Sharing the Silence

After reading and sharing this article last night,
http://www.carlmccolman.net/2015/09/23/nine-ways-to-foster-a-contemplative-church/
I was reminded of the time I attended a Quaker Meeting.

It was at a time in my life when I was seeking and in my seeking, investigated and experienced various forms of worship.....all of which were non Catholic.  I hesitate to admit it, but for some reason I, like most Protestants, thought the Catholic church to be a little strange.  Looking back, it was more of a feeling that all Protestants stood with Martin Luther as he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the cathedral door and we never bothered to look beyond it. At any rate, I restricted my seeking to non-Catholic and left few stones unturned.  One of those stones was Quaker Meeting.

The room was very simple with wooden floor and wooden benches arranged in a square with a table of sorts in the center.  On that table was a book from which one of the elders read a passage.  This was followed by complete silence as members meditated on what was read.  It was an education in the sharing of silence and in people sharing aloud as the Spirit moved them.  After each sharing we returned to the silence to listen to our own spirits. 

I found myself drawn to the Quakers but for one thing.....the music.  There was no music in their worship and I needed music.  Music, especially sacred music, has always been part of my life and is an integral part of my prayer and worship.  In looking back...but without going into their specific history....I realized meditation and contemplative prayer have always been the Quaker form of worship....something we, the Catholic laity, (historically speaking) are just beginning to share with one another.

I hunger and I thirst.  The hunger is never satisfied and the thirst never quenched but the desire and the need are always there. 

One of my mantras is, “God is meant to be shared.”  I have a need to share God.  I have a need to join with others in prayer, in meditation, in silence.  Just as I have a need to participate in communal worship on Sundays, I also have a need for communal prayer.  I have a need to come to know the God who dwells within and to share that Spirit with others. As a Priest friend explained it, I have a need for intimacy....intimacy with God within myself and with the God in others.  In that intimacy, I am not restricted to my own particular form of worship, but am called to share with all....and receive from all. 

From the stones once used to build walls, I now build bridges... sharing God with others regardless of religious “labels”.

God bless!
Connie

Pope Francis and the Church

It’s interesting that so many people and organizations are seeking change in the Church....not only the Catholic church but others who are also struggling for change.  In my humble opinion ....which I never hesitate to share.... most, if not all, Christians are looking to Pope Francis as a leader...an example of who and what a Christian should be.

Here’s the simple truth as I see it....  Pope Francis is not about changing the Church.  He is about instigating and instituting change in us, the people.  (We are the Church)  He knows if we grow in love, mercy and knowledge of God, the Church will also grow into what it’s meant to be.  He will not attempt to change Canon Law or established Doctrine, but he will take steps to clarify it so we can come to an acceptance born of understanding.  Hopefully he will tweak some traditions a bit...but that’s another blog.

His message is not limited to Catholics, but is for the world.  He encourages open dialog with all religions, promotes non-judgment and continues to stress the importance of our living the Gospel.  He draws us back to the very basics of Jesus’ teaching.  The change will be within ourselves and we will change the world.

Pope Francis is busy pruning the vine and strengthening the roots so that we, the people....the church, will bear fruit.

May we all grow in Christ together! 
God Bless!
Connie

Catholic with a Small ‘c’

My friend tells me she’s going to get me a t-shirt with a capital ‘C’ crossed out and a very bright lower case ‘c’.  I didn’t think I so often said, “I am a Catholic with a small ‘c’” but I guess I do.  I started doing that after a Methodist friend told me she had a hard time saying, “I believe in the holy catholic church.” when reciting the Apostle’s Creed.  She felt much better about it after I explained that “catholic” with a small ‘c’ means universal.   It doesn’t refer to the Roman Catholic church (though that’s part of it).

I’ve put my own slant on the definition of the small ‘c’ and in my mind it’s come to mean ‘community’.  I could even go so far as to say, “I believe in the holy ‘community’ church,” with the word ‘church’ being optional....only because when most people read or say the word, ‘church’, a physical building comes to mind. 

But I digress.  The whole reason for this blog is not to discuss the fact that all (or most) Christian denominations recite the Apostle’s Creed....though that’s a good point.  Nor is it my intention to expound on my definition of ‘church’....except to say the words ‘church’ and ‘community’ can be interchangeable.  I’m going to try not to wander too far away from my intended subject.

I believe in holy community.  When you read the words, ‘holy community’, you might initially think of those people you join with in formal worship at Mass or Sunday services.  Though you’d be correct in thinking that, it’s not quite where I’m going with this.

My definition of ‘holy community’ is those people with whom I share God.  Jesus said, “where two or three are gathered....there I am also” .  The community, therefore, may be the sharing of two or the sharing among many. 

Sometimes I think of God as a jigsaw puzzle.  As God lives in all of us, regardless of religion, denomination, belief or nationality, each one of us holds within ourselves a “piece” of God.  This, in my thoughts, makes it necessary for us to join and fit all the pieces together until we become the whole.  The whole being God.

This is holy community.  The only thing which truly matters is the recognition and sharing of God.  How wonderful it is when I have that opportunity...when I recognize and reach out to  the “piece of God” within someone else.
 
Someone referred to the prayer group as “warriors’ the other day and in my mind, I saw all joined together as one huge army of God....given the weapons of love and peace with which to change the world... but that’s another blog.
 
We are all catholic with a small ‘c’.....one holy community.  God bless!

Finish a Painting....Or?

“Are you going to the studio today?” Mom asked.

It’s a simple question but one I’m having a hard time answering.  I’d like to go and work on the painting I started....the one I can’t seem to decide on how to proceed.  I thought I knew what I wanted to paint but now I’m not quite sure.  You see, I’ve reached a point in my life when I only want to paint the things I feel God wishes me to say.  So, until God makes it clear.....

Am I going to the studio today?  Or will this be a time when painting gives way to writing.... or simply a much-needed day of quiet spent in communion with God?

Yesterday a friend greeted me with a hug and, “Connie, I’m reading your book, The Road to Forgiveness.  You are so talented!”

As I returned her hug, I responded with a big smile and said, “I’m glad.”

The tinge of pride I experienced at her reference to my talent triggered something within I managed to effectively ignore....until today.  I can’t ignore my talent but have to remind myself it’s a gift from God... as is my having the ability to use it.... and try to remember to pass by my pride and give thanks to God.  I reason it out quite simply....  I have been given an overwhelming need/desire to express God’s working in me.  Naturally, God also gives me the tools I need to fulfill that desire.

I have to smile to myself.  I know the painting will come to me sooner or later.... in God’s time.  I like to think I’m learning to be patient and wait for it.  Hopefully I won’t have to exercise too much patience and it will come tomorrow with the time I’m planning to spend at the studio.  But today.....  Today I think God wants us to spend some quiet, reflective time together and I need to listen.

God Bless!
Connie

Our Family

It's time to broaden our vision...to realize we are a part of a world much larger than our little section of it. I don't think that's such an easy thing to do, especially for those of us who have become quite comfortable in our physical surroundings. It's not easy to realize, in a personal way, the things happening in other parts of the world. We've become complacent....simply biding our time and leaving the changing of things up to the younger generation.

 This is not a time for complacency. It's a time when we have to realize our place in God's family. We have to come to the actual realization that we are all brothers and sisters.....regardless of nationality or religion....we are part of one family....and love everyone as we, and they, are loved by God.

As in any family, there will always be those who are obsessed with selfishness and greed. There will always be those who stray... who rebel against love and goodness but, because they are part of our family, we love them anyway....always praying they return to the fold.

 We need to stretch our minds and open our hearts to include all people of the world. We need to love and pray for our family in Beirut as well as in Paris. We need to welcome home and provide safe haven for the lost and the suffering. We need to look beyond ourselves and love. Love is the only cure for the world...for our family.

 

So let us love and let us pray the violence against our brothers and sisters will end. Let us pray for those who have chosen the wrong path. Let us welcome those who are lost with open arms and a loving heart. Let us grow into and become the family God wishes us to be.

It Is Happening

It is happening. There are active cells all over the world. Artists, musicians, writers, thespians, even prominent sports figures are joining the movement, sharing the light. This is the light that will overcome the darkness. People are searching for it and those who have found it are openly sharing with those still in the dark. The light is being passed from group to group.....from individual to individual. It calls to people from all walks of life...of all nationalities....regardless of gender, position or religion. It is happening.

There is a movement...slowly growing....always growing. A movement which slowly makes us aware and pulls us in because that’s where we want to be. It is happening both within and without.

We continue to find others who believe, who shine their light and we unite. We are being sewn together with an invisible golden thread and as we grow in numbers, we grow ever stronger. Eventually it will happen where all the groups and individuals will come together as one and we, and our world, will be saved..

We all carry that light and it’s our responsibility....our obligation... to share and let it shine, lighting the way for others. One day the light will be so bright no one will be able to look at its brilliance.

It is happening and I invite you to see and be a part of it.

New Painting.....

See

My Direction

It’s been a while sine I’ve written a Blog. I could say it’s because I’ve been busy painting, but that wouldn’t be the whole truth. The real reason is, so much has been happening with me I barely have time to write a little about it before something else comes along...just as exciting and just as interesting. So... I'm going to make an effort here and try to let you in on some of it.

The other day I shared with a friend, "I feel like I’m being led by the Holy Spirit."

She smiled knowingly, "It’s wonderful, isn’t it?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "There is so much joy!"

When I sat and reflected on our conversation, I was reminded of something I’d said in our prayer meeting, "Jesus doesn’t ask us to worship Him. He asks us to follow Him....to follow His teachings and example...’Come, follow Me’."

"Ahhh," I thought as I reflected on my words and the changes within myself. "It all comes together. This is what ‘contemplation in action’ means."

What joy there is in following the Holy Spirit! What joy! Oh, believe me I have my battles. If the negatives insinuate themselves and I find myself struggling, I have to go into the silence and discern what is from God and what isn’t. Discerning is sometimes difficult.

There are times I’m overwhelmed
with things I’d like to say
and when I search for truth,
my thoughts get in the way.

Attached to one another,
there never seems an end
to where those thoughts will take me.
Confusion sets in then.

I try to set those thoughts aside,
close my mind to them
so I may hear the truth
speak from deep within.

It’s there, and only there
I’ll find my true direction,
where all I see and hear
calls me to reflection.