brother tadhg

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 7

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL SEVEN

Those living at this level will understand that words fail, here. If the previous level was 'betrothal', this level according to St Theresa is 'marriage', a spiritual wedding where the individual and God become one.

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

She writes, 'When our Lord is pleased to have pity on this soul that He has already taken spiritually as His Spouse because of what it suffers and has suffered through its desires, He brings it, before the spiritual marriage is consummated, into His dwelling place which is this seventh. For just as in heaven so in the soul His Majesty must have a room where He dwells alone. Let us call it another heaven.'

It's a time of 'being', not necessarily 'doing', though life involves the latter. Our status is made know here, if not at 'lower' levels that we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made', that we are children of God bought with the previous blood of the lamb, and that in some mystical way what we do to others and, indeed, to creation, we do to God. This level is one of profound simplicity, profound love, profound 'being' and confidence in God. No matter what happens...He is able.

TYPICAL NEED

Maybe the last words should be those of St Teresa. She said, 'The holy name is hallowed here in a most human and personal way, and in a most complete way. Here the prayer of the soul is most fully united with the love-communion of Father and Son, in the Spirit. All souls can and should pray this prayer and this petition of the prayer, 'asking the Father that His name be made holy.''

Level 7 is the last level, but as with all marriages it is, when it comes to knowing God, just the beginning of a deeper and eternal relationship. An adventure not bounded by time or space.

The Teresic Lifestyle Level's mentioned over the last few weeks, were but outlines. If you want to know a little more or take this further (and see how you can apply this, personally, to your life and/or participate in a Teresic Lifestyle Level seminar/workshop (in person or via the internet/MSN etc, please click here.

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 6

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL SIX

Those living at a Teresic Lifestyle Level  Six will experience God is new and profound ways. The 'darkness' has cleared. It was like a thick cloud through which one had to fly, without using vision, and having flown higher and higher, one has penetrated that thick, dark cloud of confusion, and now (at this level), one is soaring high into the bright blue, sun-lit sky, soaring like an eagle. St Teresa talks of a 'spiritual betrothal' taking place here. Here, both joy and suffering are seen as 'favours', as things that will come our way and from which we can learn to depend on God all the more.

We can learn even from bad things, and know that God is still in control. St Teresa writes, 'Our Lord grants these favours to the soul because, as to one to whom He is truly betrothed, one who is already determined to do His will in everything, He desires to give it some knowledge of how to do His will and of His grandeurs.'

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

This is a time of when words such as 'joy', 'blessing', 'rapture', 'ecstasy' and 'deep spirituality' take on a new and deeper meaning. Here at this level, we acknowledge that we haven't got our life worked out and 'perfect' (a common and unattainable desire of lower levels), but we admit that our work to God entailing trying and aiming to do well, but knowing that if.....no, when we fall, His grace is more than sufficient.  This is a time of great joy and suffering. It's a time of drawing closer to God and knowing that through joy and suffering we are purified.

TYPICAL NEED

Deeper prayer and action is needed. Not to the point of necessarily doing 'more', but of doing what God wants in a way that brings glory to Him, and one in which we can 'shine' like stars in a dark universe. Great courage is needed, at this level, to 'take hold' of this level, this step because the soul will be purified even more, not only through human trials and sufferings, but also through contact with the ever closer presence of Jesus. Step closer to the fire and the chaff is burnt, and what is left is pure and holy. But not without cost. Draw closer to God.

In this way you can move onto the  Seventh Level or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 5

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL FIVE

As you approach the God of Light one would expect things to grow brighter. That's what has happened in the past in the previous levels - things have grown bright, clarity increased, 'warmth' and God's love grew stronger etc. At level five, 'darkness' might be experienced. For some this can be disconcerting, and a time of fear. It may be unexpected and 'knock us for six', or feel like a 'body blow' to the soul. Questions might arise that 'rock' the very bedrock of our belief. Such is the result of this spiritual 'darkness'.

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

The lifestyle of someone at this level may be one of confusion, deep concern, questioning basic beliefs (something that we might think should have been or was dealt with at a 'lower' level, and this may lead us to believe that we're operating at a 'lower' level and not at this level...when infact we are operating at level five). The 'darkness' experienced here, the seeming distancing of God may be seen as part of the learning process. Did you ever ride a two-wheeled bicycle as a child, where you had those extra two 'guide wheels' on the back to provide extra stability, or have an adult running behind the bicycle holding the 'bike' to provide that stability? What happened as you grew a little older? The 'guide wheels' were removed, or the adult let go of the bicycle and you rode by yourself. And I remember clearly the verbalised encouragement and praise of the adult 'guider' who had previously stabilised my bicycle recede into the distance behind me as I peddled fast, laughed at the joy of riding unaided and 'wobbled'! The 'dark night of the soul', this 'darkness' is a temporary, albeit shocking period, where I believe God trusts us, and allows us to 'fly'. It's like a test of maturity, a reward to follow God when its light and when it's 'dark' and He seems 'miles away'.

TYPICAL NEED

The need here is to rest and persevere! This seems contradictory, but it isn't. We need to rest in God's promises and presence even if we don't see any evidence for it (now). We need to understand that this is a 'life stage' in our spiritual journey. It also teaches us to rely on Him more, even when we cannot 'see' Him, even when we cannot understand what is happening, even when we have feelings of loneliness. This encourages faith. We need to persevere too. To continue in the journey we've started. Would God have brought me and you this far, only to leave us? No, He's there, but at level 5 we may not, perhaps for the first time in our spiritual journey, feel His presence. Persevere! Be honest in your times of prayer.

In this way you can move onto the Sixth Level, or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 4

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL FOUR

Those who have made it to level 4 will find that this is a period of major changes, a quantum leap forward, a time of major changes. St Teresa talks of this being a time when God grants us 'spiritual delights'. The net result is to 'expand the heart' enabling us to love others and, just as importantly, to love ourselves

The attacks of the enemy may have seemed to become 'quiet' in the previous level, but they never entirely went away. Here, such attacks may be more subtle and have an 'inward' operation eg doubt, fear, timidity etc.

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

The lifestyle of someone at this level may be one of peace, serenity, contentment. They are able to 'take things in their stride', to get a glimpse of the bigger picture and how it fits together. People operating at this level 'have got it'! They are maturing at a fast pace, have an idea of their mission and how, even on a mundane, day to day level, they can extend God's kingdom by what they say, and do, think, and most importantly, pray about.

TYPICAL NEED

With fast-paced maturity and growth, say in an organic body, comes the need for food. It's the same with our spiritual journey. Spiritual 'growth (spurts)' need food for the spirit. There may be an erroneous idea that we can 'make it by ourselves' but spiritual food is required. Without food the body dies. Without spiritual food our spiritual life declines and 'dies'. Such food is found in the spiritual disciplines, of experiencing God, and in a community of like-minded believers. There is a greater understanding of God's grace, and the need here is to 'revel' in God's grace.

In this way you can move onto the Fifth Level, or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 3

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encourgement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL THREE

Those who have made it to level 2 have a tremendous desire not to sin, not to be in state of rebellion against God. They are on the way, and are moving along the path to full maturity.

It may be that attacks from the enemy seem to have declined. It may be that ones prayer life is going well and 'all seems right' with the world. Those at this level are eager to progress, eager to help and do more.

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

The lifestyle of someone at this level may be someone who is eager to help, maybe too eager to help. It is often the case that some here want so much to help others that their actions can be seen as overbearing. Many here have lots of energy. Someone once said: The difference between us and God is that He doesnt believe He's us!.

TYPICAL NEED

A lack of humility can set in. Ofcourse, the more you try to be humble, the less you are. Humilty is a practice that comes slowly through prayer, through reading the Book, through a community of prayer, and by God's grace. There is also a great need here for patience and waiting on God.

In this way you can move onto the Level Four, or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 2

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL TWO

Those who have made it to level 2 are those who are on the road to maturity, and though they are not 'babes', neither are they full grown - they are like children. As such spiritual things seem 'bright' and new and the world seems a place of wondrous delights. But, at this level there is a tendency to fall back to level one.

Those that continue at this level are not immune from 'attack' - when are we ever? But such attacks can be bewildering, especially if we've misunderstood our spiritual journey and spiritual level. Then, when these attacks come (eg financial problems, worry or stress caused by close family members, ill-health or just feeling down etc) we might be non-plussed assuming we are, or should be invincible, when infact we're still 'in' the world and sometimes bad things happen (even to good people!).

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

The lifestyle of someone at this level may be someone who may be too tough on themselves. Maybe they set goals and standards and aim high, and forget that whilst we should do our best, we will fall and fail, and it is at times like that that we can rest in God's grace. Sometimes aswell, or instead of being tough on themselves, some at this level will be tough on friends and family, and so upset others. It can also be a time of increasing insight and peace, and this comes with time. For many, the will and desire to undertake spiritual disciplines eg prayer, fast, study, work etc seems to come and go like the tide.

TYPICAL NEED

St Teresa says those in this room, this level need to guard against presumption. Don't presume you are better than you are - we all fall short and need grace. Don't assume you can go ten rounds with 'the enemy'. It isn't your fight, and God who is greater than all is just a prayer away. Pray, and read parts of the Book daily (maybe starting with the Gospels, the Book of Acts, Romans, James, and other books).

In this way you can move onto the Third Level, or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Teresic Lifestyle Level 1

Here, you'll be able to ascertain your Teresic Lifestyle Level, based on a innovative use of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avilla. It's an outline, and an encouragement for your to find out more, by perhaps participating in one of Brother Tadhg's workshops (or one-to-one, individual sessions).

Theses levels may describe levels through which you've worked and passed by as you move to 'higher' rooms, or they may describe where you are now. '

LEVEL ONE

This is the 'start'! Those on their spiritual journey who are in this room, who are at this level, need to know that it is not a place to stay long. Those in this room have made the first step, but are still enticed by things of the world. Sadly, many people are at this level. St Teresa warns those at this level are in special and grave danger, having just escaped from the clutches of the evil one, and are still 'easily conquered'.

Some stay at this level fearing to get closer to God. They may feel that they do their 'spiritual bit' by going to a faith community once a week or two, they may worry about what God might ask them to do and so shrink away, or they may have a spiritual heritage having been brought up in a particular denominational household, but this is not a place to stay.

Those at this level are weak and immature. They are like babies being fed milk when they should be on solid food.

TYPICAL OUTLOOK

The lifestyle of someone at this level may be someone who gets easily upset, angry at others and 'the world', the system in general, and sees very little hope. They may have 'flashes' of inspiration as God works in their  life to draw them on, but things of the world and the wiles of 'the old enemy of mankind', lack of time, the stress of work keeps them busy and they find little time for spiritual matters. They have a choice: one is to move on, the other is to become materialist and less spiritual by choice or default.

TYPICAL NEED

St Teresa says those in this room, this level need to progress. Prayer is always needed, but especially so here. For those in this level, the encouragement of others is extremely necessary. Prayer and move in the company of like-minded spiritual people who are People of the Way.

In this way you can move onto the Second Level, or maybe you're already there?

Interior Castle: Introduction

What spiritual level are you living on? Where are you on your spiritual journey? You can start finding here?

OUTLINE

St Teresa of Avilla, born some 500 years ago, was a Christian mystic (ie someone who encourages a total commitment of the experience of God rather than just 'head knowledge' or partial knowledge about God) who wrote about her visions of the soul being like seven mansions or rooms in a huge castle.

These rooms are very much like our spiritual journey, and so very useful to us today.

It should be noted that although there are seven mansions or rooms, and each one takes us deeper into matters of the Spirit, they are not linear when it comes to 'geography'. In our minds eye we shouldn't think that room number one leads to room number two to room number three. They can be placed to the left, to the right of each other, they can be rooms in the basement or rooms on the top floor so to speak, so that one can move another room if it adjoins or maybe you need to move to it via a 'hallway', but each one brings us closer to the central throne room where God resides.

LABYRINTHINE

Consider the rooms forming part of a labyrinth.

Walking a labyrinth means sometimes we are heading for the centre (although at the time we may not know it), and then later we might be walking a path away from the centre, but nevertheless we are further along the path than before and so therefore are closer to our journey's end than previously. We will have walked a circuitous route, going this way and that, up and down, towards and away, but that is progress, nevertheless. Isn't life like that? Sometimes, we feel we're further away from God because of circumstances, but then we just 'know' or receive confirmation and assurance that we're closer than ever.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND....

Some have used the mansions of the Interior Castle to form a spiritual discipline that each spiritual person should 'work' though regularly, and sometimes return to some mansions as needed. That's to be encouraged.

Indeed, Brother Tadhg organises workshops on the Interior Castle as it is usually easier to work through this material with a group (and maybe, complement the workshop with 'home work'), although sometimes one-to-one working can be arranged between individuals and Brother Tadhg.

In all cases, workshops and one-to-one work can be done at 'solid' venues and, if you're not geographically local to Brother Tadhg, workshops and individual work can be done via the internet/MSN or even via Tadhg tv (online). Do see Brother Tadhg's website for details of events. 

...SPIRITUAL 'HEALTH CHECK'

Here/now Brother Tadhg, by way of introducing the Interior Castle and encouraging you to participate, he will over the next few weeks outline each room and use it to challenge you, nicely, to consider what 'level' you are living at now.

...SO, WHAT'S YOUR 'TERESIC' LIFESTYLE LEVEL'?

In using the Interior Castle as a gauge to 'measure' where you are now, what spiritual level you are operating at, Brother Tadhg talks of ''Teresic' Lifestyle Levels. This is an innovative use of the Interior Castle, and one that will be highlighted over the next few weeks, but one that you may find helpful in maturing spiritually.

So, what level are you living at? Do read on and move to Level One.

prayer: God's will to be done

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. [The Book. Psalm 17:6 (NIV)]

The Book encourages us to pray, and to bring to God's attention our needs, the needs of others and, indeed, the needs of the world.  We should be 'at home' with different types and styles of prayer - not just using our well-worn, 'safe' formula, but to experiment, take a risk and try different styles of prayer.

Perhaps for many of us the 'shopping list' of needs is our favourite one, but it shouldn't be our only style of prayer.

Maybe, one of the sincerest, honest and authentic prayers is when things have reached such a pitch in our lives, when things are so 'at sea' in our lives and things seems to have 'fallen apart' that we really don't know what to pray for specificially, and it's then that our plea is for 'God's will to be done' in our lives. God, I believe likes that prayer greatly. The following prayer may assist:

-- oOo  --

Lord, Yesterday I prayed for rain.
The sun you sent was glorious.

Lord, Yesterday I prayed for peace.
It got noisier, and yet in it I think I heard your voice.

Lord, Yesterday I prayed  for guidance.
You answered, but it didn't co-incide with my view.

Lord, you know better than I what is needed in the world, for the church and in my life.

Today, I pray for your will to be done.
Amen.

[Brother Tadhg]

Poem: Cosmic Incarnation

POEM

Into the void His word went forth.

What was not. Is!

Light and life accompanied His utterances

And in response, nature danced in the song of creation.

He formed the man of clay, and the woman who is the mother of all life,

And they, too, danced in the light of the morning.

Night has now come, and is far spent,

And man and woman crane thier necks and gaze upwards.

And their words go forth into the vacuum that is space.

'Is anyone out there?'.

Out of the void another sound is heard.

This time, a baby's cry echoes in some dark and dusty street of old.

And in the darkness of the world, words of hope are once more heard.

'My children. Did you think I would leave you as orphans to stray in the night?

I am with you, evermore!'

[Brother Tadhg]

Wonder: The Creator's Gift To You

POEM

.

Wonder sees beyond the physical world,

With eyes beyond eyes.

Wonder makes us still and tremble in awe

As we consider our lowliness and humility of heart.

Wonder is never small, never a dim light and never disappoints.

It can be fleeting, momentary, even fragile, but it is never meaningless.

.

It is the sun rising above the horizon as the cool wind blows.

It is a flock of birds making huge circles in the sky as they prepare to migrate.

It is the friendly hand extended by a stranger when we stumble.

It is a baby’s innocent smile, a lover’s kiss, a kindly word or deed.

It is the knowing, empathetic, tearful glance when words fail.

It is the unexpected,

The daily synchronicities of the Creator we so often ignore in our busy-ness.

Wonder is the Creator’s gift to us to declare who He is,
What He is doing, and how He loves us.
And, as we observe and so participate in wonder,
It is His way of including us in His cosmic dance of creation.
[Brother Tadhg]

Being (3): Inter-relatedness of Being

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN

Having said that I subscribe to the Hebrew and ancient idea of the ‘oneness’ of human beings, and that for ease of reference we can view ourselves as multi-faceted being (comprising of mind, body and spirit) it is interesting how this inter-relatedness works itself out.

.

How many times, for instance, have you read of reports of accidents or drug-overdoses  in people (physical) that have affected someone’s mind and made understanding the world that much more difficult (mind affected), or made them depressed (affecting their spirit)? The physical body can affect other ‘areas’ of our being. Also, one of the lifecoaching or NLP 'skills' I coach is to get people to 'anchor'. This is a physical action (linked to a good, powerful, positive thought) that affects the mind!

.

Or what about depression (soul or spirit located) that leads someone to devalue others (a mind response) or leads to over-eating or drug dependency etc (a physical response).

.

Or consider someone who has a bad habit or depressing thought (located in the mind), that depresses them (affects their soul) and not just makes them feel physically sick, but induces illness (stress bringing on ulcers etc). Similarly, someone who is, by various means and sessions that Brother Tadhg (and others) run, are 'lifted' out of depression (soul or spirit located), may then find that their world outlook (mind) is more postive and that their general health (physical) improves.

.

This connection is nothing new. It was known by the ancients. For instance, in the Book there's a great retelling of Nehemiah who hears bad news about Jerusalem in ruins. He prays and goes before King Artaxerxes. Now the thing to bear in mind is that Nehemiah is a lowly guy and the King is powerful - so powerful that on a mere whim he could slaughter a guy, and his whole family, and his whole village if he wanted to! So, Nehemiah goes before the King. The King says: 'Why does you face look [physical] so sad [emtional/spiritual response] when you are not ill [physical]? Square quotes are mine.

.

Why is all this so important? Well, we are ‘one’, but even though for ease of reference we see ourselves as ‘three constituent part’s, what happens in one part of our body affects other areas. Oneness! And in understanding how one facet may affect another, the sessions that Brother Tadhg (and others) run using lifecoaching skills, neurlinguistic programming etc make more sense. For instance, as regards the latter: thought and imagination, 'anchoring' a physical action to that thought may lead to a change in perception, create a potentially successful outcome, overcome a bad habit, instil a good habit and make a physical change in the world!

Being (2): Multi-faceted Beings, We!

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN

We are multi-faceted beings, living spirits or souls. For ease of reference, a definition may be in order. Depending on how we want to study our being – that is, what it means to be human - it may be best to use the familiar words of: body, mind and spirit (or soul).

.

The body: Probably the easiest to ‘picture’. If you and I didn’t have a body we wouldn’t be recognisable to other people. Our outer ‘shell’ can be tall or short, of different colours, some have a lovely head of hair and others see that hairline receding (but then ‘grass doesn’t grow on a busy street!). Our body, then, is the physical aspect of what we see. The eye for instance, from a body point of view, is a physical camera, with a lens for focussing, light-sensitive coatings to catch light and an optic nerve which is like a huge cable taking that information to the brain.

.

The mind:

The mind is where information of our word is sorted, it allows us to make sense of the world in which our body moves about. And if modern science is correct, the mind has the capacity to ‘fill in the gaps’ of the data it receives and it makes ‘guesses’. How many times have you been fooled by an optical illusion? It’s because data the brain receives is sorted in the mind, and from that we interpret the world. The eye for instance, delivers data to the brain, and it is the mind’s activity to turn that electrical data into ‘pictures’ that we can relate to and make use of. The mind might be thought of a computer that allows us to function, interpret, use information properly.

.

The Soul or spirit: This is often thought of the part of you and I which is eternal, the only part which is eternal – a Greek idea. I’d suggest the Hebrew idea is that we are living souls (which comprise a soul, body and mind, all wrapped in ‘one’). The soul, then, is ‘you’ which has a body and mind. To describe the soul in isolation is  permitted, I think, as long as we see it is as one facet of you. It is the facet which may seem the most mysterious as it seems hidden. The soul is the ‘you’ that loves, relates to others, is sociable, dances before God, and which is ‘shy’.

.

But, the mind, body and spirit or soul, are you in complete ‘oneness’. Why is all this so important? This unity or 'oneness' of you is important because if we see humankind consisting of three separate 'entities' (spirit, mind and body) we might be unaware of the inter-relatedness of our being and be unaware of how one facet can affect another.

Being (1): The Oneness Of Being Human

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN

The Greeks believed that the soul was a constituent part of our being – one of several ‘parts’, and that at death the soul floated free like a bird being released from a cage. Their catchphrase was ‘soma-sema’, the body a tomb! For them, the real ‘you’ consist of mind, body and spirit (or soul), and these are three distinct ‘entities’ were wrapped up in ‘you’. The ‘real’ you was inside, and it (the soul) would be liberated at death.

.

It seems that even in the twenty-first century many of us have inherited that idea, without question, and it’s a view held by many churches (as though it were the normative, Biblical view).

.

Needless to say, I much prefer the Hebrew thought that we are ‘one’, a unity, and not three separate constituencies! That awesome book, the Book of Genesis mentions that God, after creating the cosmos and the world, set about creating the first man and woman, and created mankind as living souls (or spirits). Right at the beginning of time we were created as living spirits! ‘Oneness’! Not three ‘constituencies’ in one body, not a tri-partite being.

.

Maybe, and ofcourse this is what I am suggesting, that to be human is to be a spirit that is alive and vibrant and ‘essential’ and a complex ‘oneness’.

.

A person, then, isn’t just a body, with a separate spirit or soul locked inside, and with a separate mind as an ‘add on’, but that we are ‘one’! Living spirits. Living souls.

.

And from Genesis, it seems living spirits come with a fully integrated physical body and a mind as standard. Now, that’s a Hebrew idea – one that Jesus would have been familiar with – as opposed to a Greek idea. The Ancients would have understood us to be living spirits (with a mind, yes, and a body, ofcourse), but that these were a unified ‘oneness’.

.

Why is all this so important? This unity or 'oneness' of you is important because if we see humankind consisting of three separate 'entities' (spirit, mind and body) we might, like some, want to elevate part and denigrate other parts. In the past (and sadly sometimes, still today) this has led to people abusing (self-abusing) or enslaving others (after all, they might say, the 'flesh' has to be subjugated). It might lead to a false dichotomy where we might feel that God is only concerned about our spirit and not our bodies, and so we might not feel that we should look good or take care about ourselves! Nothing could be further from the truth  - God is concerned about the 'whole' you!

.

So, when Paul in the New Testament talks of the mind, body and spirit (or soul) he is (I believe) using terminology that would (a) resonate with his Greek audience and (b) one which spoke of a multi-faceted ‘unity’ of the person. Just as a modern hospital may have a cardiac unit, an ear/nose/throat section, and a dentistry department and run these as separate departments to serve your ‘separate’ needs, it nevertheless regards you as one, one individual, one ‘whole’ person – and you have one name, one hospital number that follows you around.

.

So, Paul in using separate terms to sum up humanness, was showing the facets of what it is to be human whilst acknowledging our ‘oneness’, in much the same way as you and I might hold a diamond up to the light. It’s one diamond, yet depending on how we look at it, it shows of deep hues of red, rich blues and greens and yellows as the light catches its many faces! You are one diamond with colourful facets – and we call these mind, body and spirit (our soul).

the kitchen prayer

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. [The Book, Ephesians 6:18a (NIV)]

The Book encourages us to pray - without ceasing. We often forget to set aside time to pray, and sometimes think that only the 'professionals' are best at praying, or maybe we think, wrongly, that God hears the prayers of others and not ours, or that we're not that eloquent enough in our speech.

We disqualify ourselves from prayer, erroneously.  God wants us to pray, however eloquent or not we are, and there's no real right or wrong way to pray, and the theme of our conversation...yes prayer is a conversation (listening and speaking with God)... can be many and varied.

The following prayer, attributed to St Teresa of Avilla (1515-1582), shows that prayer can be used also for the small things, the human, and mundane events in our life. The Creator is concerned with all aspects of our lives. St Teresa's prayer is:

-- oOo  --

Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I've no time to be a great saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee, or dreaming in the dawnlight, or storming heaven's gates, make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy Love, and light it with Thy peace; forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea, accept the service that I do — I do it unto Thee.

[Attributed to St Teresa of Avilla]

The Incarnation

THE INCARNATION: QUOTE

'That God in Jesus knows 'dire lack, illest luck' - this is the tremendous mystery of the incarnation. Not so much that Jesus was born of a virgin [though He was], but that he was born, ' a mewling infant'. God makes Himself ordinary like us. [Quote from 'Inhabiting The Church' by Jon Stock, Tim Otto & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove]

The Incarnation

THE INCARNATION EQUATION

heaven – jesus = heaven + jesus + mankind

[Brother Tadhg]

We are spirit...

OUR STATUS

We are spirit clad in clay,
who believe that clay is all there is.
We have forgotten our birthright, our worth and our destiny.
And creation groans for the day of realisation.

We are spirit clad in clay,
and more than just a collection of atoms.
We have forgotten that was is real is unseen.
And creation groans for the day of realisation.

We are spirit clad in clay,
created for purposes so high.
We have forgotten the founding words and promises made,
and are the poorer for it.
And creation groans for the day of realisation.

[Brother Tadhg]

 

Quick Quote: Hope

LIVING YOUR HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS

'The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.  And the most you can do is live inside that hope.  Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.' Barbara Kingsolver, critically acclaimed author.

New Friends

AMICUS FIDELIS

Some will know that I recently got back from Naples. No, not Naples, Italy, but Naples in Florida in the USA. Ministering there, and hoping and praying that I did some good whilst there, I have to say that I made some, new, good friends, and learned a lot.

I dare not name the new friends by name here, for fear of leaving out a name or of robbing them of a blessing, but they (and the church that meets in their house) know who they are and so does the Holy One - and I'm indebted to them, their great friendship, love, hospitality and Floridian generosity.

Love  Extended

As I read the Book, I understand the great love God has for us, and that we should share that love for each other - because in some mystical way, what we do for/to each other, we do for/to God. We should therefore always extend love to each other - though sadly this doesn't always happen even between those who are of the household of faith. That lack of love that we might all have experienced sometime in the past was not, definitely not experienced by me in Naples.

There, I was hosted, cared for, loved by people who, before I exited Miami International Airport on a humid October evening, had never met me before, and yet who shared their home and table with me. Thank you, guys.

Ecclesiasticus

The value of genuine friendship is all summed up in the (little read Book Of) The Wisdom Of Ben Sira:

'A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.' [Ben Sira 6:14-17]

Those that believe in the Lord will find new friends. Isn't that a great promise? I know that to be true.

I found new-found friends in Naples, and I learned from them, laughed with them, and ministered with them. And you know what? If it hadn't been for a financially poor Jewish Rabbi who travelled some dusty roads two millenia ago, who turned out to be God incarnate and who has faithful Followers in space (ie around the world) and time (ie throughout the ages), none of this would have happened. At the end of the day, it's all about Jesus. Thank you Jesus for my new friends.

Prayer

He made us to be friends to others, and to need friends. And so my friends are now 8000 miles away. What can I do for them? Actually, the late John Denver in the chorus of one of his popular songs has the answer:

Friends I will remember you,
Think of you, pray for you.
And when another day is through,
I'll still be friends with you.

We all need faithful friends (amicus fidelus), and there's always room for some more. How do we go about getting good friends? I think the first step is to be a good friend to someone else, first! A children's song that my sons sang at primary school some years ago, said, 'Make new friends, but keep the old ones; One is silver, the other gold'. That is so true. So, make friends. You never know...as the Book stresses, 'Some may have entertained angels unawares'.

Quick Quote: A Hint From God

DO IT...

'It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities.  A possibility is a hint from God.  One must follow it.  In everyone there is latent the highest possibility, one must follow it.'  Soren Kierkegaard, Theologian

Quick Quote: Your Status

YOU ARE...

'You are a ceaseless being with an eternal destiny in God's great universe' [From The Book, 'When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box', John Ortberg]

Communion Prayer (Access): One Step Forward

ENACTED PRAYER

This is an 'enacted' prayer of communion (bread and wine) access. It can be said in preparation to communion several paces from where communion/bread and wine is to be given. Through it, hopefully, we'll be reminded that our Christian life is a journey, that we progress one step at a time, and though it may be slow we are moving closer to God. Also, it reminds us that though we take the steps, it is God who is behind it all - He calls, he enables and He empowers us. It is because of His grace that we can approach the communion table.

Preparation

If you or others are going to take one pace close to the location where the bread and wine is to be given when the prayer uses the word 'step' and this is suggested, then it might be beneficial for one person, before the service commences, to work out how many paces are needed and where those 'walking' this prayer should start from.

Needless to say, if, when the prayer is used you or others are still a few steps away from where the bread and wine is given at the end of the prayer, then a slow and dignified walk to the spot where the bread and wine is to be given can be done at the end of the prayer, and this should be explained beforehand to reassure people.

Encourage those taking part, to to take one step forward from the starting point when they recite the word 'step' in this prayer of access. Be flexible. It may be the case that you choose a representative to do these 'steps', and if so, vary it over the weeks so that many get to walk this prayer.

The prayer:

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All: Father Almighty, I'm in need, and need to hear your call to come to your table, the table you prepared for me before time began. Because of your call, I take a step forward.

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All: Father Almighty, I find myself at a distance from you, and yet I see your hands outstretched. Because of your hands, I take one step forward.

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All: Father Almighty, I'm weighed down by rebellion, yet hear your words of forgiveness. Because of what Jesus did, I take one step forward.

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All: Father Almighty, I need to be made new, and know that your Spirit of newness lives within all Believers. Because of your indwelling Spirit, I take one step forward.

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All: I cannot come close unless you direct my steps and guide me. I believe you guide me, and so I take one step forward.

All: Father Almighty, I can only come if you but call me by name.

Celebrant: God calls you by name!

All:  Father Almighty, I take one step forward. Amen

[Brother Tadhg]

Benedict's Rule #1

GUIDELINES FOR TWENTYFIRST CENTURY LIVING

Benedict, in his Rule of living life to the full, uses the metaphor of climbing a twelve stepped ladder – hence there are twelve rules. The following is based upon those twelve steps, and today we look at Rule 1.

Rule 1

The first step towards humility is fear of God and remembrance of Him in all things that we do

What 'fear' isn't!

Whatever you do, remove from your mind the kind of fear that makes anyone of us tremble in terror!  The fear of God has nothing to do with anyone of us cowering in the corner or living on a ‘knife’s edge’ that we might upset and angry God. The kind of ‘fear’ the Book talks about is different, and it may be that kind of 'fear' that Benedict has in mind. True, the Creator is so pure and lovely that we might cower in fear, acknolwedging our rebellion in His awesome and pure presence, but what the Book talks about here, when it uses that word 'fear', is all together different.

In the Book, it says: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding' [The Book, Psalm 111.10a].

In some cases, verses from the Book can be understood like modern-day equations. In that verse, on one side is says (a) 'The fear of the Lord is.... and on the other side of the equation, it says (b) ...is the beginning of wisdom. What is 'the fear of the Lord'? Answer: our coming to accept that we need to know about the Creator and acknowledge we need wisdom!

Humility and wisdom

How do we get that widsom? Just to hammer home the answer, the verse goes on. 'All who follow His precepts have good understanding or wisdom. So, wisdom is inextricably bound up with following God.

So, How do we 'fear the Lord or better still get to know Him'? By obtaining wisdom! How to we obtain widsom? By following God's precepts, what He says and commands. The 'fear of the Lord' is another way of saying we need the wisdom of/from God. Humility. That is, we admit we need assistance from on High, and this comes from following His precepts or doing His will.

Remember God

But Benedict goes on and tells us that we should remember God in all we do. For many in the twentyfirst century there seems to be a sacred-secular divide....this is for God, this is for me or someome else. That distiction didn't apply to the ancient celts, it certainly didn't apply to the ancients, nor those of the early church. For them, and us if we think deeply about it, there is no sacred-secular divide, and that whatever we do we can and should do for God, putting our 'focus' on Him in everything we do. In some mystical way, and the Book backs this up, what we do to others, we do to Him, and 'in Him all things hold together'.

Practical suggestions

Whatever you do today, remember God. Ofcourse, we all lead busy lives, and so we might need some hel to remember God. The ancient celts would have prayed, and so on this website you'll find some prayers (soon) that you can use as you make the tea or coffee or clean the house etc, we'll discuss ways of practical help to remind you, or maybe for now, you can set aside a time when you know that you could be free - and so not driving the car or with a client etc - and set your mobile phone alarm to sound at some future time, and when it sounds, just remember God in thought and/or in prayer for a few minutes or read part of The Book or a good book. In that way just as the ancient celts would have left work when they heard the church bell toll, so you can draw aside when the twentyfirst century equivalent - your mobile phone clock alarm - sounds.

Merton's Prayer: I have no idea...

AN ENCOURAGING PRAYER

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a writer and Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky.

His writings include such classics as The Seven Storey Mountain, New Seeds of Contemplation, and Zen and the Birds of Appetite. Merton is the author of more than seventy books that include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism and writings on peace, justice and ecumenism. Very realistic about faith, and his faith in general, he was a very honest, open, amiable and 'transparent' guy. One of his prayers, following, is one that I use a lot and commend to you, us:

'My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Amen.'

[Thomas Merton]

Synchronicity: God Saying 'Hello!'

MORE THAN JUST CO-INCIDENCES

So there I was, talking on the 'phone to my brother, saying that I was coaching a guy who wanted to give up smoking. My brother was in his car, driving, some miles away (using a hands-free 'phone, ofcourse), when a few seconds later he said, surprised, 'Would you believe it, I've just seen a car in front of me with a 'stop smoking now' sticker on it. Synchronicity!

So there I was, talking to a client who wanted assistance with looking for a job. We talked about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and how it demanded that offences should be declared to a potential employer and for what period. Out of the blue, I said, just imagine that you worked for a certain sports shop and picked a name at random. Excitedly and somewhat alarmed, he exclaimed that he had worked for that company until recently. I went on to say, suppose your crime was this....! Again, excitedly he explained that that was his crime. Synchronicity!

The sceptic's would suggest that this is selective perception or the law of averages playing itself out. Or is it, as Carl Jung believed, a glimpse into the underlying order of the universe?

Jung coined the term 'synchronicity' to describe what he called the 'acausal connecting principle' that links mind and matteR. I really like the term 'synchronicity'. He said this underlying 'connectedness' manifests itself through meaningful 'coincidences' that cannot be explained by cause and effect. Such synchronicities occur, he theorised, when a strong need arises in the psyche of an individual.

Three types

Jung described three types of synchronicities that he had observed: the coinciding of a thought or feeling with an outside event; a dream, vision or premonition of something that then happens in the future; and a dream or vision that coincides with an event occurring at a distance.

When it happens, these more-than-coincidences can be surprising, alarming, almost spooky, and give an indication that something (or could it be 'someone') is at work that is beyond our understanding.

However, we can, sometimes, be far too busy to recognise synchronicities. We can be blind to them, explain them away, we can ignore them, we can be looking in the wrong direction, but they are there - they do happen!

Synchronicities! Look out for them

Maybe we need an 'How to recognise synchronicity class 101'? In her book 'Synchronicity: The Anatomy of Coincidence', Carolyn North, writes, 'People love mysterious things, and synchronicity is like magic happening to them', and 'It gives us a sense of hope, a sense that something bigger is happening out there than what we can see, which is especially important in times like this when there’s so many reasons for despair'.

So, what, or rather who is behind 'synchronicity'? In the Book it says, 'All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being'. This Prime Mover, then, it says is behind all these things. Synchronicity happens when God acts and yet wishes to remain anonymous.

It's the Creator's way of saying, I'm here', without overwhelming us. His way of 'almost being shy' to come forward, yet wanting to reveal Himself to us.

In Tommy Tenny's book 'The God-Catchers', the author talks of a father playing 'hide and seek' with his child, and the father going off to hide - that's what the game is all about. He hides and the child seeks him. But we all know that children aren't always the most logical seekers, and so when a child moves away from where Dad is hiding, Dad purposely makes a noise or shifts weight to alert the child. Ofcourse the idea isn't for Dad to remain hidden but to be found. That's the game. And the child gets the clue and finds Dad, and there's smiles and hugs all around!

God communicating