Category: Faith
The Responsible Self by Richard Niebuhr
by RetsamsGhost
On an unwieldy pedestrian day in Egremont, Massachusetts, I picked up a book by H. Richard Niebuhr entitled “The Responsible Self, An Essay in Christian Moral Philosophy. Everyone recognizes Niebuhr as the reported author of the “Serenity Prayer” that is now infamously associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. The book was old, dirt cheap, and inscribed “Clinton Lee Barlow, Harford Seminary Foundation, Spring, 1968.” Cannot seem … Read More The Responsible Self by Richard Niebuhr
Suffering and Providence
by RetsamsGhost
The Sad Joyous Truth: Finally, you have found my blog page; you itinerant idiot. For those of you who have been here before do not pat yourself on the back. In all likelihood, you are much worse off now than when you last visited. Tell me it isn’t so, honestly, can you do that today? I don’t think so. Catherine has written to me … Read More Suffering and Providence
The Golden Ticket
by RetsamsGhost
Imagine that the world’s religious leaders announced a contest that Five Tickets would be randomly distributed in places of worship the world over this weekend. These very special five people would receive an all-expense-paid trip ticket to tour and the greatest mystical revelation that has been kept secret for centuries. The leaders of the major faiths have been given a revelation to select five … Read More The Golden Ticket
The Rabbit Hole
by RetsamsGhost
A recent article sent me down the Rabbit hole of the intersection of politics, psychiatry, and spirituality. It has laid bare for me the difficulty of how to share the spiritual path in a secular society as well as how to live the spiritual path oneself. Here is the journey: The Martial Personality (MP) archetype was recently explored in the Psychiatric Times by Ronald … Read More The Rabbit Hole
Noa
by RetsamsGhost
I am up too late tonight. I am somewhat in the valley of my mood range despite having no outward claim to be disgruntled, angry with my creator, or otherwise disenfranchised. To the contrary, I have many gifts to be grateful for, including among them adversities that have ensured I am well grounded in humility and empathy for my fellow man and sometimes even … Read More Noa
Tears
by RetsamsGhost
“She passes through this Word, enduring with true gentle patience every pain and trouble that I permit her for her own good. She accepts it courageously, choosing my way over her own. And she suffers not only patiently, but gladly.” Pg. 163 At first glance, my human instinct is to repel this idea with many objections: What word? Gentle patience with every pain? Someone … Read More Tears
The wicked in Life
by RetsamsGhost
You know you can name a few people that come to mind. Wickedness or evil by another name is alive and well. We can name it, identify it, codify it in our laws and social norms, and perhaps even struggle intimately with our very own wicked thoughts and actions. Also if we are free of the latter are we not prone to judge the former? Today … Read More The wicked in Life
10
by RetsamsGhost
Prayer last night (day 9 of lent) bought me a little Ignatian Examen prayer. I simple started my prayers the way I normally do and reviewed my day for any remnants of the following all too human tendencies: My fears My attachments My need for control Illusions of entitlement Each of these may not be readily apparent at first glance or very familiar friends … Read More 10
4
by RetsamsGhost
The morning of day 4 of our Lenten Journey that I share with 2.19 Billion Christians? It cannot be. A century ago there were only 600 million recorded. Yet it can feel like we are only 600 million strong. And even that number does not capture the loneliness of being a believer. Yes, having belief and faith in God can be a very lonely … Read More 4
The fallible Army of God
by RetsamsGhost
Arise each morning as if prepared for war. Your foe is admirable in strenght, in numbers, and persistence. Cleverer than most and evasive when needed, confrontational when least expected. You are keenly aware you cannot fight this war alone – but nor can you control your brothers in arms actions, the soildiers you may lead, or the superiors above you to make the right decisions … Read More The fallible Army of God
“Here the Cry of the Little Ones” Pope Francis
by RetsamsGhost
Today 190 Church leaders are meeting with Pope Francis to address the Sexual abuse crisis. Hidden underneath it is the patriarchal structure of the church. At least three NYT articles today are discussing current immorality of church leaders with abuse of Nuns, Children, and other related legacies and current day abuses. A recent NYT article[i] exposes hypocrisy of Southern Baptist presenting rapist as men … Read More “Here the Cry of the Little Ones” Pope Francis
Profit driven economies
by RetsamsGhost
If we were purely driven by animal instinctual needs and life and death were solely driven by survival of the herd decisions this would only be a sad consequence of natural selection and unfortunate gene mutation. It is a significant financial drain on the family and society to provide for a person with Down’s syndrome over a lifespan. It is evident, however, whether you … Read More Profit driven economies
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