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Religious Language
Our daughter Carolina is off to Australia! On Saturday we met midday near the airport.
As usual she got me thinking when she asked, “Can I share a thought about your blog?”
With some trepidation, I answered, “Yes?”
“I know it’s Lent and all. But I thought you wanted to increase your readership. The language you’ve used so far could limit who’s interested. Religious language can be polarizing.”
Of course, she has a point. And, after all, my desire is to welcome and build bridges, not separate by building walls.
Then again, during this first week I recognize that this round of daily posts for me is not about the wide world of potential audience members out there. Instead I notice how my heart warms when a guest author posts. I perk up. I am curious. I delight. Lent 2024 is about relationships. About providing a platform. And seeing what I can do to make this smooth and warm and maybe even delightful for them too.
My hope is that my use of religious language can also be live love language, especially for those I relate with directly.
I was thrilled yesterday to watch this short video about our upcoming pilgrimage. For one thing the five cities on the itinerary were listed succinctly: Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and Memphis. I can pray for these cities and for The Rev Canon Carla Robinson (she narrates the video) as we prepare to travel together.
I felt proud to have already registered because I bet the trip will fill in a hot second now that this promotion is circulating on YouTube.
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For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Monkey Brain
It is often said that within us reside three distinct “brains” – the robot, the monkey, and the sage. Taming the relentless impulses of the monkey brain, which gravitate towards every shiny and new distraction, poses a significant challenge. This aspect prevents us from concentrating, pushing us to constantly chase after the latest trends and ideas.
When delving into matters of faith, beliefs, and worship, our Monkey Brain tends to take the lead. It propels us towards the incessant pursuit of the next shiny object – whether it be a new doctrine, rituals, or even the allure of novel religions. Despite the perpetual changes in trends, the fundamental message endures: God remains omnipresent, almighty, and brimming with love and grace. It is crucial, regardless of the paths our Monkey Brain may lead us down, to recognize that there is only One Creator, always ready to meet us wherever we are, ready to embrace us as their beloved children.
The challenge, then, lies in taming the monkey brain. Establishing a consistent practice of prayer becomes a powerful tool in centering the mind, fostering inner peace, and providing resilience against constant distractions. In the pursuit of spiritual harmony, let prayer be the guiding force, bringing stillness to the restlessness within, and may the Lenten season usher in a profound sense of peace and connection with the divine.
Cerebro Mono
Porque va a llegar el tiempo en que la gente no soportará la sana enseñanza; más bien, según sus propios caprichos, se buscarán un montón de maestros que sólo les enseñen lo que ellos quieran oír. 4Darán la espalda a la verdad y harán caso a toda clase de cuentos. (2 Timoteo 4:3-4)
A menudo se dice que en nuestro interior residen tres “cerebros” distintos: el robot, el mono y el sabio. Domar los impulsos implacables del cerebro mono, que se inclinan hacia cada distracción brillante y nueva, plantea un desafío significativo. Este aspecto nos impide concentrarnos, instándonos a perseguir constantemente las últimas tendencias e ideas.
Cuando se trata de asuntos de fe, creencias y adoración, nuestro Cerebro Mono tiende a tomar la delantera. Nos impulsa hacia la búsqueda incesante del próximo objeto brillante, ya sea una nueva doctrina, rituales o incluso el atractivo de religiones novedosas. A pesar de los cambios perpetuos en las tendencias, el mensaje fundamental perdura: Dios sigue siendo omnipresente, todopoderoso y rebosante de amor y gracia. Es crucial, independientemente de los caminos que nuestro Cerebro Mono nos lleve, reconocer que solo hay un Creador, siempre listo para encontrarnos donde sea que estemos, dispuesto a abrazarnos como sus amados hijos.
El desafío, entonces, radica en domar el cerebro mono. Establecer una práctica consistente de la oración se convierte en una herramienta poderosa para centrar la mente, fomentar la paz interior y proporcionar resistencia contra las distracciones constantes. En la búsqueda de la armonía espiritual, que la oración sea la fuerza guía, aportando quietud a la inquietud interna, y que la temporada de Cuaresma traiga un profundo sentido de paz y conexión con lo divino.
Lake Tahoe 2023
Always Bridging 