Missing Don

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Caroline Myss, discipline, discussion, energy, energy of grace, Entering the Castle, group, interior life, lectio divina, perspective, St. Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Wisdom Practice Circle

Yesterday at the meeting of our “Wisdom Practice Circle” we were missing two of our members, one of whom was our “token male.” We never think of Don as “token” and spoke clearly at the end of our gathering about the fact that there was a slightly different feel in the energy of the group this time. Of course we also missed Estelle’s deep and meaningful reflections, as we do when any one of us is absent, but it was instructive to notice a subtle, unexpected shift that seemed due to Don’s absence, because his participation in the circle is always comfortable, seamless. As I think about that, however, I realize that his perspective on points of discussion is often dissimilar – one might say “fresh.” Perhaps therein lies the beauty of a complete circle that manifests both the similarity (peaceful presence, in this case) and difference (male perspective, for us yesterday) of human possibility.

Our lectio divina text at the meeting consisted of quotes from Entering the Castle by Caroline Myss, her book based on The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila. As I re-read those lines this morning, two jumped out at me, begging to be heard.

You must learn to love the discipline of the interior life and all that it requires of you…Now your role is to empower the life you have and the person you are with the energy of grace that listening to your soul gives you.

Perhaps the depth of meaning in the lines is reflective of what we were feeling  yesterday. Each of us comes to that circle desiring to deepen our lives and each offers our particular “energy of grace” that benefits the whole. I am again aware of how blessed I am to be in such a grace-filled company of individuals who come together to form a unity of purpose in the service of love.

 

 

 

 

 

Of Beams and Splinters

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beam, change the world, contemplative listening, conversation, discussion, Jesus, listening, Luke, mirror, splinter, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Sometimes Jesus seems to exaggerate to make a point. This morning we have a familiar example that seems to stretch that tendency beyond any other. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, he says, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? (LK 6:39-42) Even the least schooled person could not miss the impossibility of that scenario but the truth underneath the words is frequently ignored. I may see, with what I think is totally accurate clarity, the truth of my own argument and then, in a discussion with a colleague, hear a totally opposite position that is just as clearly presented and stridently held. We have only to look to American politics as we gear up for a presidential election to see good examples of this situation. Often we are so convinced of our own ideas that we jump into a conversation before the person speaking has finished a thought. We haven’t the time or willingness to consider the value of another person’s argument. Neither are we willing to let go of our own need to be right.

I just spent three days at a meeting in California listening intently to the conversations of eight women from around the world. We needed to speak a bit more slowly as everything was being translated simultaneously into Spanish; this was very helpful actually. We needed to listen carefully to all gathered and measure our words before speaking as we had committed ourselves to contemplative listening. Allowing space to let the words and their intention enter our minds and hearts was a freeing experience and one that produced more fruit than could have been achieved in a much longer time frame. There was a fair amount of letting go in that room but it wasn’t difficult because of our desire to move toward unity and the common good.

Today seems a good day to look in the mirror – first for splinters in our eyes and then perhaps for the bigger things that cloud our vision. That willingness could be a beginning practice that might just change the world.