Eugene Peterson and Prayer

Peterson: Prayer

“I began to understand the obvious: the central and shaping language of the church’s life has always been its prayer language. From that recognition, a conviction grew: my primary educational task as pastor was to teach people to pray.”—Eugene Peterson, “What Is My Educational Task?” in The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Eerdmans, 1993).

The well-known author of the popular modern Bible translation, The Message, reveals that he interprets the most important ministry of a pastor as being a spiritual director, teaching others how to pray. Of course, he is not downgrading teaching about faith, biblical writings, or the history of God’s people. Still, he calls pastors to be spiritual directors, returning to the wisdom of ancient spiritual leaders who trained people to connect with God and God’s love through various forms of prayer. 

Peterson invites us to make friends with our ancient forebears, beginning with Gregory of Nyssa and Teresa of Avila. He then challenges us to learn the language of intimacy, love, and relationship. 

He reminds us of two great mystical prayer traditions, the kataphatic and the apophatic, the first praying with our eyes open, the second with our eyes shut. Kataphatic prayer turns to icons, symbols, rituals, and incense, affirming creation's gifts as a way to the Creator. Apophatic prayer calls for emptiness—a mind cleared of thoughts and images until one experiences the silence and nearness of God. The two ways of prayer can be blended, and we will find one or the other more meaningful at different times in our lives. 

However, this former professor of spiritual theology reminds us that the Psalms were written by people of God who kept their eyes open.

Joanna joannseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/

 

 

Learning from the Mystics

 Feeling or Knowing God’s Presence Through the Mystics

Modern Mystics

“But the fruit of the Spirit is ‘love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’ Against such things, there is no law.”—Galatians 5:22-23.

I recently met with an amazing group of people seeking God in their lives. They asked several questions: “How do you know you are in a relationship with God? How do you know God’s presence? How do you know God is speaking to you?”

I have always been skeptical of people who tell me, “This is what God told me to do.” I do not recognize the voice of God until maybe after something has happened, not before.

However, I have learned that I may be doing God’s will if I feel the presence of the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Christian Mystics

We can also learn from the experiences of others who were deeply attuned to God’s presence. They are known as Christian mystics. They could more clearly see God’s love and presence all around them, in others, and within themselves. 

Richard Rolle, the 14th-century English mystic, describes being in relationship with God when he feels a physical warmth in his body, senses God’s sweetness, and hears heavenly music while chanting the Psalms. I know music touches our soul, and the warmth and sweetness Rolle feels may be among the fruits of the Spirit. 

I have heard others say they have a gut feeling of assurance when they believe they are doing God’s will. Another common experience of God’s presence occurs in nature, where we feel the presence of something greater than ourselves. Others may learn more about God’s presence when they become ill or lonely, or when they are suffering or dying. Many experience God in prayer.

Experience tells me that people of the feeling (F) type in the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator may be more inclined to develop this relationship with the Divine. But I also know that thinking (T) people can experience this presence and assurance through logic and truth found in research and reading.

The approaching summer is a good time to read about mystics and find your favorite. I hope to spend the summer with Hildegard of Bingen, listening to her music.

[See Ursula King, Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies Throughout the Ages (HiddenSpring, 2001).]

Orthodox Mystics from Susan Cushion

Rachel Held Evans: Searching for Sunday

Rachel Held Evans: Searching for Sunday

“This is what’s most annoying and beautiful about the windy Spirit, and why we so often miss it. It has a habit of showing up in all the wrong places and among all the wrong people, defying our categories and refusing to take direction.”—Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday (Nelson Books, 2015), p. 196.

Our world still grieves the death of 37-year-old Rachel Held Evans on May 4, 2019. She was a spiritual voice for many millennials, their parents, and their grandparents. I treasure the times we met her on her podcasts, at writing conferences, and at our cathedral in Little Rock, where she was a guest speaker.   

Larry Burton recently reviewed her book, Inspired, on this blog, where she interprets some of our favorite Bible stories as Rachel wrestles with some of our most significant questions about suffering and doubt.  

Today’s writing relates to a quote from Searching for Sunday, in which Rachel struggles through the liturgical year, seeking her faith and a church community as she journeys through the sacraments.

At Pentecost, I will remember that Rachel reminds us that the wind, the Holy Spirit Jesus describes to Nicodemus, reaches even this Pharisee. Nicodemus eventually hears the wind, speaks up for Jesus at his trial, and cares for his body when most of the world abandons him.

Rachel reminds us that the Spirit is both within and beyond the traditional church if we only have eyes to see and feel it.  

There is no corner of the world where God has abandoned God’s people, even when it is hard to see God in that place or among that group of people. Rachel reminds us that we will know the Spirit by recognizing the fruit of the Spirit: peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Today, we may honor Rachel Held Evans as we pray that we may keep seeking God and the fruit of the Spirit in every possible place, as we talk about it in community and write about it as much as possible. 

Today, we are reminded of the Spirit so clearly seen in all those who cared for the sick during the pandemic, those who care for the dying, those who care for friends with cancer, those who care for the starving in Africa and Gaza, and those who care for children all over the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. Continue to give them strength and courage.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Bless you for supporting the ministry of our church and conference center, Camp Mitchell, on top of Petit Jean Mountain, by buying this book, A Daily Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter, part of the daily series of writings for the liturgical year. If you like this book, could you briefly write a recommendation on its Amazon page? More thank-yous than I can say!!! 

Joanna. joannaseibert.com