I am a new, first time grandfather. My daughter had a son, Caleb, March 27th. The most joyous texts we get, containing the most joyous pics, are during bath time. And this seems to be when Caleb is most happy and peaceful. And he tends to sleep well, at least for a few hours.
I love where you and Phoebe and Kathleen have landed with mysticism. “Surrendering to the already-withness of God, the already-thinness of every place, the already-magnificence in every moment.”
You turned to Kathleen’s book Amazing Grace in response to Phoebe’s suggestion to ‘ask a friend’. That turned out to be a heart-opening decision. As I read, I had a thought that the friend Phoebe was urging you to ask was Jesus. I believe you would have ended in the same place, leading me to think that he was in the room with you, helping you sort it all out.
Funny. I had the same thought, but convinced myself that Jesus likely never used the word "mystic" or "mysticism" in his teaching, so I sorta moved on to Norris.
But it's almost impossible for me not to hear Jesus's words through this perspective, even if he didn't use the term, mystic. It's almost as if every single act, every single word, is a reminder that we have nothing to fear because God is with us and in us, and we are with him and in him:
Here. Now.
There. Then.
I can almost hear him saying, "Someday, Chris, you're going to read my words and think I was being poetic and metaphorical and all of that. You're going to think yourself clever for being able to unravel my true meaning, but you'll be making it too hard. Just listen to me, and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Really. Truly. With. You.
I am a new, first time grandfather. My daughter had a son, Caleb, March 27th. The most joyous texts we get, containing the most joyous pics, are during bath time. And this seems to be when Caleb is most happy and peaceful. And he tends to sleep well, at least for a few hours.
I love where you and Phoebe and Kathleen have landed with mysticism. “Surrendering to the already-withness of God, the already-thinness of every place, the already-magnificence in every moment.”
You turned to Kathleen’s book Amazing Grace in response to Phoebe’s suggestion to ‘ask a friend’. That turned out to be a heart-opening decision. As I read, I had a thought that the friend Phoebe was urging you to ask was Jesus. I believe you would have ended in the same place, leading me to think that he was in the room with you, helping you sort it all out.
Peace my friend. Best to Kathryn.
Friend,
Funny. I had the same thought, but convinced myself that Jesus likely never used the word "mystic" or "mysticism" in his teaching, so I sorta moved on to Norris.
But it's almost impossible for me not to hear Jesus's words through this perspective, even if he didn't use the term, mystic. It's almost as if every single act, every single word, is a reminder that we have nothing to fear because God is with us and in us, and we are with him and in him:
Here. Now.
There. Then.
I can almost hear him saying, "Someday, Chris, you're going to read my words and think I was being poetic and metaphorical and all of that. You're going to think yourself clever for being able to unravel my true meaning, but you'll be making it too hard. Just listen to me, and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Really. Truly. With. You.
Aways with.
What more could you want?"
I can't stop thinking about Phebes since I read this. She's been sitting next to me this whole time.
So glad she is visiting friends. So glad.
“The already-thinness of every place” is a beautiful vision. The results of your insomnia are a gift to us all ❤️.
Thanks, Heather. Not hating the early, early, mornings. Not at all. And glad that you might find something in these little musings that encourage.