tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post1018984639208260800..comments2023-10-01T08:40:34.503-07:00Comments on Episcopal Journey of Hope: NearnessAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776475116127746642noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post-84979773022687177342013-02-02T08:10:25.313-08:002013-02-02T08:10:25.313-08:00Here's my subjective take on it: why should I ... Here's my subjective take on it: why should I pay to be bored? The songs are boring, the people essentially a group of old ladies of both sexes and the clergy tedious self-important twits who think that someone invisible is talking to them and who feel compelled to tell the rest of humanity how to live.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post-54546843584552776842013-01-01T20:03:59.969-08:002013-01-01T20:03:59.969-08:00Ron, Thank you for the kind response. My wife an...Ron, Thank you for the kind response. My wife and I took the classes in the early 80's. The muscle relaxation and mantra focus techniques have stayed with me. I no longer do this daily, but often breathe and relax myself from stress and to help me focus inward to solve problems. I believe my overall health. ability to handle difficult times, and energy level at age 65 is part of the result. <br />Peace,Ed Leonardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post-7590992756131536762013-01-01T13:28:41.941-08:002013-01-01T13:28:41.941-08:00Ed, what a superb and thoughtful response! Your co...Ed, what a superb and thoughtful response! Your comments alone made the essay worth writing. I hope to write more of a reply in a day or so as I have time. Sorry I could not make it to Steve's open house as I think that is where you and Bob met. My wife, Catherine, and I embarked on a new venture for four sessions in four days including the time of the party to learn the practice of TM. I hope it will increase our capacity for compassion. Cheers.Ron Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18152111587171163605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post-51599750175486425312013-01-01T13:21:30.851-08:002013-01-01T13:21:30.851-08:00I read your post here and wrote a response... then...I read your post here and wrote a response... then posted it in Bob's Incarnation blog. Sorry. I'll get the hang of this. Here's the post where it belongs:<br /><br />If I may be so bold to respond. <br /><br />I too, was drawn to Maureen Dowd’s article as it was widely shared on Facebook. I might add a few adjectives... arrogant and intolerant... to your description of the agnostic/atheist responses. I would conjecture that many of these are former believers injured and alienated by existing radical/intolerant unloving church dogma which has driven many to not be ‘near.’. Many are also people that have stroked and developed their intellectual side to the detriment of their spiritual side. Hence the belief that “objective” thought trumps spiritual faith and abstract concepts like “grace” and “unconditional love” do not fit into their “real” world.<br /><br />I love the inferences of the teaching that “in the face of mystery, we are all subject to subjectivity!” That horizon you denote where tentative conclusions and ultimate truth join sounds very close to Hegel’s dialectic ‘absolute truth’ to me, but where beliefs and faith-based truths are brought as thesis to the building of the pyramid. If only we could all throw our hands up and see that truth. But then, the awe comes in great part from the ‘mystery.’ <br /><br />Maureen refers to an “unconditionally loving presence.” On first reading I think of that presence as being God... then I realize she’s presenting both the idea of an individual being with another in a spirit of unconditional love as well as that of our unconditionally loving God being with us. <br /><br />Your fourth paragraph begins with “Loving presence.....” And I read “Being a loving presence.......” I suspicion that some of those agnostic/atheist individuals can be a loving presence for someone in their lives, and that what they are really objecting to in Maureen’s article is their preconceived notion of a rigid dogma behind much organized religion. Their mean spirited responses may be driven by whatever bad experience drove them to look away. If they were more closely in touch with their own spirit, they might recognize this in themselves. <br /><br />You refer to “authentic presence.” Authentic presence is a little difficult for me. I think of Thomas Wojick’s article about the courage to be vulnerable as defining authentic presence, and I think you are referring to unconditional love as the/a criteria for having an authentic presence. A quick google search here brought me to Jean Watson’s Caring Theory, and I found myself totally engaged. She refers to authentic presence in the context of nursing and caring for patients. <br /><br />I agree with your assessment that formal descriptions of clergy roles can hinder, but would add that they should be treated as guidelines and be driven by mission statements that allow for flexibility. It seems true that a focus on being a loving presence for each individual we encounter will bring us all closer to God.<br /><br /> I thank you for the intellectual and spiritual stimulation and for inviting me to this blog site. Ed Leonardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127977175298485373.post-88102105629730710502012-12-30T11:08:53.025-08:002012-12-30T11:08:53.025-08:00Thanks Ron. Your article enhanced what I already ...Thanks Ron. Your article enhanced what I already have experienced in the closeness of God in the Incarnation. The prologue to John has a right. "The word was made flesh and dwelled among us." This is a mystery that can only be apprehended by faith, which then axiomatically brings the nearness of God.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05776475116127746642noreply@blogger.com