tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post6096460654508494114..comments2024-03-22T03:10:08.766-05:00Comments on The Good Raised Up: Spiritual intimacy, Part IIUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-75122496445468167932007-01-30T08:22:00.000-06:002007-01-30T08:22:00.000-06:00Ceal - Thanks for taking the time and the risk to ...<b>Ceal</b> - Thanks for taking the time and the risk to share where you find yourself. <br /><br />My own spiritual journey--and my journey among Friends in particular--has challenged me in a similar way, where I have had to lean into the fear and surrender to God. <br /><br />I think of John Woolman, who during some of his trial of illness and spiritual wrestling, heard the words, <i>"John Woolman is dead."</i> This to me means he gave up his own worries and concerns about "being singular from [his] beloved Friends." <br /><br />He gave up himself: his ego had to die in order to restore God to the center of his life and to begin doing not what others around him were doing (dying their clothes, relying on slaves) but what God was requiring <i><b>him</b></i> to do.<br /><br />To paraphrase George Fox and others, if we are faithful, if we "stand still in the Light" and submit to it, and let it search us, we can be amazed by what we discover about ourselves and about the nature of God.<br /><br />Scary? Yes! <br /><br />For that reason, I often give this counsel when someone brings their vulnerabilities forward:<br /><br /><i><b>Be gentle with yourself.<br />Trust your own timing.<br />Risk when you are ready.<br />Ask for what you want.<br />Do what works for you.</b></i><br /><br />Go gently, Ceal. I sense you are already finding your way.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-61517153658363929492007-01-29T09:05:00.000-06:002007-01-29T09:05:00.000-06:00This post came at a timely point in my spiritual g...This post came at a timely point in my spiritual growth. <br /><br />As I read your post on sharing our vulnerabilities, my personal thought was that this is so difficult because I still feel afraid of what people will think of me. This is a challenge I have in my spiritual life, to leave those feelings behind. <br /><br />I will be joining School of the Spirit beginning in March. At each retreat we will have our own koinonia group in which we will have a deeper relationship spiritually than to the rest of the class. In addition, I have a Care Committee in my own Meeting that will meet with me once a month. In both of these groups, I will have to let go of these feelings of self and struggle to open up to others.<br /><br />I also fear sharing beliefs and feelings that might not be shared by others. Part of this is my fear of conflict but most is that same fear of wanting folks to only approve of me. <br /><br />I don't think it is a self-esteem issue but one of pride. I shall let the Spirit work on this in me.Ceciliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11410639776476115620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-81635029220364508122007-01-25T12:44:00.000-06:002007-01-25T12:44:00.000-06:00Robin -
Well, you've made more progress than I h...<b>Robin</b> - <br /><br />Well, you've made more progress than I have in the "let's invite Friends over for dinner and conversation" department! I agree that breaking bread together is something that can be done and is part of spiritual hospitality. What concerns me, though, is that there is a difference between <b><i>individuals</i></b> (or individual households) offering spiritual hospitality and having the <b><i>meeting</i></b> as a community engage in that spiritual hospitality. Is the meeting--or at least a critical mass of it--sharing that concern? Otherwise, I'm concerned that spiritual hospitality becomes more a case of "who you know."<br /><br />And hello, <b>Mia</b> - <br /><br />Thanks for dropping by. I don't know if it's possible to dip only a big toe into the Quaker blogosphere, so watch out for the strong undertow! ...One thing I have enjoyed about the Quaker blogosphere is that there are a number of posts and comments that give me much pause. It also has helped me remember that no single Friends meeting or Friends church exemplifies what Quakerism is. We need each other and and each other's gifts: we are all <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:4-26;&version=31;">members of the same body</a>. When I remember that, I find I am opened to learn more about who we are, what we are about, and how we help one another in our faithfulness.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-89210526701795877312007-01-25T12:04:00.000-06:002007-01-25T12:04:00.000-06:00Hi, I'm a first time visitor to your blog (actuall...Hi, I'm a first time visitor to your blog (actually just dipping my toe into the Quaker blogosphere), but a long-time Friend. Thank you for this post. It has given me much to think about. I serve on my meeting's Ministry and Counsel committee, and I think the issues you bring up would be good for us to explore.<br /><br />In the Light,<br /><br />MiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-91427630967972068412007-01-24T23:14:00.000-06:002007-01-24T23:14:00.000-06:00Trying again.
For me, spiritual hospitality has m...Trying again.<br /><br />For me, spiritual hospitality has mostly taken the form of inviting local Friends over for dinner and conversation (and homemade pie). This has led to a much greater degree of spiritual intimacy with the Friends who have accepted our invitations. Chris and I always think we should do more of this, since it has been so fruitful, but even we have limits to our time and energy. <br /><br />It was in part the spiritual welcome I received at the first two meetings I attended that confirmed my sense that I had found the right religious place. Meaning I had a good time at coffee hour in addition to a powerful spiritual experience in meeting for worship. It's hard to beat that combination.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-8595611945669896152007-01-24T15:27:00.000-06:002007-01-24T15:27:00.000-06:00Apparently some Friends have not been able to post...Apparently some Friends have not been able to post a comment here. So I'm testing it. -LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.com