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Can't help but think that this week has been an interesting one of reflection, partly because of BBC 4’s programme 'God's Cadets', partly personally because of Richard Rohr's use of 'sic et non' or 'yes... an d' and in particular the challenge that comes with his insight that  “and” is willing to wait for insight and integration. It stops you short when thinking about promoting your own opinion over that of others. Programme aside which IMHO seemed a little hastily put together, or at least edited in such a way that didn't capture the life of the college, the maelstrom of personal criticism on social media from internal voices was astounding. Seemingly one thing hasn't changed, everyone knows how to run the college better than it is currently!  I stumbled upon this quote this week  “Today our prime educational objective must be to form men-and-women-for-others; . . . men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not...

The Richard Rohr daily email meditations have just got a whole lot better in my opinion. Not just words but a whole rhythm, it culminates with a Saturday résumé which is really helpful. Here's today's. Remember :  Yes, And As Franciscans, we were told that our job was to somehow make the Word of God accessible to the ordinary person, so that it would bring them to life. ( Sunday ) If Jesus can listen and ask questions . . . who are we to think we are better than him?  ( Monday ) The systematic asking of questions opened up  wonder  and encouraged spiritual curiosity . . . .  ( Tuesday ) Non-dual people use knowledge for the transformation of persons and structures, but most especially to change themselves and to see reality with a new eye and heart.  ( Wednesday ) Sacred texts always maximize your possibilities for life and love, which is why we call them sacred.  ( Thursday ) My methodology is very simple; I will try to interpret Script...

Here are a couple of quotes that have been bouncing around my head, one for 14 years, the other for 14 minutes since I read it in my daily dose of Nouwen. “In the post-Christian era, the medium is the message, and the medium of evangelism is regarded with extreme distaste by the surrounding culture….evangelism easily becomes the marketing ploy for Christianity akin to selling encyclopaedias. Various techniques are used in a highly manipulative agenda designed to get prospective customers to “sign up”. This is about as far away from the story of Jesus of Nazareth as it is possible to get.” [Riddell, M. (1998) Threshold of the Future: Reforming the Church in the Post-Christian West. SPCK] "The Church as the people of God can truly embody the living Christ among us only when the poor remain its most treasured part.  Care for the poor, therefore, is much more than Christian charity.  It is the essence of being the body of Christ."  Henri Nouwen There's ins...