From "Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris. In this book she takes many of the words and images of the faith and attempts to put some reality and life to them.
CONVERSION
God is limitless, and I have been slow to recognize that this has implications for conversion... Conversion is a process; it is not a goal, not a product we consume. And it's a bodily process, not only an emotional or intellectual one. The very cells in our body are busy changing, renewing themselves, every few days. Yet we remain recognizably ourselves. That is how conversion works, a paradox beautifully expressed in two vows that are unique to Benedictine life. To join a monastic community people promise stability, pledging to remain in that community for life. At the same time they also promise to remain always open to change, to what is loosely translated as a "conversion of life."
Putting an active edge on a word that is so often used to describe what happened in the past or what we hope will take place in the future invites us to be a part of an ever changing present. Life changes and that in itself adds to the adventure that we all enter. When we are people of faith, the changes that take place need not be feared. In many ways, as we face the changes of time we are drawn into a dialogue in which we must continue to make sense of our call to be followers of Jesus and how that will take shape within the present time. The stories we heard as children and how we interpreted them are the same stories but now as adults the way we see them and what we hear from them may bring a basket full of fresh images for life's way. There is always a tension between that which is used as a guard rail in life and the amazing vision that comes to life as we continue to engage the day at hand and invites us to take another look at how things are to be
Connection: Where will the limitlessness of God be experienced today and invite you to look again at how you see your relationship with our God and our world.
Precious Lord as you abide with us this day open our eyes and ears that we may attend to the many ways we are invited to share in the boundlessness of your blessed reign. Encourage us so that we may step out of what we what things to be and take the risk to walk with you along new pathways that may open themselves to us in our faithful journeys. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment