Monthly Archives: October 2019
Diversity and Communion
Gender and Sexuality Diversity and Communion Monday, October 21, 2019 God is clearly more comfortable with diversity than we are, and God’s final goal and objective are much simpler. God and the entire cosmos are about two things: differentiation (people and things becoming themselves) and communion (living in supportive coexistence). Physicists and biologists seem to… Continue Reading Diversity and Communion
Wide-Eyed Seeing
Gender and Sexuality Wide-Eyed Seeing Sunday, October 20, 2019 I know that many Daily Meditations readers are my age—or almost (I’m 76 now)—and come from traditional religious backgrounds, so I want to recognize that this week on Gender and Sexuality may challenge what we were taught about what it means to be human, made in… Continue Reading Wide-Eyed Seeing
Ways of Knowing: Weekly Summary
Ways of Knowing Summary: Sunday, October 13—Friday, October 18, 2019 Contemplation is meeting as much reality as we can handle in its most simple and immediate form—without filters, judgments, or commentaries. (Sunday) Head and heart, rational and spiritual, need not stifle or silence one another. —Maria S. Guarino (Monday) This means engaging in dialogue with… Continue Reading Ways of Knowing: Weekly Summary
Senses Unfamiliar
Ways of Knowing Senses Unfamiliar Friday, October 18, 2019 One of the gifts of Native traditions is their openness to wisdom from many avenues beyond rational thought—community, ancestors, dance, drumming, nature, and symbols that speak deeply to the unconscious. I am humbled to learn from our Pueblo, Apache, and Navajo brothers and sisters here in… Continue Reading Senses Unfamiliar
To Love Unconditionally
Ways of Knowing To Love Unconditionally Thursday, October 17, 2019 Tim Shriver, a friend and Chair of Special Olympics, works with many people whom our culture excludes or disregards. Through their eyes he has come to see God’s presence in every human being. As you read Tim’s words, imagine how you might stand in solidarity… Continue Reading To Love Unconditionally
To Know God
Ways of Knowing To Know God Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Today, we continue with Robert McAfee Brown, who uses an excerpt from the Book of Jeremiah to describe knowing God: What does it mean to “know God”? Who are the ones who know God? The questions seem simple and answers come immediately to mind. Those… Continue Reading To Know God
A Strange New World
Ways of Knowing A Strange New World Tuesday, October 15, 2019 I grew up relatively sheltered in my Kansas home and in Catholic schools. However, over the years, life has provided me with countless opportunities to meet people whose different experiences and understandings have opened unseen doors and enriched my knowing. Moving out of our… Continue Reading A Strange New World
Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience
Ways of Knowing Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience Monday, October 14, 2019 We cannot know God only by thinking thoughts. Unfortunately, for much of Christianity, faith largely became believing statements to be true or false (intellectual assent) instead of giving people concrete practices so they could themselves know how to open up (faith), hold on (hope),… Continue Reading Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience
Doing the Homework
Ways of Knowing Doing the Homework Sunday, October 13, 2019 Contemplation is an entirely different way of knowing reality that has the power to move us beyond mere ideology and dualistic thinking. Mature religion will always lead us to some form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation to balance out our usual calculating mind. Believe me,… Continue Reading Doing the Homework
Franciscan Way: Part Two: Weekly Summary
Franciscan Way: Part Two Summary: Sunday, October 6—Friday, October 11, 2019 This is the miracle of love: to discover that all creation is one, flung out into space by a God who is a Father, and that if you present yourself as [God] does, unarmed and peaceably, creation will recognize and meet you with a… Continue Reading Franciscan Way: Part Two: Weekly Summary