cairns

Leave it to Schaeffer to even criticize Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia! (right along with colleges which claim to love his works and would never have associated with the man) lol

But, it opened a door for me. I love Lewis and his associates for using fiction to get at truths we usually obscure in prose.  And, Lewis?  I have practically made him an idol.  Now, FS goes and points out that Lewis has never been canonized! (even to dare to suggest that books that were are subject to question!)  I don’t know why I need an invitation to think critically about books I like.  I have taught that in other contexts for years.  But, I did need the invite here.

In Lewis’ case the one thing I now admit doesn’t make sense to me  (if you don’t know the books of Narnia, that is hilarious considering they are full of talking animals playing out Biblical themes in magic land) occurs more than once in the books.  What I cannot buy within the story’s logic is from the first book to the last when Aslan (creator, protector, and finisher of the world) cannot overcome the will of those who choose to be blind to him.

In the opening scenes it is the evil magic-meddling uncle Andrew from our world.  By the final book it includes most of the remaining inhabitants of the world, especially dramatized by the dwarfs sitting blindly on the edge of heaven in their imagined stable prison.  (not the only time Lewis discusses inoculating people against God by keeping them focused on a stable)  Aslan is more powerful than all enemies, than nature, space, time, and even the separation of magic worlds.  But, he isn’t strong enough to reach characters he loves?  It fractures the limits of even a children’s fantasy!

I don’t buy it.  Lewis didn’t really buy it.  In the Magician’s Nephew, the evil uncle returns home to live a different life — a back door mechanism for having been changed in the encounter.

Now, I am spending a lot of my meditation time (thanks also to books like Re-Jesus and Re-Enchanting the Church) on whether it holds up in theology.  If man is capable of rejecting God and choosing hell, doesn’t that make man’s will superior to God’s?

I know all of the old fundamentalist-evangelical contortions about God creating it that way; so that it is really His will, even though He really loves everybody and wants to save them, but plays by his own rules enough to damn them all for eternity for making the wrong choice with the free will He gave them, knowing from the beginning the outcome of the failed experiment…I’m not sure anymore that it makes any better sense in theology than fiction.  God calls the world into being by spoken thought, sustains the universe by Word, pursues reunion with man throughout the narratives of the Bible, and in the end sends most of creation into damnation because it chooses to reject its author?

I feel like I have been blind to the obvious (FBO!) for years — either God is Supreme or God isn’t God.

peace

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Frank Schaeffer writes about our deep longing for something we have not found.  And with vicious humor of our waiting on “spaceship Jesus!”   Sojo’s quote of the day is about how we all can experience the feeling of exile.  I have written that the moment of alone-ness gets my vote as Jesus’ most human moment.  Dorothy went looking for her heart’s desire….

It all takes me back to thoughts on our unity with the soil from which we are made.  T has led me here with many insights on eco-theology, S has led me here with his respect for native traditions and beliefs, D and L lead me here with their love of just being there in the outdoors.  (By the way DB, you should really write your description of being in the woods during a cold mist — a description of paradise in the very time and place many would picture torment — it deserves to be published and wants to be read!)  It takes me back to how much of the Bible is actually written in celebration of the earthly context in spite of all our other worldly projections.  So I am wading farther into old territory.

What if our unexplained longings, our common feelings of alienation, and our common desire to go home again are all pointing to the very dirt beneath our artificial surfaces?  I have been thinking a lot about my departed atheist friend John Elliot — a sharp witted but gentle man.  I remember his calm assurance that he was part of the farm he grew up, enjoyed life on, and would rightfully return to when he died.  He was one of the most convincing people I ever met not because of acidic arguments, but because of his assurance of his own place in the universe.  He was still connected to his soil and comfortable with the idea of returning to it.

Science tells us we are made of the common elements.  We teach young children to eat healthy foods to build their physical bodies well with the substances of earth their body needs.  I have often pondered how many generations it takes for a people to honestly say like the Native Americans, “We came out of this Earth.”  Arlo has joked about cells having memory.  I have written before, only partly with tongue in cheek, about the possibility of carbon memory.  (metal workers and sales people speak of materials having memory as if its fact.)  I am now pondering how very true it may be that we are longing for reunion with the dirt we are made from.

A side note on psychology: the most alienated I ever was from my father was any time I offended my mother.  If I was alienated from her, I was automatically alienated from him.  I know this flavors my thinking here.  Thoughts on alienation from Father God, take me immediately to our separation from Mother Earth.

I think it is interesting to look back at the Genesis account in this light.  Our ancestors are said to be in constant communion with God while they are in full communion with life in the garden.  The “fall” removes both.  What if we consider a non-traditional read.  The “sin” committed in the story occurs when they eat a fruit of the garden, but not for its own sake.  Instead of experiencing the joy of the natural nourishment of plant body to animal body, they seek to use the fruit as a means to knowledge — something other than its own identity.  What if the “fall” can be understood as our primeval moment of separation from our mother?

Looking through the lenses of Michener’s beautiful book The Source, perhaps it was the advent of intentional farming.  He does an excellent job of describing how man begins to feel separated from and threatened by nature when his family begins to depend on cultivated crops.  Michener took this further into the need for god’s to control nature.  I would take it backward to God using Genesis.  I can now read the story as the Creator placing humankind in the natural world as benevolent kings and queens of holy subjects, (mental image here of Lewis’ founding scene in Narnia), not dominators and abusers.  When they start to place their subjects (yes including plants) into slavery by seeking the knowledge which will bend life to their plans and desires it reminds me of wizards in Middle Earth producing orcs as “improvements” on the original creatures.  What if this is one read of the fall — the moment when humanity stepped out of the natural order to seek a world under human control?

Then our longing for return and unity with Creator could rightly be the desire for reunion with Creation — the love of the natural world which comes from every molecule of our being.  Perhaps our collective salvation depends upon our return to unity to with the creation.  I believe science fully supports this position.  And it doesn’t mean I deny the existence of the spiritual.  I am exploring the conclusions of rejecting the duality of the material and spiritual worlds.

I think this is fodder for the book I am longing to finally write.  I hope it isn’t just fever induced rambling! Let me know.

peace

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Schaeffer’s new book has brought up memories of the absurdities I have been part of on this ex evangelical-fundamentalist journey.

One memory is of a conversation with two good friends at an out of town conference.  It was late in the evening and a good deal of after hours socializing had taken place.  As we were on the way back to our room, one friend was using our backpacking and orienteering hobbies to “witness” to the other.  Looking back now, it is so odd to picture one alcohol lubricated brain trying to save a friend’s alcohol lubricated soul!

The “witness” kept asking the “post-church” if he could use his combination of Native American influence and philosophy to show exactly where he was on life’s topo map — could he take a straw and pin point his exact location on the grid?  (I would have answered with great naivete that I knew exactly where I was on the cosmological map of the universe!  What hubris!)

I don’t remember the conversation getting much past that question and an answer loop.  Looking back now, I don’t think any of us knew.  The human mind is not capable of even grasping where we are on the physical map of the known universe!  I treasure every minute I had with that staff, and just the three of us being together, sharing fellowship, sharing journey put us on a holier place on the map than I think any of us knew.

Looking back now, I would see the whole conversation in a new way.  Do we still have hope that God holds the map — that there is a God and a map?  If so, do we still hold faith that God knows the map, the route, and the adventures along the way?  Do we still believe that the Tao of creation lovingly knows exactly where we are on the map because the divine continues to dare to dwell amongst us?

That’s where I am right now.  Recovering from a really mean virus, returning to lucidity, listening to Schaeffer’s call to realize that both science and faith should lead to humility, and learning to live as who I am, where I am, and resting in the knowledge that it isn’t about my knowing everything, but in my being known.

That I still believe in the core of my being.  Faith, Hope, and Love know us, accept us, made us, save us, and will get us to camp.  Let the adventure unfold!

peace

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Its OK that we do not know, because we are already known.
We don’t have to understand everything about God.
God understands everything about us and finds ways to break through our defenses to shower us with Love beyond comprehension.

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Quite simply, I think the name describes too much of  it perfectly.  Behind a very thin veneer of God talk, there seems to me to be more worship of, and faith in, our culture and its systems than anything I can call God.

The last thing I attended before leaving my church home of many years included the showing of a video urging people to “run” from the danger that surrounds us and to the Truth.  Nobody else seemed to notice that most of the imagery was American rather than Christian icons.  I don’t think there is any difference left between the two in most of their thinking.

I feel like I can easily be misunderstood here.  I feel pride when I see the symbols of our country.  I hope someday to stand in the observation area of the Statue of Liberty prominently displayed in that video.  But, the “god” she invites the world’s poor to enter is America, not Jesus.

I think the proposition can be tested by anyone willing to subject themselves to the outcome.

Have a conversation with a “Bible believing pastor.”  Start talking about feeling called like Francis to take the Biblical quotes of Jesus seriously and abandon earthly possessions in exchange for a life of service and fellowship with God.  What are the odds that they will anoint you in your calling?  What are the odds that they will begin to counsel you on the wisdom of careful preparation — financial as well as academic?

Sit in one of their committee meetings and suggest that we should just watch and listen to see what God appears to be doing and do likewise — like our Bible says Jesus claimed was the only thing He ever did.  What are the odds that they will put away their pda’s, newsprint, and vision-mission-goals manuals?  What are the odds that they will invite you to stop talking craziness or leave?

It’s not that I do not love my country.  I have been fortunate to travel and see enough of the alternatives to feel deeply blessed by my national birthright.  It’s not that I do not think these modern  forms of planning have served us well in many specific cases.  I teach them to people when I do consulting, along with some post-modern cautions against falling into the trap of believing the rest of the world (or even your own organization) will conform to your plans!

But, I do not worship my country.  I do not place my hope in good business practice.  I do have my investments and I do try to be careful about my allocations.  But, my future in this world, this lifetime, is not guaranteed by them.  I am a child of the children of the Great Depression, so more than my Bible tells me that economic security can blow away like dust in a drought.

Just maybe this underlying worship of country and culture instead of God is what is pulling some of my generation to the older church forms like the Catholic and Orthodox, or silent forms such as Quaker practice — the very traditional forms that the mega-mall churches claimed were near death because of their lack of “seeker sensitivity” and “current relevance.”

Perhaps they are attractive partially because they are bigger than America (or their headquartering countries) and more representative of the Church Universal.

I believe it’s because people find in the forms, the Eucharist, the silence, the communal space — a connection beyond great dogma, sincere patriotism, and careful right practices to an awareness of Divine presence itself.

Please feel free to help me keep seeking.  Back to Frank Schaeffer’s book.

peace

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I thought about choosing humana, but those who most clearly do what I am pondering (again) tend to work in the masculine arena.  Blame it on Frank Schaeffer. I am reading his new book Patience with God, just off the presses, and enjoying it very much.

It’s when he starts discussing the impulse to explain our reflective nature and desire for deeper understanding that he set me back on this track.  Like most authors, he includes statements about the uniqueness of man in the area of reflection and search for meaning.  It easily takes me back to countless sermons and discussions of the meaning of having been created “in Our image.”

At one time we claimed we were the only ones who thought rather than acting on instinct — then science blew that argument away.  The same thing happened with the claim that we were alone in creating tools.  And yet, it is still common place to assume as true that it holds up in the areas of reflection, spirituality (whatever that is!), deeper meaning, and immortality (as if we have positive proof of our ideas and beliefs on that topic!).

I am back to wondering if even these claims are based on anything more than our ignorance of the processes by which non-humans function.  With our limited capacity for communicating, how do we know what animals do not think about?  For that matter, and this will finish off those already suspecting I have jumped off a liberal-new-age-post-modern-cliff-of-insanity, how do we know that there is no thought process in those things we consider inanimate?

I don’t remember a single so called “literalist” who chose to take it literally that stars and rocks can sing!  (I prefer to take those literally than the ones that appear to condemn large segments of humanity to eternal damnation for never hearing the name Jesus!)  We assume that attributing any “human” qualities to other forms of life or matter is weak thinking and anthropomorphism.   Yet even atomic sub-particles appear to communicate with each other in ways beyond anything we understand when we do experiments like simultaneous firing of particles with a determined spin — the other particle always does the opposite with no apparent connection between the equipment.  We assume it is anything but what we would call a decision in human terms.

I’m not sure of those assumptions at all.  I am in a large company of others if I make statements like, “Nature, the trees, the rocks, the sky all speak to me when I am able to give myself the gift of wilderness solitude.”  I believe there is a Truth there that is far beyond “just poetic language.”  Is not the very purpose of the poet’s language to take us to Truth beyond our common speak?

OK, off the cliff!  What if the Earth itself is capable of relationship with its Creator? T has been both patient and generous in pointing out to me the numerous ways in which the Bible speaks of the redemption and rebirth of all of creation.  Why are we so sure that involves relationship for us (individually or collectively) and not for the rest of the universe?

I suppose the greatest proof that I am wrong is not in the Bible, theology, or a science text — but in the simple fact that the planet has not yet found a way to rid itself of us!

Just wanted to share the weirdness in my head tonight.  I’m in kind of a happy Arlo type “just wondering” kind of space.  Feel free to share, or laugh, or suggest prayer or therapy. lol  Back to seeing what wisdom Frankie has to share!

peace

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Found an area of probable agreement with my cousins on Friday. I think part of the reason I don’t see it all the same is that I work for the government, so my employee insurance is already technically government funded through a private provider.

But, this year our school has become a “Wellness School” even though the faculty clearly said, “No,” last year. Most of the time its a minor nuisance for us; some extra announcements to kids about healthy food, a form or two to fill out about how many kids get how much recess time or exercise at home, and spending some extra time encouraging healthy behaviors.  Every now and then it involves extra health monitoring for the kids and us.

That’s what came up Friday; a “health fair” with repeated reminders on the inner-com about going down to have our blood sugar and blood pressure checked.

My doctor tracks those carefully and I have no problem in either area. But, it hit me. I never signed up for my employer (which also happens to be the government as I said) to collect and keep extra information on me that is currently private between my doctor and I.

They found my very conservative side!

I do not want my employer, and I sure as shooting do not want the government, justifying the collection of more information on me or any other citizen that is none of their (we have a serious lack of church approved adjectives for this spot in the sentence) business!

peace

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Have been thinking about the lesson Steve taught at a previous missions weekend about Cornelius, Peter, the vision of the sheet, the Gospel, the conversion, and the reaction of the church. I learned so much that day, that continues to make more and more sense in light of what I am learning now.

I used it for my devotional in today’s class on Standards Based Differentiated Instruction.

Simon Peter knew the Standards!! He even argues with God as if this is a test he will pass by staying true to the scriptural standards.  But God shows up and reveals a new standard, love and acceptance for all.

He goes and shares the knowledge of his own story and experience with non-Christians who are already God followers, but whom he has been taught his whole life to consider too unclean to visit. And he and those with him see them filled with the Spirit of God. Then, the real rub is that criticism comes from the Church and Peter has to convince them he did not commit a horrible act by visiting with, preaching for, and baptizing these folks who already loved God!

It just brings me up short. Who are the people we (the people I) still consider unclean? Which laws of the Old Testament (or even the New) might God be lowering on a sheet to say, “Quit clinging to these and go love who I love?”  I am sure God is at least saying, “Your interpretation of my Word, is not my Word.  Give it up and do what I am doing.”
peace

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H1N1 is taking several kids a day out of the school, although all 28 showed up for the fourth grade excursion to Vincennes in the cold rain yesterday. Only one absent today. They really behaved and paid attention well. Almost all of them are getting straight “A” report cards tomorrow, which I have made them earn. The hardest thing is getting them to engage material that actually requires them to think about information and apply it beyond what they can do instantly. They want to either give a quick meaningless answer, or give up and ask to just be told what to write.

We are getting there. But, it is exhausting. Took them through a discussion today which I hope helped them see that the real problem is not lack of intellect, or willingness to work, but fear of failure. Have three fourths of a year left to convince them to open their minds and see what amazing things travel in and out!

Everyday is an adventure. But right now I feel like I just came down Quandary and need a stop at the gatoraid store!

peace

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Struggling this evening after reading political posts and replies from a favorite relative.  I think I am the only one I know from large families on both sides who sees the world the way I see it.  It leaves me feeling very alone and somewhat of a freak in the chain.

Meanwhile my readings and experiences in matters of faith are opening me up to possibilities I never considered and closeness with people I never would have dreamed.

Just when I feel myself coming to a greater sense of unity with God, with life, with my fellow man; I also find myself feeling isolated and strange to all that I grew up with — feeling again like there is nowhere I belong.

It brings me back to musing that the moment of Jesus, God’s, greatest humanitywas during the cry, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”  As Jesus completes the task of reunifying human and divine, He also experiences total isolation.

Does life get any more ironic?

peace

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