… to practise the full teaching of the Church as enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer
I don’t remember what I thought a year ago, but I think the answer is “no.” There have been many changes this year, some easier and some unexpected. If there was perfect future vision, what would life be like?
The reality is that I live now. I feel stable and balanced. Yes, I could be doing better, but I could also be doing a lot worse.
Completely random question! The first thing that hits me is “believe”. What does it mean in this context? Perhaps I will leave that question for another post.
Absolutely. I think there is intelligent life outside of Earth. All the theological questions aside, why would God only create humans here? And, to paraphrase Bill & Ted, why would movies lie to us? An encounter would raise some interesting questions concerning our assumptions.
Anyway, do you believe in aliens?
… no man hath quickened his own soul.
Psalm 22:30
Just wanted to share because I like the photo of me.
Everything! I have never liked “me”. I would not say I hate me, but I do not like me. If I were to meet me, I would most likely think I am aloof, prickly, and just plain weird. I am also socially and physically awkward, like to rant about completely random stuff, and am a poor dresser. I should say that I am working on it, but that would be a lie.
Every one is very willing to be a servant of Christ; but no one will consent to be His follower. And yet He says: “If any man serve me, let him follow me.” (John 12:26). Hence, he who truly serves and loves Christ, will also follow him; and he who loves Christ, will also love the example of His holy life, His humility, meekness, patience, as well as the cross, shame, and contempt which He endured, although the flesh may thereby suffer pain.
Johann Arndt
To be a contemplative Church means:
Diocese of Oxford
- To be deeply rooted in Christ as a branch in the vine, through prayer and worship, word and sacrament;
- To be sustained in joy and hope in the midst of a suffering world;
- To seek the continual grace and renewal of the Holy Spirit in our lives;
- To value deep wisdom and offer meaning;
- To take our theology seriously as dialogue with God as well as talk about God;
- To live in healthy rhythms of prayer and rest and work and be fully human;
- To be good news in an over active and busy world;
- To offer the gift of silence, still places and moments of encounter with the living God;
- To listen deeply to ourselves, to the world in which we live and to one another;
- To discern God’s call to us as individuals and communities;
- To wrestle with God;
- To surrender our doing in order to make space for stillness and dwelling, that God might be free to do and act within us.
I am most definitely a morning person. I like to get up early, before sunrise, and enjoy the silence and solitude. I do all meaningful writing, thinking, and praying in the morning. It is also cooler in the morning, which I prefer. If I interact with people, it has to be in the morning. Medical appointments and shopping are for the morning.
I am no good after 3 p.m. My mind simply stops working. I like to relax by reading novels or listening to audiobooks. Sometimes I watch a little TV. No people after 3 p.m.! In fact, I use the “screen time” on my phone to limit access after that time. And I go to bed early – with the sunset in winter and a little before in the summer.
My absolute favourite thing to wear is my scapular. It reminds me that I carry Jesus everywhere I go, and perhaps much more importantly, it reminds me that Jesus is with me always. It is not an Anglican thing to do and often confuses people, but it is meaningful to me. I also like to wear “suspenders.” Since I have no hips, they keep my pants from falling down. See picture!!!
Have you ever wondered what we did when we only had “landlines”? How did we survive? And before that, when people communicated by hand-written letter? And, guess what, we survived.
So, what technology would I be better off without? My “smartphone”! It serves no purpose. I do not receive calls, texts, DMs, or iMessages from anyone. Yet, somehow, I feel I should carry it everywhere with me. And check! Check if someone has emailed. I listen to music, but I could do that a different way. I spend way too much time looking for it or worrying about it.
