Weare-theBody is a reflection on the church as the body of Christ. It was motivated by the spring 2010 bible study series and church reform process undertaken by the LaPêche Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada in Québec, and facilitated by Rev. Gisèle Gilfillan. It continues as my personal journey exploring the word of God and her relevance in my life and the 21st century.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

We have permission

I am privileged to receive Gisèle’s reflection on Sunday mornings by email. Today on the first Sunday of Lent she positions Jesus out in the wilderness, setting the stage to challenge us to examine our own spiritual path ...

It’s not to escape that Jesus went into the desert; it was intentional - to be clear about his truth. Sometimes the solitude of self reflection can lead to insight ... to wisdom... to ultimate satisfaction – more than bread. Especially those of us who have the luxury of asking for spiritual food: questing, wrestling with what ails us, retreating into some silence and solitude. Lent gives us the permission to go there.

First of all I am struck by the ”we who have the luxury ...”. We do ... in LaPêche ... each in our own generally comfortable rural Canadian milieu ... have the luxury of time and energy and support To go into our own desert to seek clarity. With that luxury perhaps there is greater responsibility to find.

And we have permission. To create our own rituals. To carve out a place of our own. To be unique.

To be searching. To be thirsty.

I feel a little more encouraged to discover the Spirit in symbiosis with my unique and evolving spiritual life.

1 comment:

  1. I am glad to hear that you're seeing some symbiosis Peter. It's encouraging, enriching and strengthening I think. In my life here, so many times the events and the encounters of the week dovetail with the scripture I'm pondering or the reflection I am preparing ... again this week I have found this. It's very moving to me and provides such a surge of spiritual energy!
    May it continue Peter - it encourages our movement further into spiritual conversation and exploration...

    The news of the family - Werner and Barbara are expected back this week from Germany. Ken and Nicole have left for Florida. Irene Hamilton is recovering nicely from her hip surgery and Sue Gaden is feeling stronger after sudden surgery also. The Wakefield AGM is this week - our exercise will take place. I will send you the questions that are intended to provoke the imagination. We will see what emerges...
    Maybe this isn't the forum to be chatty... if not cut out this paragraph OK?

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