When knowing works backwards…

I like this quote from writer John Shea:

We need an understanding of God that blows our mind.

…St Anselm created the ontological argument for God to remedy the ennui of monks. Without going into detail, the ontological argument states God is that than which nothing greater can be thought. If you carry out this experiment in thinking, you will always be approaching God without ever arriving. It will only dawn on you in retrospect that it is the incomprehensibility of God that brings consolation. Despite what we may think, we are not calmed by knowing-for-sure. Our hearts relax through a process of profound not-knowing that leads to trust.

Another way of saying this is: we dwell in essential mystery. Accidental mystery is something we do not presently know but will know someday. Essential mystery is the experience of “the more we know the more mysterious it is.” Increased knowledge does not end essential mystery; increased knowledge increases mystery. Spiritual and theological traditions value this type of knowledgeable not-knowing because it safeguards both the transcendence of God and the human capacity to acknowledge the divine without fully comprehending it. When our minds dwell in this rarified atmosphere of knowing and not-knowing, the smaller fears that normally terrorise us loses some of their power. It is not that they go away, but that we see through their menacing masks. Better said, they are taken up into larger truths that provide a meaning more in accord with love.

The more our minds entertain larger truths about God, the more we are personally and existentially in a relationship of trust…

Rain – the good, the bad and the ugly

Heavy soaking rain…

It is good that this parched part of the country is getting some long awaited H2O.
It is good that our empty reservoirs may begin to not look so empty.
It is good that the cycles of nature have not completely abandoned our poor stewardship.

It is bad that I can hear emergency vehicle sirens in the distance.
It is bad that road users must contend with dangerous conditions.
It is bad that a new roof leak has emerged right over my office desk.
It is bad that even our new gutters can’t contend with the huge flow of water.

It is ugly that the rain is too late for some who make their living off the land.
It is ugly that drought drives the rural suicide rate ever higher.

But there is hope. Today’s rain is its sign. And even rural Australia knows a secret.
Here is a bush poem by Murray Hartin (Muz)

One of those days…

… when technology gangs up on you. Trying to create a PDF out of combined Word, Publisher and Adobe documents and send out via email. Had to make separate PDFs and find away of merging them, Found an online service – resulting file too big to send. Find ways to reduce and combine. Free licence won’t allow merge. Fin another way. Guys arrive to install solar panels on roof. Power goes off. Aaaaaarrrrgh! (Finally succeeded – whole day gone!)

Just a short one today…

Feeling a bit weary but satisfyingly so. From brief holiday to church camp to annual ministers’ retreat – and now some looming presentations and workshops to prepare. It’s been fairly people intensive for a few days – stimulating yet taxing for an introvert like myself. Need some still time and space to process connections, awareness and continuing responses. See you tomorrow!

Dilemma dealing

Here is a renewed attempt at cartooning. It is replicated from an adolescent memory of a cartoon I saw in some forgotten magazine. Of course, the caricature caught in unflattering circumstances is myself!

I think it denotes my native predisposition. Black and white solutions to complex issues rarely satisfy me, especially when they are the easiest option. Many people find this personality trait very annoying, but I tell them tolerating me is good for their soul and gives them opportunity to practice patience. The caricature of the dilemma I find quite appealing. In spite of the dangerous horns, fangs and claws, the monster looks confused and in need of some TLC. At least while I’m dangling there I can offer it some companionship and, ironically, a dose of my other annoying trait – optimism!

Oh by the way, A dilemma (Greek: δί-λημμα “double proposition“) is a problem offering at least two possibilities, neither of which is practically acceptable. (Wikipedia)

No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog

Storm in a teacup or point of no return?

As an advocate for chaplaincy and stakeholder with my state provider (which, by the way, was formative in crafting the guidelines that made the whole thing workable before and after the complication of government funding), I find sense in the view expressed here: No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog.

I expressed similar views at the time. I work with what we have now. Hang on to your hats, we’re in for an interesting ride!

Charter for Compassion

http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

This TED talk is the basis for this morning’s church camp exploration on compassion as an ingredient for creative communities of hope. Noting the peculiar features of a postmodern environment, we will be asking what the particularity of the incarnational faith of Christianity contributes to the conversation in practical and ideological terms. I have a feeling we will just begin the conversation!

Creating Communities of Compassion and Hope

From a previous church camp at Landsdale Farm School

Our church is in camp this weekend. It’s our annual pilgrimage to Landsdale Farm School, a state education department residential facility about 20 minutes from home. We hang out, eat, converse and have fun. There are lots of animals to keep the kids enthralled and we have a couple of group sessions around a theme – hence the headline, inspired by a TED talk which I blogged on back in February.

We will explore creativity in relation to community, compassion and hope – looking to some of the most overlooked to assist us. We never come back from a church camp feeling we have not gained something in bonding, growth in maturity and understanding, and confidence in being who we are called to be.

“Avagoodweegend!” – ‘cos we’re going to!