Category: Spirituality

Indigenous Spirituality

Published by mhelbert on January 9, 2019

One of the basic tenets of Western Christianity is that only those people who believe in Jesus as the Son of God can be saved or accepted by God. They cite especially the text in the Gospel According to John where Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”

That does sound pretty exclusive.

So, missionaries and colonists took their understanding of God and the Gospel and went out to the uttermost parts of the world in order to make disciples of all people.

It looks like the right thing to do. From a certain point of view.

A point of view that I no longer find tenable.

As I walk among friends from diverse cultures I find that God has already shown up to them. No, not like with Jesus. But, truly the influence of Creator is not the personal property of Christians or Jews. Creator has touched the hearts and lives of billions of other souls in ways that we in the West just don’t seem to understand.

And, THAT’S OK!

We don’t need to understand. We do, however, need to love and encourage each of these cultures to cultivate their relationships and understand of God. We can do that without imposing our Western culture on them.

So, I have no problem sharing this link to a group called, the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. These women have a heart for Creator, Creation, and all those who call this big piece of space rock home. I believe that they have truly experienced God. Their Way, Truth, and Life may look different than mine. That doesn’t mean they are wrong.

So, I invite you to click on the above link and check them out. Who knows, we may all learn something!

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Going Beyond…

Published by mhelbert on January 7, 2019

It’s odd. This morning during my quiet time I wrote some stuff in my journal wondering about the “Why” of prayer. Why do I do it? What outcome, if any, do I desire? At the end my response to myself was, “to join with God.” Simple. No stipulations on what that should look like. Just, “join with God.” Or, perhaps better, “to be joined together with God in unity.”

Here is a post by Carl McColman that I just read that takes that idea and expands on it. Coincidence? Like Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I don’t believe in coincidence.

The Contemplative Life in Three Easy Steps

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Where Do You See God?

Published by mhelbert on January 5, 2019

Where do you see God in that?

That’s the stock question of just about all Spiritual Directors. No matter how mundane or boring an experience may be.

Where do you see God in that?

Well, the poet may answer, “I see God in the fragile bloom of the flower; in the high cloud tracking across the vast ocean of the sky; in the smile and coo of a new born infant.”

That’s all nice and sentimental and all.

But, where does the person who struggles with a meaningless job every day of his or her life see God? The person who always seems to find more month at the end of the money? What about the person whose mind is wired in such a way that life is always a near impossible task? The person whose lithe and strong body has become a painful, hulking mass that can barely stand on its own because age has snatched the vitality from it? What about the billions of people who do not hunger and thirst for righteousness, but for actual food and water?

Where do you see God in that?

Perhaps, the only God that these people will actually see is you. Or, me.

We used to talk about the Church being God’s hands and feet in this world. It was always used in the context of evangelism. If we didn’t go as Christ’s ambassadors in order to bring Christ’s reign to all of those poor, lost souls, then how could they be saved? Of course, it they had real felt needs that required food or shelter, we could maybe help with that. But, our main purpose was to get those lost souls saved!

Where do you see God in that?

As I’ve gotten older I find that I can no longer support that idea. Mostly, because when people talk about getting ‘saved’ I really don’t know what they’re talking about. Saved from what? Eternity in someplace called ‘Hell’? No, I can’t go there. I simply don’t think such a place exists.

But, I digress. That’s a topic for another time.

Spiritual Directors want their directees’ eyes and hearts open to see God working in their own lives. A person is guided in the hope that they will be aware…mindful…of the slight changes in how they perceive God’s hands working in the quiet spaces of the heart. How have the skilled hands of the Potter been adding just a ‘wee bit o’ pressure’ in that spot? What has that slight change of touch changed the contours of the clay?

This is hard work. If it was easy, we wouldn’t need directors to help us see these things. As it is, the Director asks questions intended to drill down deeply within us so that we may see the runes and pictographs that God has drawn in our hearts.

For me, the journey has been long and fraught. Learning how to use the proper tools for spiritual spelunking is not easy. I’m still trying to recognize and read the signs of God’s passing and presence. Sometime the way is well-lit. Most of the time it is dark and obscure. I have to try and find some way to kindle a light. Perhaps, one day I’ll learn how to have a light available all of the time.

That day is not today.

Today, I grope around like a blind man. Arms outstretched, exploring the darkness trying to avoid running into a solid wall. I take each tentative step with a shuffle of my feet so that I don’t step into a chasm or trip over a rock…a corpse. I strain my mind to listen for any sound that might reveal my surrounding environment.

Is that the sound of water dripping? Perhaps, the low whisper of a breeze passing along the path I should take? The approach of some beast that has brooded silently within me for years? Growing and feasting on the rotting flesh that I have fed it? Maybe I have cut its supply of food and it’s prowling about hunting for its next meal.

Where do you see God in that?

Somewhere near…just behind the veil.

Seek. And, you will find.

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Jesus Wept

Published by mhelbert on December 18, 2018

Today, as I sat quietly, I remembered how I felt Sunday morning.
Emotions rose within me as I considered the injustice of the “ruling class.”
I held back tears as my I saw those who live privileged lives ignoring the pleas of
those that they consider “Other.” Especially, those who profess to have faith in God through Jesus Christ.

How can they just stand there and do nothing? Less than nothing!

They are complicit in moral crimes against their fellow travelers on this Third Rock from the Sun!

This morning I reflected on that a bit. I realized that my emotions, my tears were
not directed toward those who are the victims of injustice. They weren’t poured out
for the poor and the needy.

No.

My emotion was kindled by those who instigate the injustice. My tears shed because
of their unbelief and unfaithfulness.
How can people stand by and actually feel that they are justified in their injustice?
It’s truly quite easy. As long as I can feel good about ‘Me’ and ‘My’ accomplishments;
‘My faithfulness’ and ‘My exceptionalism,’ I can separate myself from those “Others” who
don’t quite match up to ‘Me.’

I’m reminded of a story in Brennan Manning’sbook, “Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin’s
Path to God.”

A couple was visiting New Orleans. As they walked around the French Quarter,
a woman, smiling, approached them and said that she could tell immediately that they were “saved.”
She continued, “Isn’t it wonderful? Don’t you just fell the Rapture is coming?” For the next several
Minutes the woman talked to them about growing tension in the Middle East that would
lead to the end of the world. At that time the ‘elect’ would be whisked away to heavenly
glory forever and ever.
Of course, this presupposes that there will by “Others” who will not be so fortunate.
How is it that this woman was apparently quite giddy about leaving most of humanity
behind while she and her like-minded friends would escape into the “Sweet By and By”?
And, I weep over her hardness of heart. Her uncaring attitude toward anyone and everyone
who doesn’t think and believe as she does.

Then, a couple other stories came to my mind.

In one, Jesus is standing on a hill looking over the city of Jerusalem.
His heart, breaking with overwhelming emotion he said,
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!
“For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

His lament was not for the victims of injustice. He shed no tears for the murdered prophets and those who were stoned to death.

No. His sorrow was directed at those who perpetrated the injustice…the murderers.

In another story, Jesus went to a village called Bethany. A few days earlier he had been informed that one of his dear friends was very ill. By the time he reached the village, his friend had died.
The text indicates that Jesus was aware of the condition of his friend, Lazarus. He was even aware that the man had died. When Jesus reached the village, Lazarus’ sisters came to him and said,
“If only You had been here, Lazarus would still be alive.”
Jesus looked and saw all of the mourners who had come to console the sisters over their loss.
Now, what’s interesting, is the writer made it very clear that Jesus knew what he was going to do. Jesus had even told his followers on the way that Lazarus had died. He told them that he was glad that he had not been there to heal Lazarus. It was better for them, “So that you may believe.”
Even with this foreknowledge, the text states that when Jesus saw the mourners, when he listened to the sisters as they knelt tearfully before him, the writer recorded these words…

“Jesus was troubled.”

The language that was used indicates that Jesus was “agitated; in great distress.” That his emotions were “stirred up.” This was followed by the shortest verse in the entire Bible,

“Jesus wept.”

The only record of Jesus shedding tears.

“Jesus wept.”

But, why? The mourners all thought it was because of Jesus’ great love for Lazarus. They thought that, like them, Jesus was moved with sorrow for the loss of his friend. For the loss of a brother.
That doesn’t make sense to me. Jesus knew what had happened and what he was going to do.
Why did he weep?
I think it was because of the unbelief of those gathered. Jesus had performed many miracles in and around Jerusalem. Many of these people were witnesses. For sure, the sisters were. Yet, they still did not believe.
They did not have faith.

“Jesus wept.”

The only two times where it was recorded that Jesus wept or lamented there were people who lacked lacked faith or who were faithless.
He did not lament the prophets.
He did not weep for Lazarus.
So, I weep. Not for those trying to escape death by journeying a thousand miles to seek refuge at our border.
Nor, do I weep for the millions of people who may find their health care plans eliminated.
I don’t shed tears for those trapped in addictions or who struggle with the fact that their own brain is their worst enemy.
My tears…my lament…are offered for those in power, for those who aren’t trapped in systems that dehumanize and degrade them.
I weep for those who can make a difference.
Yet, choose not to.

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Take, Eat. This is My Body.

Published by mhelbert on December 17, 2018

Today, I want to ask a favor. These posts are no longer shared by me on social media. If you would, could you select one of the ‘Share’ buttons and share this on your social media account? Also, select ‘Subscribe’ so that you will receive E-mail notifications when new posts are posted. Thank you!

“Star Wars – A New Hope.”
Remember that?
It was called Part IV.
Part 4? We didn’t have Part 3, yet!
(Or, parts 1 & 2).
Interesting place to start a story. Right in the middle.
But, I digress.
I do want to touch on the idea of a “New Hope,” though.

In recent posts I was pretty hard on most organized religion. Especially, Evangelicalism. That’s where I came from, so I’m most familiar with it. But, I don’t want to leave everything up in the air. There must be a better way to live and express the Faith that has been passed on from the beginning.

Many, (most?), have tried to box faith up in some kind of systematic way. People pore over the ancient texts trying to find common thoughts and ideas. They look for patterns of behavior in the characters who live within the pages. They try to separate the “Do’s” from the “Don’t’s.” Then, they package it up nicely and place a bow on top. This System is then presented to the faithful as the True way to Truly live Truthfully. What this ‘truly’does is enable people to do something, then pat themselves on the back for having done…it…whatever ‘It’ is.

I think that this process skews the truth rather than revealing it. It distills the Truth into bite-sized bits that people can munch on. But, in truth, it dilutes the Truth rendering it pretty much useless.

I share all of that so that maybe I can offer an alternative.

DISCLAIMER:
I really don’t know anything. I just want to toss this out there for consideration.

Ok, back to the alternative.

A couple of weeks back I wrote a kind of self-portrait in my journal how I felt that I had become hard. Descriptors like ‘granite’and ‘ice’ came to mind. I reflected on how I had built walls to keep people out. The walls had parapets from which I could cast down rocks and burning oil to keep folks away. After all, weren’t they all foreigners? Invaders? Enemies who desired to suck my life from me. Then…

“Take, eat. This is my body broken for you.”

“Take, drink. This is my blood poured out for you.”

WHAT?!

What kind of nonsense is that? That’s what Jesus said before He was crucified! What does that have to do with me?

I sat on that. Reflected on that. Chewed on that like a cow chews on cud.

I began to realize that as a person called to follow Jesus, I shouldn’t be surprised by the thought of self-giving. After all, isn’t that what God did?

“Take, eat.”

But, God?

“Take, drink.”

Really?

As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for the last time, he took the Twelve aside to tell them for the third and final time what was going to happen. He said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” Previously, Jesus had only told them that “He” was going to Jerusalem. Now, he said, “We.”

“We are going to Jerusalem where I will be mocked and whipped and crucified.”

The story continues and Jesus promises two of his disciples that they, too, will share the cup that he was about to drink.

Where am I going with this?

The Church has created a place where people can feel good about themselves. We are glad to be a part of the ‘chosen few.’ We look forward to living forever, resurrected to new life. Yet, we forget that we have been asked to walk with Jesus to the bitter end.

“Take, eat. This is my body broken for you.”

Not just Jesus’ offering. It must be mine as well.

“Take, drink. This is my blood poured out for you.”

Jesus blood gives life. So, then, should mine.

This is the better way. This is not a ‘System’ that people can follow and feel good about themselves. There is certainly no “Us” or “Them” here. This is how granite is crushed and ice melted.

This is Truly the way to Life.

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Sunday Morning Lament

Published by mhelbert on December 16, 2018

As I sat in silence this morning I saw an image of the president of the U.S.
standing in the rain praising a ruling by a judge in Texas that states that the
Affordable Care Act, the so-called “Obama Care,” is unconstitutional.
My mind showed me the many people, conservatives, who have spent the
last several years trying undo this simple act to help people who desperately need
the help. I asked Why? Why do these people work so hard in order to hurt others?
As my thoughts took wing, I looked down on the people lined up at our borders.
Why are the institutions that we have created trying so hard to hurt others?
I saw the poor in other countries with no clean water or consistent food source.
Why are those governments not helping their own people? They only heap up riches
and power for themselves.
I considered the so-called religious of our culture. What are they doing? After all, aren’t
they all followers of Jesus?
Who was this Jesus? “Behold, the Kingdom of God is near!” he said.
Yeah?
Where?
Because, I’m not seein’ it.
I’m not seein’ it at all.

“How long, O Lord?”
People have said this simple prayer for thousands of years.

“How long, O Lord?”
Will You wait?
Will You allow injustice?
Until You uphold the widow? The orphan? The stranger?

“How long, O Lord?”
Our governments are corrupt. Our leaders care only about their own power and prestige.
They abuse those that they have been called on to serve.

“How long, O Lord?”
The institutions that are established suffer from rot. They care only about surviving.
They care not a whit for those that put their trust in them.

“How long, O Lord?”
The systems that prevail over all things are altogether corrupt.
Racism, sexism, corporations…all tools of the powerful against Everyone Else.

“How long, O Lord?”
Atheists trust in knowledge and humanity’s ability to grow. They trust in the wind.
Progressive Christians trust in humanity’s ability to usher in the Kingdom of God.
How many centuries ago was this proven to be folly?
Evangelicals. Well, they are just dangerous. They hide behind their faux faith and
Like the Pharisees of old, “do not enter the Kingdom and prevent others from doing so.
Rome is altogether corrupt. Self-seeking old men who crave honor, prestige, and power.
Yet, they have castrated themselves and are now impotent.
Orthodox seek God in Spirit and Truth. Yet, they do nothing for anyone outside of their
own cloisters and cathedrals.

“How long, O Lord?”
Martin hoped that the arc of history would bend toward justice.
I don’t see it.

“How long, O Lord?”

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Advent Credo – Daniel Berrigan

Published by mhelbert on December 10, 2018

The following poem was written by Fr.Daniel Berrigan (born May 9, 1921- died April 30, 2016).

Advent Credo

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

*All emphases are mine.

From Testimony: The Word Made Flesh, by Daniel Berrigan, S.J. Orbis Books, 2004.

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Who Are You, God…Really?

Published by mhelbert on July 25, 2018

“Don’t worry! We’ll pray that God heals you!”
How many times have people said that? People who truly believe that.

Then, the other dies.

“Well, God always answers prayer. Sometimes the answer is “No”.
Or, “You must not have had enough faith”.
Or some other rationalization that lets God off the hook.

The Christian Bible is full of stories about genocide and rape; murder, lying, and cheating.
Unbelievably, these things are not only allowed, but in many cases commanded by God!
“Well, you know that God’s ways are not our ways. And, God’s thoughts are way beyond ours.
Only God can see the whole picture.”

Yet, that same Bible contains some of the most tender and intimate love stories ever penned.
And, not just The Song of Solomon.
God is portrayed as a loving parent, lover, and friend.
God defends and encourages.

My own observations are, however, a bit, er, different.

I look around and I see a world in which God is not a leading actor.
God doesn’t answer prayer. At least not in any physical way that can be analyzed and proven
to be a supernatural event.
People are afflicted and they die from causes that are entirely natural.
It really annoys me that a tornado can sweep a city off of the map and a survivor can thank God
that she was spared.
But, her next door neighbor was killed.
Where was God for that person?

There have recently been several cases in the U.S. and Canada where parents allowed a child
to die because their religion states that ‘Prayer alone will heal!’
To that… I call ‘bullshit’.

So what?

My mind has wandered.
A single question has been forming like an image on a piece of film swimming in developer:

Who are You, God…Really?

I ask this because it has become abundantly clear to me that the God I have been taught
about is NOT the God of the ‘real’ world.
The God that I learned about in Sunday school and Communicants’ class and innumerable sermons simply
does not exist. He’s a fake; a phantom.
That God is not omnipotent and is certainly NOT omniscient. That God does not answer the prayer of the sick and needy because that God cannot answer the prayer of the sick and needy.

So, Who are You, God…Really?

Please don’t think that I’m trying to stick it to anyone or their beliefs.

This is a real and honest question that I’m asking.

I truly want to find an answer.

If God truly is God, then there should be no problem with asking.

Questions should be no threat.

I talked to my Spiritual Director about these things.
We both saw the path that I should take.
Jesus told his disciples, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”
So, we decided that searching the Gospels would be a good place to start
looking for an answer to my question.
Now, I’ve pretty much lived in the Gospels for the last 5+ years.
But, even after all of that time, this question still vexes me.

With that in mind, I have embarked on a new journey.
My path lies through the words written by ancient men who created stories
about the one person in history who claims to have seen God. (”I only do the things that I see the Father doing.”)

At the end, if there is one, I hope to have at least an inkling of who this God that I worship really is.

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Wednesday Morning Musings – Rain

Published by mhelbert on May 8, 2018

Oh, God! Rain down on us!
Make a mess!
Then, leave it be.
Leave it be.

Why do we so often use the image of water to describe the way that God seems to work?
“Rain down on us.”
“There’s a river of life.”
“The Spirit flows like a river.”

There’s never a puddle of God.

Nor a pond or lake.

Yeah, there are “still waters” that God leads us beside.

And, God’s love can stream toward us.

Love can even drip on us!
“Drip, drop, drip, drop.”

God’s Spirit may be like a flood that washes away the debris that clutters our heart.
There may be torrents and great, crashing breakers.

But, no “crick full o’ minnows and crawdads.”

God’s water never erodes.
There are no divine mudslides.

Why is there no heavenly glacier?
Ice is water. Hard and cold.
That describes the god of some people.
Glaciers grinding grooves into the bedrock of their lives.
Not the glorious gray grooves of the brain.
Rather, they are gory gashes graven into their heart.
No, not that kind of water.

We only want water that washes and refreshes.

The kind that can slake the thirst of our parched souls.

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Saturday Musings

Published by mhelbert on September 2, 2017

Be Still, My Soul

Be still…

Be silent…

Rest in the Presence of Yahweh.

How hard it is to be silent. To turn off the chattering of the Monkey Mind. It does not like being shushed. That mind wants to flit among the branches yelling and screaming, demanding attention.

Be still…

Be silent…

Rest in the Presence of Yahweh.

God is not in the chattering.

God is not in the flitting about.

God is not in the clamor for attention.

Where, then, is God?

God is in the Quiet Breeze that barely ruffles a leaf.

God is in the gentle, flowing brook as it winds thru the meadow.

God is in the Morning Glory as it opens its blue face to greet the Sun.

God is in the Silent Heart as it stands gazing into God’s Love.

Be still…

Be silent…

Rest in the Presence of Yahweh.

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