thoughts on prayer

I saw this quote today.

"Prayer and suffering are the two primary paths of transformation. Only people who have first lived and loved, suffered and failed, and lived and loved again, are in a position to read the Scriptures in a humble, needy, inclusive and finally fruitful way."
(from Things Hidden: Scripture As Spirituality by Richard Rohr)

Working through difficult times with understanding and the courage to dig deep is prayer. It brings change. Sometimes drastically good change.

Yahweh

surrender through suffering

Speaking of surrender (Waterloo), I found the following writing posted online at one of the forums I read. It goes to the heart of why we in 1st world countries have such a difficult time understanding the importance of surrender in living our lives here on earth. I believe the abundant life is accessed through surrender. If we tend to have a fix-it/controlling type personality, we hinder our own surrender. We oppress the parts of us that we hate, deny, or fear. Our image-possessed culture, whether in church or out, teaches us to protect this illusion.

For us 1st world people, these hidden parts are best exposed through pain and trauma. Disillusionment is not far behind. We then are presented with an opportunity to confront "our weak spot" or spots, as in my case. But it is only an opportunity. It won't happen on its own. We chose whether to confront or continue to deny. Here's the writing:

SUFFERING

What is the oppressed part of your being?

Do you realize with what difficulty surrender will come to a fixing,
managing mentality? There's nothing in that psyche prepared to
understand the spiritual wisdom of surrender. All of the great world
religions teach surrender. Yet most of us, until we go through the
hole in our soul, "our weak spot in the middle", we just don't think
surrender is necessary. At least that's how it is for those of us in
First World countries. The poor, on the other hand, seem to
understand limitation at a very early age.

The Third World faces its limitation through a breakdown in the social-economic system. But we have to face our limitations, it seems, in the interior world. That's our liberation theology. We must recognize our own poor man, our own abused woman, the oppressed part of ourselves that we hate, that we deny, that we're afraid of. That's the hole in our soul. It's the way through, maybe the only way, says the crucified Jesus. (from Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr)

Waterloo -- talking to God

At the encouragement of friends, Abraham (my dh) & I recently watched the movie "Mama Mia". We loved it. It's a movie based on a Broadway show based on the music of ABBA. We weren't that familiar with ABBA, although I've heard some of their stuff through the years on the periphery of my life. Their 1st big U.S. hit was called Waterloo. Listen to it here, if you like, and follow along with the words below. It so much sounds like me talking to God.

My my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself

Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - finally facing my Waterloo

My my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose

Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - finally facing my Waterloo

So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose

Waterloo - couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - finally facing my Waterloo
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you

"take another look" at what?

Everything.

shifting

I started blogging in December of 2007. I've decided to create a break between the old and the new. I encourage all to participate with me in this new dialog.