Settling In

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abide, Jesus, John, settle in, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

In today’s gospel, the single verse, (Jn. 15:4), contains the verb “remain” eight times. John could have substituted something like “as I DO” for at least one or two of those repetitions to smooth out the message of Jesus, but he didn’t. It makes me think that he was trying to push the point. In a commentary from The Little White Book, the author gives us lots of possibilities about the use of the word “remain” – like “abide with” or “dwell.” Then there is a suggestion of “settle in” with the following comment.

“There are some people (probably not too many) with whom I am completely ‘at home.’ I’m glad to see them and be with them. I ‘settle in’ and relax with them. When I settle in with someone, I don’t have to be talking all the time. It’s just plain good to be together. I’m at ease, at home with them. I don’t have to prove anything, show off. We’re together and all is well. If we do talk, we can talk about anything. And sometimes we do.”

Then the author asks two questions that I think are worth a day’s reflection:
1. Do I settle in with the Lord?
2. I wonder if I allow the Lord to settle in with me. Do I?

Surrendering to Life

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abide, dwell, flow, Henry David Thoreau, Joyce Rupp, present, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I love words like abide and dwell. They create in me a sort of longing for stasis, peacefulness, or even rest. I imagine entering a room where everyone is sitting still and silent and puts a finger to their mouth saying, “Shhh…” as I walk in and sit down. I want to stay there.

Where did that come from? Likely from the morning after a weekend filled with a dozen wonderful people at a workshop here at the Spiritual Center. Deep sharing and appreciation of each one’s giftedness mingled with a sense that, at the core, all is right with the world, if only we stay present to deeper meanings and potential. The concepts of lovingkindness and beauty rang true in the presentations and interactions of participants.

The question of how to remember and keep alive such an experience was answered for me quite simply from Henry David Thoreau this morning, as quoted by Joyce Rupp. It speaks to my first thoughts today while also allowing for the movement necessary to avoid stagnation. Thoreau says:

Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.

May we all flow with ease this week while dwelling in sweet surrender to our life’s journey.

True Freedom

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abide, Abraham, christians, consistency of Jesus, free, freedom, go deeper within, hold on, integrity of spirit, Jesus, John, Lenten journey, loving word, remain, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, truth

A very long time ago I had a poster taped to the inside of my bedroom door. The image on it was of a rag doll type of figure that looked rather flat, as if it had been run over by a steamroller. Beside the figure was an old-fashioned washing machine and the text on the poster read, “The truth will set you free but it will put you through the ringer first.” Although it was a rather irreverent use of this morning’s gospel passage from John about the truth setting one free (JN 8:31-32), it did make a point about freedom. Jesus was talking to Jewish people who had already come to believe in him and they were confused, asking why Jesus would talk about them becoming free since they were descendants of Abraham who had “never been enslaved to anyone.”

Throughout history there have been many examples of people who have lived in the most dreadful conditions, have been treated badly by governments or dictators or those who claim to represent God, and still retain a spirit that is totally unfettered. How does one remain free is such circumstances? Jesus gives a hint to Christians in the aforementioned text from John which in its entirety says, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Verbs like remain and abide hold great power for those who understand the need to “hold on” no matter what external circumstances cause in one’s life. It is our interior freedom, freedom of spirit that comes from knowing and living in the truth that cannot be taken away. How does one achieve such freedom? Sometimes it seems to come easily in life if one is lucky enough to live in a country like the USA whose founding documents boast “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” especially if that creed is replicated in a family that nurtures not only those principles but also a faith in God and a religious tradition. Even for those that start life with those advantages, however, there comes a moment – or a series of moments – when recognition of injustices extant in the culture or in personal relationships cause one to go deeper into the underlying truths of life. It is at those points of challenge that we need to assess what we have been taught and come to a personal integrity of spirit that can never be taken away. It may be shaken in times of danger or our own weakness but if we remain awake to the truth that we carry deep within us, we will know the freedom of which Jesus speaks this morning. As we live into the last ten days of Lent, let us listen to the consistency of Jesus in his speaking, in his acting and in his loving word that carries him through his death to resurrection. And let the word that is the truth of his life reverberate in us as we remain in him.