In my last meditation I shared a few words from Thomas
Merton. They were of his epiphany of
seeing all people walking around, shining like the sun. His heart awakened to the truth of the
incarnation. As broken as you, I, and
all of the human race are, God chose to live within us. This is a hard truth to realize. We can only begin to awaken to this truth by
engaging in disciplined spiritual practices.
Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful place in which to
learn and engage in disciplines that will help us awaken to the deep truth of
the divine living inside of us. Walking
into this place, you can see that God
really is doing a new thing. This next
year, many of our physical surroundings will look different. I am beyond excited about moving the children
out of the Helm building which has been a “wilderness” for as long as I have
been here. The new interim spaces are
wonderful.
All of us are being asked to do things in a new way. When our outer world is changing, our inner
world will be doing the same. God is
doing a new thing inside each of us.
Pay attention to the stirrings within.
There will be many opportunities for you to find ways that will engage
your soul. There will be Sunday School
classes as well as weekday classes of prayer and learning. Our brochure will soon be coming out. Be intentional about what you will engage in.
It is also important that you take your new learnings and
practices home. Carve out a time and
place in which to ponder and listen. As
Henri Nouwen says, “a spiritual life without discipline is impossible.” We must find time for silence and reflection
in order that we know ourselves and God who lives within us.
It is a time of newness and discernment for all of us. I hope that the outer changes that are being
required of us, will be a constant reminder to us that God is alive and
working.
