Thanks Almut! Yes a dark and perplexing time. I often feel bewildered by what I see and hear and feel. And yet, as you say, rays of light and life break through. I am trying to be still so that I can perceive God’s alternate future (as Walter Brueggmann calls it) breaking through, setting in motion the dynamics of faith and hope and love even in the midst of racism, violence, and poverty (the three dynamics which Matin Luther King, Jr. sought to resist). Where are the signs, the whispers, the finger prints of G-D’s love at work in the midst of it all. And then I try to summon the courage to follow in that direction as I walk through life. Blessings to you! Chris
I feel America is still in her dark night of the soul. Probably for the reasons you think it’s lifted. However, until America turns it heart back to God and His precepts, I don’t see things changing much. Putting trust in people on either side of the political spectrum is not gonna save us.
Peggy, you are so right, there is still much night to overcome. And we should not put all our trust in people or leader figures, indeed. I am not sure I understand why one party thinks it stands for Christian faith alone as I have gotten to know kind and faithful sisters and brothers across the isle. Thus I hold on to hope. Thank you for being here and for reading along.
Peggy, thank you for this thoughtful comment. I would only amend it a bit to give whole-hearted support to it. I would say "...until Americans turn their hearts..." States and nations do not have hearts. People do. Democratic states should be ways that people who disagree with each other but share common interests find a way to live and prosper together. And doing this well does indeed require a change of heart. Thank you for being a part of our conversation here.
Experiencing the perspective of the next generations is a source of hope and joy for me. It helps me step back and examine ways my own outlook is in need of renewal. An example: I was babysitting our three year old grandson when he pointed to the corner of his bedroom and said softly, "MomMom, there are monsters over there." All I could think of was that I could not do the monsters under the bed nighttime routine with one more child. I was just done. So I said, very loudly, "Don't worry, sweetheart. MomMom is going to go and SQUASH THEM." He looked at me oddly and said, "Oh. I think we should go and say hello."
I just returned this evening from Marquette, MI. I was treated to watching my two high school daughters in a dance showcase that brought me so much hope and joy! They spent a week at a dance intensive and then performed 5 spectacular numbers!
The very best part of all was seeing and hearing about how much this group of dancers bonded and cared for each other during the week and will continue to stay in touch. Love and hope, indeed!
Today I read this on Diana Butler Bass" substack (see below) and it was a reminder that I look for each day that is encouraging whether it is the devotion of my son's dog to play and bring joy, my delight in the wildness of our small garden which attracts many insects, birds and squirrels we may not notice, to read in the newspaper that the efforts of many to repair human-made ways which prevented salmon from spawning are being are being returned to natural ancient flows and the return of large numbers to salmon to spawn are occurring, my grandson's listening and asking questions when I talk about the Street Roots vendor that our church has supported for six years and she after jumping through many hoops is now housed, remembering a book by Primo Levi that I read recently entitled "Survival in Auschwitz" because of Chuck referencing his writings, ... The list is endless and it reminds me that I am not alone, others are caring for and about others. Thank you for the gift of your Cloister Notes. They also renew my strength and purpose.
“This Morning I Pray for My Enemies,” by Joy Harjo.
And whom do I call my enemy?
An enemy must be worthy of engagement.
I turn in the direction of the sun and keep walking.
It’s the heart that asks the question, not my furious mind.
The heart is the smaller cousin of the sun.
It sees and knows everything.
It hears the gnashing even as it hears the blessing.
The door to the mind should only open from the heart.
An enemy who gets in, risks the danger of becoming a friend.
Thanks Almut! Yes a dark and perplexing time. I often feel bewildered by what I see and hear and feel. And yet, as you say, rays of light and life break through. I am trying to be still so that I can perceive God’s alternate future (as Walter Brueggmann calls it) breaking through, setting in motion the dynamics of faith and hope and love even in the midst of racism, violence, and poverty (the three dynamics which Matin Luther King, Jr. sought to resist). Where are the signs, the whispers, the finger prints of G-D’s love at work in the midst of it all. And then I try to summon the courage to follow in that direction as I walk through life. Blessings to you! Chris
Thank you, Chris, for sharing your hopes and thoughts with us 🙏. I love the term: God’s alternate future.
I feel America is still in her dark night of the soul. Probably for the reasons you think it’s lifted. However, until America turns it heart back to God and His precepts, I don’t see things changing much. Putting trust in people on either side of the political spectrum is not gonna save us.
Peggy, you are so right, there is still much night to overcome. And we should not put all our trust in people or leader figures, indeed. I am not sure I understand why one party thinks it stands for Christian faith alone as I have gotten to know kind and faithful sisters and brothers across the isle. Thus I hold on to hope. Thank you for being here and for reading along.
Peggy, thank you for this thoughtful comment. I would only amend it a bit to give whole-hearted support to it. I would say "...until Americans turn their hearts..." States and nations do not have hearts. People do. Democratic states should be ways that people who disagree with each other but share common interests find a way to live and prosper together. And doing this well does indeed require a change of heart. Thank you for being a part of our conversation here.
Experiencing the perspective of the next generations is a source of hope and joy for me. It helps me step back and examine ways my own outlook is in need of renewal. An example: I was babysitting our three year old grandson when he pointed to the corner of his bedroom and said softly, "MomMom, there are monsters over there." All I could think of was that I could not do the monsters under the bed nighttime routine with one more child. I was just done. So I said, very loudly, "Don't worry, sweetheart. MomMom is going to go and SQUASH THEM." He looked at me oddly and said, "Oh. I think we should go and say hello."
I just returned this evening from Marquette, MI. I was treated to watching my two high school daughters in a dance showcase that brought me so much hope and joy! They spent a week at a dance intensive and then performed 5 spectacular numbers!
The very best part of all was seeing and hearing about how much this group of dancers bonded and cared for each other during the week and will continue to stay in touch. Love and hope, indeed!
Oh, this sounds wonderful, Katherine. Congratulation to your lovely dancing daughters :-) Love and hope, indeed!
Such a lovely story, thank you, Eva for sharing 🙏
Today I read this on Diana Butler Bass" substack (see below) and it was a reminder that I look for each day that is encouraging whether it is the devotion of my son's dog to play and bring joy, my delight in the wildness of our small garden which attracts many insects, birds and squirrels we may not notice, to read in the newspaper that the efforts of many to repair human-made ways which prevented salmon from spawning are being are being returned to natural ancient flows and the return of large numbers to salmon to spawn are occurring, my grandson's listening and asking questions when I talk about the Street Roots vendor that our church has supported for six years and she after jumping through many hoops is now housed, remembering a book by Primo Levi that I read recently entitled "Survival in Auschwitz" because of Chuck referencing his writings, ... The list is endless and it reminds me that I am not alone, others are caring for and about others. Thank you for the gift of your Cloister Notes. They also renew my strength and purpose.
“This Morning I Pray for My Enemies,” by Joy Harjo.
And whom do I call my enemy?
An enemy must be worthy of engagement.
I turn in the direction of the sun and keep walking.
It’s the heart that asks the question, not my furious mind.
The heart is the smaller cousin of the sun.
It sees and knows everything.
It hears the gnashing even as it hears the blessing.
The door to the mind should only open from the heart.
An enemy who gets in, risks the danger of becoming a friend.