silent Scream Dear God…When we are afraid to scream and ask for help, help us to pause and take a breath; help us to be still and know that you are God and can respond, even in our silence. Show us how to comfort and be comforted.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 HCSB)

We pray this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

For Monday:
We're reading for week 21. Year 1, notice that we don't have to read more than six chapters of "First Isaiah." Year 2 gets Galatians, coinciding with our lectionary! Year 3 is doing Russia -- look for the silver linings -- they're there to lighten a dark, dark story.

Lanie accepted the challenge to collect our thoughts from the TR into a prayer; Donfred will lead worhip --remember, Daniel will be away-- and Susan will bring a source for a TR.

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Yr. D, Wk. 19: Learning to Welcome the Other

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Worship and Gathering
For January 27, a day in honor of St. John Chrysostom, Scott brought a little history of the Bishop of Constantinople who was exiled for preaching against the luxury and callousness of the powerful in his congregation, and we recited his famous prayer. January 27 is also international Holocaust Remembrance Day, and we concluded with a prayer produced cooperatively by Jews and the Church of England.

The gathering question came from the examen of Loyola, a form of evening worship: "When you review this day or this week, what do you recall with gratitude?" The rector eased our worries about the future rector... the courage and love of a mother at the celebration of life for her late son... a work schedule reformed to allow more quality time with the children... the synergy of art teacher and students... and a beautiful sunrise that called to mind When morning gilds the skies / My heart within me cries / May Jesus Christ be praised. (Lanie's photo, below)

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 3 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality: 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: Donfred, Joyce.

Discussion of the Readings
Year One read in Yee's book an essay about the Deuteronomical History (DH), and we addressed a question from the RRG, "How do you respond to the violence towards women in these books?" Lanie observed that violence to men was also a part of the historical record. Daniel agreed that these stories are both "historical" and "rhetorical," using foreign women to "other" the gentiles. The DH was assembled during the ancient Babylonian captivity using texts even more ancient to keep the Jewish identity alive. As we shall see in Year One, these books are in dialogue with prophetic books that open God's plan up to the Gentiles.

That makes a neat segue to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Susan's takeaway from Powell was that Paul is complex. Any hard and fast statement about him and his teachings must deal with these facts: He wrote over 30 years' time, during which his thinking evolved with experience; the authorship of some letters circulated under his name is dubious; he was writing to appeal to different audiences, so he uses different metaphors to explain what faith in Jesus means. Powell provides a list of ten different metaphors from Romans alone. More recent scholarship about Paul sees him not as for faith over works per se, but as against ethnic Jewish privilege over others who didn't practice the works demanded by Jewish law.

Susan offered an interesting perspective from Messianic Jews who were among the students she taught at KSU.

Susan also relayed an affirmation from a professor of classical studies: Paul was definitely a Roman citizen. Romans were very picky about that, and Paul's escorted journey to Rome can be explained only if he had the proper ID.

Jessica was fascinated by the fact that icons and images, forbidden as foreign idols in the early church, became central to worship in the years around 1000 CE.

Theological Reflection
Because we were missing two, and Jessica had to rest early, we put off the TR another week.

We prayed for Joyce, Donfred, and Jessica, too.

For Monday:
Daniel will miss next week, so it's Scott's turn again to bring a TR; Jessica will do worship.

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Yr. D, Wk. 18: Kings, Paul's letters, and Surrendering to the Light

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Worship and Gathering
Lanie integrated her own photos spanning sunset to midnight (mostly on the Mediterranean late last year) with prayers for the close of day.

Her gathering question was about three items on our "bucket lists." Susan's was mundane, yet daunting: cleaning house. Scott's was to finish works left undone: an opera called City on a Hill, a choral concerto based on the Nicene Creed, and a series of murder mysteries for the H.O.A. to solve. Others wanted to travel: Joyce and Lanie want to cruise Alaska, Donfred wants to tour central Africa, Jess wants to travel to Ireland, New Zealand, and Italy. We began to plan an EfM field trip. If Lanie's in charge, it will include a drive to Montana and a tour of Scotland. Jessica had one other item: to establish a pet rescue center.

Yr. D, Living Into the Journey with God, Unit 3 Sustaining Spirituality : 1st yr: Lanie, Daniel; 2nd yr: Donfred, Joyce, Susan; 3rd yr, Jessica; 4th yr, Scott. Mentor: Scott. Absent: Daniel.

Discussion of the Readings
Reading the overview of Paul’s letters, our Y2 readers were interested in the technology of letter-writing back in the day. Donfred told how rough drafts were made on clay that could be smoothed over and re-written; Joyce told how ink was a mixture of dark powders (charcoal, soot) with natural gums such as sap from trees, so it stuck. Susan told how it was expected that disciples of a teacher would sign his name to writings of their own, not to fool anyone, but in a good faith effort to represent what the teacher would write.

Joyce relayed what Lanie had told her in a breakout session: that 1 and 2 Kings were full of parallel stories; that prophets were organized in schools that served largely as cheerleaders for kings, and how the lone prophets who talked back to the kings stand out: Elijah, Elisha, and Micaiah. Lanie observed that the temple seemed to be a place for sacrifice but not what we would think of as church. She’s right, and that’s why Collins (and Rabbi Heschel whom we’ll read one day) say that it was the DESTRUCTION of the temple at the end of 2 Kings that transformed Judaism from a local nationalistic ritual to a world-wide faith that inhabits a temple “of the imagination.” The scriptures that Y1 is reading were put together during that time after the destruction of the temple – their aim being to preserve the stories on which the faith is built.

After Jessica's disappointment in the church intrigues and crimes of the 12th century last week, she was delighted to read about the light of faith shining forth among saints in holy communities during the same time. Theological debates of today started then. St. Francis was described amusingly as a playboy son of millionaire who lived Jessica’s secret dream to start a pet rescue.

A common statement that Powell quoted provoked some thought: Christianity is the creation of Paul, not Jesus. Joyce and Lanie said that can't be right, because Paul was "an ambassador" for Christ, speaking of Christ always. That's true. It's also true that Paul in his letters shaped the beliefs and practices of churches that he planted, and churches for all time. Beyond collecting twelve apostles to go out into the world, Jesus himself was not involved in organizing people or their beliefs. People who did not share the beliefs of his Jewish disciples but who had faith in him got cured and praise. So Powell, by quoting the common idea about Paul, is not denigrating Jesus, only saying something like "apples and oranges," one embodied the faith, the other organized believers to embody the faith.

With comments on something Jessica said, Donfred found the secret square. He wins 7 volt battery-powered heated socks.

Theological Reflection

After break, we took some time to examine the examen outlined on page 117 of the RRG -- a practice that, in keeping with this unit's theme, can "sustain spirituality."

Scott brought a painting, Conversion on the way to Damascus, imagining the incident that marked Saul the Jewish Pharisee's change to Paul the Christian missionary to the Gentiles, by 17th century artist Caravaggio. Subbing for Daniel at the last moment, Scott chose this because of its tie-in to our year's overarching theme of "the journey."

We found our focus in the open arms of Saul/Paul on his back, welcoming surrender.

Considering some of the theological perspectives, we saw this picture as the Judgment, an "ah-ha" moment in Saul's life when Jesus asked, "Why do you persecute me?" Sin in this world would be Saul's denying the vision, crawling away and pretending it never happened, holding on to his reputation as a respected persecutor of Christians.

Looking at the action source, we wondered whether any of us have also "welcomed surrender?" Jessica spoke about being in contentious sessions with Vestry: "Once the group has made its decision, there's relief to say, I've given it to God." Lanie concurred, with reference to the Search Committee. Susan could relate to surrender in her decision to retire.

Joyce brought up an analog from the culture source, When Harry Met Sally. Digressions followed, relating to diners and "I'll have what she's having."

For Insights, we agreed that the painting of a young man, armored in colorful and shiny garb, eyes closed, arms welcoming, body vulnerable to the horse's hooves, we agreed that the painting "humanizes" Paul, making him young, cocky, and humiliated. Jessica sees that, when you fight for one position over another, you have to trust in the result. We could identify with this question: "You have my attention. What do I do now?" Scott, looking at the sword and helmet discarded on the ground in Caravaggio's painting, wondered, "What are my helmet, sword, and armor that keep me from surrendering to God's will?" All agreed, the need to control is the shield.

Susan countered that surrender is not always the appropriate response.

In chat, Scott asked us about thoughts and prayers regarding "welcoming surrender."

• For the members of our church to lean into the call of being the hands and feet of Christ. Getting more people to be more active – not standard 20% of people doing 80% of the work.
• A part of surrendering is learning to be content and trusting where we are, knowing that even in those times the Lord is moving on our behalf.
• prayers for peace
• Lord, i'm hearing messages that I don't like about things I need to give up for my health -- help me to relax my grip on my sword and shield

Joyce volunteered to collect all these threads into one prayer:

Collect for SurrenderYes, Lord! We all have had or will have a Damascus moment in our life. My prayer for us all is that we will be like Paul, putting up our hands in total surrender to You. Giving You all our cares (1 Peter 5:7) and taking up our cross (Luke 9:23) to follow You in perfect peace and contentment wherever we are in life. In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!!

For Monday:
We do the readings in the RRG for week 19. We try the examen on p. 117. Scott will bring worship; Daniel will bring the TR.

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