Choosing Spiritual Health - by Dr. Colin Harris

Let’s imagine a fictitious scenario in which a person is asked, “Do you want to be healthy, or not?”  Kind of a no-brainer of a question, isn’t it?  But let’s think for a minute about what it involves.

I think most would quickly answer, “Why, healthy, of course!” – and the decision is made; we have made the choice.  But now we come to what this response involves.  First, we have to identify things in our personal behavior pattern that are detrimental to good health.  The range of possibilities is pretty broad – features of our diet that are less than healthy, ingestion of substances that may be harmful, patterns of work and other activities that are out of balance with what the body needs to function at an optimal level, relational dynamics that are toxic and stress producing, emotional stress that “weighs us down” and interferes with the balance of good maintenance. – the list could go on.  Often our choice for health requires adjustments on a number of levels that remove or reduce the ill effects of other choices that respond to  powerful needs and influences.  “Choosing health” is not as easy as it might have seemed.

Then our fictitious “chooser” is faced with another challenge.  Not only do we have to deal with those things that might be detrimental to our health, we find that we have to embrace a rather rigorous pattern of positive disciplines.  We no longer can just eat what tastes good, but we have to learn and embrace a diet of nutritious nourishment that will optimize our physical functioning.  This requires both knowledge and the discipline to follow what we know.

Along with diet, we learn that an appropriate level of physical exercise is necessary to maintain the best functioning of the complex systems that make up our physical being.  Like diet, this is a somewhat personal pattern – not everyone will be an athlete, but everyone will have a level of physical activity that is conducive to good health. 

Beyond that, we find that we have to balance the life patterns of work, rest, and recreation, so that the extremes of workaholism, sloth, and “party-animal-ism” are avoided.

Next, we find that finding and nourishing a community of healthy relationships has an impact on our health.  On the close personal level, and in the larger context of community life, all indications point to the benefits of supportive engagement with others – both giving and receiving -- as a factor in overall health.  The balance of privacy and community will differ for everyone, but finding that balance is an important part of the process of health.

Then we enter the more nebulous realm of other factors that have an impact.  We soon find that things like “meaning” and “purpose” are factors that influence health on a deeper level, and we engage the dimension of life we call “spiritual” or “religious.”  This dimension has many frameworks and expressions, some more traditional than others; but the function of this part of life seems pretty consistent.  It provides a frame of reference for life in its most comprehensive context.  Sometimes it is noted that this dimension is the realm of the ultimate “reason for living.”

It is here that our fictitious scenario connects with the affirmations of the lesson text.  The writer of Colossians is observing that the Christian path is an easy one to choose; but, like the choice of health, it is more complex than it might seem at the beginning.  There are things that must be abandoned and avoided (fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed  - v.5 – anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, lying – v.8).  And there are things to be embraced with discipline (compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, and harmony – vv. 12-13).

We have noted many times how easy it is to think of our Christian faith as “getting one’s ticket to heaven punched” and being “saved and secure.”  The early Christians struggled with, and provided us help with, the idea that following Christ has more to do with “following” than with “believing” – embracing a life that is focused on “things that are above, not on things that are on earth” v.2.

Let’s think about the “health profile” of our Christian journey – about the things that are detrimental to it, and the things that characterize the discipline (note the two words “discipline” and “disciple”) that is conducive to good “spiritual health.”

A poetic view on living for this day by Mary Oliver

Poem - The Summer Day

I don't know exactly what a prayer is 

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down 

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, 

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day. 

Tell me, what else should I have done? 

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? 

Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life? 

Mary Oliver

Dealing with Loss

A dear friend who experienced a crippling loss of a child asked me if I ever view my loss as a blessing in disguise. My short answer is below. The long answer is what led me to write two books. One listed on this site, the other still in process.

My favorite quote about the potential value of personal loss comes in the form of a quote from Brennan Manning (I paraphrase): "Grace teaches us that the worst thing that ever happens to us is the best thing that ever happened to us".

To me that means it takes time for grace to complete its work in us. Immediate grace gets us through a crisis with relative sanity. Ongoing grace, however, does the hard work of patiently transforming us to accept, even embrace, a new reality that is not preferred at first. Grace leads to an eternal perspective with greater tolerance toward the thing (s) that once killed us with doubt and pain.

C.S. Lewis is the master of the discussion about the stages of loss. He felt his pain intensely, so much that he doubted his faith openly, in writing.  “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” ― C.S. Lewis,  A Grief Observed.

He goes on to say: “God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn't. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down.”  

Grace is the ultimate healer. It is not a quick fix, but an ongoing process that alters everything about us before it rests naturally in us. Gentle grace? Sometimes, but not always. It is a function of TRUTH that never rests until we embrace it, finding ourselves whole in a completely new way, His way. Until that happens, however, we think Manning's words are complete nonsense.

JG

Humility

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. CS Lewis.


“Some suggest humility forces people to ingest nasty things like humble pie or crow. From those images, you might think it’s something to avoid, like castor oil, not embrace. The humility that comes from the Spirit, however, is an assertive response of mature faith from people who hold to the demands of God’s truth and continue to trust in Him, despite circumstances. John Dryden captures the nature of humble faith when he says, “Trust on and think tomorrow will repay.”
Whether we ingest humility like candy or choke it down like crow, we can only enter into an effective prayer life through that act. Upon the completion of the magnificent first Temple in Jerusalem, God came to Solomon in a dream and spoke about the importance of humility. Knowing the Temple’s magnificence could easily create national arrogance, God reinforced the value of humility with this reminder: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This if/then proposal was His solemn promise, but also a warning: be humble or perish in your pride.”

Excerpt From: Jack Corbin Getz. “Praying When Prayer Doesn't Work.” iUniverse, 2010-06-30. iBooks. See Blog for link to purchase.

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Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/praying-when-prayer-doesnt/id489829837?mt=11: Jack Corbin Getz. “Praying When Prayer Doesn't Work.” iUniverse, 2010-06-30. iBooks.

Faith. Substance or Scam?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your  ways my  ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts".

As I read the words of Isaiah 55:8-9 this morning,  a snippet of courage welled up in me to share a few lingering contrarian thoughts about the nature of faith. Briefly, I expect no self-respecting Christian to agree, but maybe some simple followers of Christ will.

First look at the orthodox position on faith. The Bible unceasingly stresses that faith is the fuel that makes the motor run. Without it, there is nothing but empty blather about theology, and in extreme cases, cynicism about God Himself.  Faith is said to be the one thing that moves God to forgive us, and it alone generates the power necessary to move God to indwell us with His Spirit.  All the great heroes were faith people and all of their victories are attributed to faith that God would be good to His word.

No faith?  No experience. No experience? No faith?

So far I agree, except those last two clever lines, which I just coined. It's the experience piece that seems to baffle me. I hear people speak about their experience with God all the time, and I see it plastered all over Facebook, as if making public statements about one's faith will influence others to: 1) Convert or  2) Congratulate them on their amazing faith.  It seems that wearing faith badges for everyone to see is a good way to passively "witness",  but if not judiciously done , it's also a subtle way to elicit much needed admiration.

Since my first book, Praying When Prayer Doesn't Work (See link on this blog), I have operated on the premise that much of what we hear others say about Christianity is more about dogma than experience. I have said for years that I seemed to have missed the boat when it comes to receiving all the spiritual kickbacks that others so readily claim they have in abundance. "The Lord said to me" is a classic, as is all that about Jesus being our best friend and constant companion. I grew up wondering why He didn't walk and talk with me and tell me I was His own.  It seemed like people heard voices all the time, that I missed hearing. I know one sane man who said He heard God's audible voice call him to ministry. I have another very sane friend who sees angels and auras around people. I can't doubt them because I am not them, but I can wonder why on the Faith-Experience continuum, I seem to be stuck at one end.  Funny enough, it's the faith end.

Now, I already know most , if not all the easy knee-jerk fundamentalist answers to my statements. They include, "You need to get saved, boy!"; "You need to spend more time seeking God"; "You need a good baptism of the Holly Gost!" (Phonetic writing).

All sound answers I'm sure, but it's odd the time I was the lowest spiritually and weakest carnally, I spent hours daily in prayer and Scripture reading, weeping and seeking something from above.   I was excepting a kick back, but got more silence.

The great ones say silence is not a sign that God is absent. Take Mother Teresa who says she spent six years hearing nothing from God. How about St. John the Divine, Brother Lawrence, Corrie Ten Boom and Jesus, all who witnessed to feeling forsaken at times? I guess C. S. Lewis also fits that category as well. His conversion was a logical choice, not a Damascus Road experience.

In my book I quote Ken Gire,  holding tightly to his words that "God is not indiscriminately intimate". Okay, I can understand that.  It's at least reasonable, and it doesn't  accuse me of spiritual sloth or ignorance because Jesus doesn't blow in my ear every twenty minutes, or "Mysteriously" show up when I  yield to the manipulations of public worship.  It makes sense that God's ways are not my ways, and when He's ready to speak or show me some angels, He will.

Until then? "Faith, boy, you need more faith".

The notion of faith being a scam relates to the underlying assumption of how so many speak of their faith.  Follow this trail of circular logic: The Bible says in order to find God, I must have faith.  How do I get faith? Believe the Bible is true when it speaks about getting faith. How do I know I can believe the Bible? Because it says it's true.

This reminds me of a Far Side cartoon that shows a Viking ship.  On one side there are four muscle bound brutes, on the other, three skinny wimps. While all are rowing hard, one of the brilliant leaders observes: “I’ve got it too Omar...a strange feeling like we’ve just been going in circles”.  

Obviously, faith is not something one can prove with words or equations. Faith is only proved in experience and told through personal witness. The faith of others may inspire us, but only our own faith experience carries the weight of credibility when it comes to what we say to others. That's why I have trouble with the "He walks with me and talks with me" saints. He doesn't do that with me, at least not that I'm aware of.  I think God is mostly silent, not warm and fuzzy. After all, if He lives in my pocket, I have no need for faith. Faith is only necessary when we can not see, not when we a BF's with the Almighty.

Remember, Paul teaches that faith and hope do not abide, only love. Why? What need is there for faith and hope in heaven where we will see completely all that is dark to us now.

The ubiquitous (and glib) promises of prayer coupled with all the amazing nuggets of pedantic or easy wisdom that I see flowing around Facebook from the super saints,  calls me to question my faith. Those people so easily create a dogma that explains God's silence and absence by saying that's the best part of being a believer – nothing happens. You know, that's when faith grows.

Again, why do we need faith? Top believe God is there, even when He doesn't appear to be active today with little hope for anything new tomorrow.

Isn't that circular logic?  Don't most of us believe the foundational tenet of my old teacher's college training that positive behavior needs to be rewarded with positive feedback?  So why doesn't God reward our positive demeanor with more holy vibes from above? Some say He does, every single time they pray, and even when they don't.  But I have both read the Bible and prayed and got the ever-inspiring silence that I'm suppose to regard as God's best reward. That's okay for awhile, but six years, Mother T?

I guess God's ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are much higher than mine. I admit, by Facebook standards,  I have no faith at all.  Maybe we all need to limit our super-saint faith talk to only that which comes from experience, not what we ought to be saying. Keep it real, and the millions who have wandered from the "faith of their fathers" will take notice.  

I may have more to say about this later. What do you say?

A Real Gutsy Saint! (Copied From Christianity Today)

Teresa of Avila, First Woman Doctor

Dan Graves, MSL

Church History Timeline

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Avila sits almost exactly in the heart of Spain. Teresa, who was born in 1515, was molded by the throb of this most fiercely Catholic of European nations. The passion of Spain with its romances, saints, conquistadors, and knights appealed to the headstrong girl. The Moors still held bastions of power. As a child, perhaps only five, she talked her older brother into sneaking out of town with her, determined to enter Moorish territory and become martyrs for Christ. An uncle found them and brought them back. Later she ran away to a nunnery. Reading St. Jerome, she had been swayed to long for a deeper, more austere life. But as she herself admitted, she came to the nunnery less for love of Christ than hope of a quick entrance into heaven.

While still young and new to the nunnery, she became seriously ill. No remedy worked. After several years of worsening health, she fell into a coma and was thought by the sisters to be dead. They would have been buried her had not her father forbidden it, swearing life still remained in her. For four days she was unconscious, waking to severe pain and paralysis. Only after three years of suffering did she regain the full use of her legs.

In the convent she found herself frittering her life in chatter. While teaching others to pray, she found she herself could not commune with the Lord for a long time because she felt herself a hypocrite, living a life displeasing to the Lord. Aware of the frivolity of her course and its baneful effect on her prayer life, she groped closer to Christ. She began to see visions. Some attributed them to demons. Others encouraged her to trust them. During this time she mentored the ecstatic mystic, St. John of the Cross. Together they are the founders of the discalced (shoeless) Carmelites.

Teresa was no idle visionary, however. Practical at heart, she became a leader of reform in the Carmelites and founded many nunneries dedicated to a deeper walk with Christ. No one was to enter these houses except women devoted to spiritual living. Other nunneries were places to deposit women who had no other home. Heavy managerial duties fell on Teresa. It was a struggle to find enough for her nuns to eat; their living conditions were sometimes deplorable. Teresa did her best to overcome these limitations. In addition she wrote religious and meditative books. One, her autobiography, she wrote at her superior's order. Other titles are Way of Perfection andMeditations on the Canticle. She transcended the ideas of love she had imbibed from romances as a child. "...Real love of God does not consist in tear-shedding nor in that sweetness and tenderness for which we usually long...but in serving God in justice, fortitude of the soul and humility."

Her mystical writings won her enduring fame. On this day, July 18, 1970, Pope Paul VI stated that he was going to name Teresa of Avila the first ever woman doctor of the church. He officially did so some months later and she took her place beside such great names as St. Augustine and St. Jerome.

Bibliography:

1. Eerdman's Handbook to the History of Christianity. Editor Tim Dowley. Berkhamsted, Herts, England: Lion Publishing, 1977.
2. Hamilton, Elizabeth. The Life of St. Teresa of Avila. Westminister, Maryland: Christian Classics, 1982.
3. "Religion." World Topics Year Book, 1970.
4. Zimmerman, Benedict. "St. Teresa of Avila." The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1914.

Last updated April, 2007.