Beatitude

The PCUSA Changes Its Ordination Standards

The Presbyterian Church USA has ratified an overture to become more inclusive toward people of gay and lesbian orientation. In essence, the vote to change ordination standards allows the possibility for people to be evaluated not so much on their sexual orientation but for their suitability to “submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life;” a courageous and admirable shift in my opinion. 

You can check more information about this decision at: http://oga.pcusa.org/

I’ve found that through any major change my own spiritual discipline must be alive and well. Even now I seek depth in my own spiritual practices, like The Examination of Consciousness I mentioned in the previous post. I even find a true spiritual connection with people in my regional body of Presbyterians who disagree with my more inclusive approach to the church. We can remain open to a God whose grace is bigger than all our decisions and schisms and even our successes. Perhaps, then, the best thing to remember is that our efforts to be the church are not about us. They are instead about a God of surprising grace.

The Examination of Consciousness

Today I’ll recommend a practice called the Examination of Consciousness. While it has connections to the more penitential version, often called the Examination of Conscience, the Examination of Consciousness is a light, readily repeatable practice based on raising one’s awareness of the spiritual life.

Here’s the basic pattern:

1) Take a ten minute break. During this break calm yourself and let go of the business of the day.

2) Ask yourself two basic questions:

1. “How have I been close to or responsive to God today?”
2. “How have I been distant from or unresponsive to God today?”

3) Or you can more simply ask: “Where is God in this?”

4) Notice your responses and jot them down in a journal. To stay within a ten minute time frame, don’t attempt to write paragraphs, just phrases or sentences. (You can make the practice longer, but that sometimes makes it less repeatable.) In this practice you are mainly attempting to develop awareness and the ability to contemplate the answers to the two basic questions.

When a person lives in greater awareness of God’s presence he or she will experience more vitality, energy, gratitude and compassion. If we cultivate our ability to recognize God’s life in ours we can be greatly aided in discernment and faithful living—and simply enjoy ourselves more!

The Examination of Consciousness is designed to be less about your sin and more about awareness of God’s presence or seeming absence in our daily lives. Most of the time the experience should feel hopeful and aid in a closer, more companioned walk with God.

See what happens when you try it for a week. My guess is that you will be glad to continue the practice.

Impossible

The following poem, "Impossible," was my own creation, written from the inspiration of Acts 2, especially verse 24.

 

IMPOSSIBLE

Eternity is in the next breath you take,were you to notice, in even so little a thing as the blink of an eye.

Christ waits, watches, the Attending One.

You and I, we squander mostly the time as it passes,distracted by what, the flies and gizmos of life.

Yet, sitting across from you, close by, it’s as if he leans in,and dips his head ever so slightly forward as though to indicate, “I know you can believe! I know you can accept new life!”

Christ is there spilling out life and light like the power that exploded theuniverse into being looking to you, with bright eyes and unquenchable hope that… you and I… will… catch… on.

 

She is there, Oh don’t miss her in the visions you see and the dreams you dream.

We all find ways to push them away, those hopeful indications of your next chance to love, to believe, to live in joy.

Spirit calls to your spirit beyond your words and your intellect.

Spirit moves among you with energy you never knew you could have.

She is there like the water we swim in, the air we breath, the light by which we see.

 

For as close to you as your next breath, Eternity lives.

You don’t have to conjure it up, you don’t have to justify it, or explain it, or earn it…

No it’s inexplicable and mysterious.

Just Is.

The wholeness of God who lived and died and lives again.

There.

The watchful attending nudges you to faith.

Awaiting only your acceptance.

 

Forsake the worries and the sins that grind us into the ground.

Forsake the fears and the hatreds that tempt to define us.

Forsake the expectations and ruminations of lost resources and people you and I wished we had, but don’t.

Forsake the enticements of lesser gods and things contrary to the love of God, for anything less will in turn forsake you.

 

The Eternal Possible is as close as your next breath.

This Possible will nudge your future into places you couldn’t believe if told.

Christ’s confidence will get you there rewiring the circuitry of hope.

The faithfulness of God will be there with you, filtering through your

impossibilities for the next appearance of Possible!