Naked Spirituality

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What is the contrast to nakedness in the metaphor
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Terms in this set (66)
What is the contrast to nakedness in the metaphor
In our lives we put on a Miriad of clothes at different points in our lives. We also dawn spiritual clothing that covers us and represents something of who we are. McLaren puts forward the idea of being naked and not ashamed.
What is the transition from the 12 practices to habits
By the time we passed through seasons a few times these 12 practices come to the soul what the rhythms of breath, sleep, and pile are to the body: constant, natural, life-giving, unconscious, effortless.
What is the relationship between the first season and subsequent seasons seasons
As in music or math it represents the basics...you must learn them first. If the lessons of simplicity are not learned well practitioners will struggle with later seasons but if one season doesn't give way to the next, spiritual life can grow stagnant or toxic.
Sorry - what is the temptation that keeps us from sorry
Convincing ourselves that we are better than we actually are
Sorry - what happens when What I actually am and What I project myself to be don't match?
We expend a lot of energy being that person that we're not and trying to look better than we are. Our heart becomes hard and we become callous. Instead of The Lord covering our sins, we're forced to expend energy to cover them.
Sorry - what happens when an organization, group or nation is not honest about who they are and the errors of their past?
An artificial morality is very easily created wherein individuals can justify what is right in Gods eyes and dilute morality for the group.
Here - why is God not named in this word
Words are symbols. The word God carries it's preconceived notion's that are based on what our minds are capable of defining. As Brian says: here I am, in the presence of a presence Who transcends, surpasses, overflows, and exceeds every attempt at definition, description, and even conception.
Here - what is the power of this word in the context of proximity
Here recognizes that God is with us now. It is up to us to invoke him and when we do he is here.
Here - how does here help awaken us to our own situation.
It recognizes that I don't have to be somewhere else - right here is okay. In fact, it's the only place I can be to begin to awaken spirituality. Here. Now. Just as I am.
Here - as a way of life what does here invoke
We begin to live with a perpetual here I am and here you are, in our hearts, inviting constant, vital connection, unbroken communion, lifelong friendship - starting right here, starting right now.
Here - how is communion within the context of wills surprisingWhen we approach the divine with our questions and desires, he already knows us by name and he has a will for us that is discoverable through communion. Communion allows us to tap into and find that will.Here - why are there so many descriptions for GodThe truth is, we can't wrap our heads around the whole concept of the Divine. Using descriptions (not proper names) and using a variety of them, reminds us of the different relationships and gifts that he provides and is.Here - what helps us invoke here-nessHere am I, Here are You, Here We are. Pause Who am I? Who are You? Who are we together? Pause. (It is the open question that is important here as it invokes a state of communion). Next words that can follow are: Home Next: Open Next: YouThanks - what can our daily bread symbolizeThe Lord gives what we need, daily. He gave the children of Israel their daily bread after he rescued them from Egypt.Thanks - why is materialism referred to as an addiction?The more we get, the more we should be grateful, but it also becomes more difficult to be grateful for everything we have. We want more when we have more, but the difficulty of ingratitude keeps us away from showing sufficient gratitude.Thanks - how does thanks connect us?When we ponder gratitude, we begin to see the relationship between things. For example, if I have gratitude for the sand, I may have gratitude for the ocean that washed it ashore, then for the tides that brought the water close, them the moon that brings the tides, etc. keeping an "open" prayer while picturing all of these creations can bring us a sense of gratitude.Thanks - what words accompany thanks?Thanks This Again Dayenu dah-YAY-noo (it would have been enough)O - what does this word representThe fullness of the divine...centered in love, the whole of our brains, all hemispheres of its creation bound together to experience unbridled jubilation as God does.O - Why is O a good choice for the simplicity season?The simplicity season is about spiritual awakenings. O is an exclamation that comes before a statement. O is a powerful symbol of wonder and infinity that symbolizes greatness and great emotion. I invites us to live and hold in wonder the grandeur of His creations, permitting us to exclaim out loud or inside or through our creativity a recognition of his greatness.O - how does creating open up O-ness?Creativity is a divine gift of beautiful expression that transcends the commonality of everyday life. It is the vulnerable expression of the divine that our father smiles upon and gives great expression to life. Creativity creates a divine connection to the ultimate creator.O - What are 7 disciplines to render your whole life a living sacrifice?-Give Him the first greeting each morning -give Him the first thanks at every meal -Give him the first Response to every pleasure -Give him the first consideration in your weekly schedule -Make God the first supervisor or customer for all work -Give Him the first part of every paycheque -give Him the joy of your creativityO - how can Romans provide a picture of giving our whole selvesIn the first 11 chapters, Paul tries to explain through a series of arguments how the gospel is for everyone; insiders and outsiders. After running into several walls and switching analogies over and over, he hits an aha statement that seems to transform his direction: "For God has imprisoned all in disobedience...so that God may be merciful to all" Then, caught up in this realization that he just composed, Paul begins to exclaim in great praise the Greatness of God. He concludes with an invitation for us to offer our whole lives as a sacrifice, not a sacrifice of animals.Sorry - what dissonance does sorry help us reconcile?The person we are portraying ourself to be vs the person we actually are.Sorry - What impacts come from focusing on status vs becoming?When we focus on status, our energies are going towards defining, protecting and projecting that status. When we are becoming, we recognize our true selves as what we really are, opening ourselves up to His mercy and grace.Sorry - how do we keep a "becoming" mindset?Recognize in prayer or communion the sins and weaknesses that you do have and pray for his mercy and grace as you strive to align your heart with his will.Sorry - what is the purpose of regret?When we recognize and experience regret, we carry that with us throughout our lives. It provides a humbling memory of the lessons and reminds us not to repeat them.Sorry - what words can we use in communion with God to exercise sorry?Repeat this prayer with lots of pausing to think and reflect: Sorry... <exhale while thinking of the sin or weakness> <inhale while thinking of the word mercy> Repeat.Help - What is Mature Petition?It takes us from "please take this problem away" to "please help me to be more_____ so that I can better deal with this situation"Help - how does the example of evolution help us see the need for challenges and complexity in life?...Help - according to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, what are the three progressive stages of love?1. Love for ones own sake 2. Love for God's sake 3. Love of oneself for God's sakeHelp - Why is the metaphor "Spiritual Jujitsu" used for Help?jujitsu is a weaponless martial art that turns the force of the attacker back on the attacker. I see our attacker being ourselves and Grace turns our weaknesses into forgiveness, and also provides, with each weakness, the opportunity to turn that weakness into binding ourselves more powerfully to him as we petition him help, moving from self-reliance to God-reliance. What things, now, today, could you use greater God-reliance?Please - how can compassion act as a bridge?When we feel compassion for someone, we understand that their issues are having an impact on them and in a way act as a bridge between God and that person, at least two other people care about what you're going through.Please - what does the opposite of compassion tend to be?JudgementPlease - How do dehumanizing and demonizing prevent us from providing intercession?As we work to reach out in compassion, to heal and help, we must do it in the way that God would, getting to the core of the problems that haunt our agressors. We cannot build a bridge to God through Judgement, but only recognizing that the individual must be experiencing fear, hate, rage, harmful habits, anxiety, insecurity or something else. Once we recognize the core of their heart, we can reach out in compassion.Please - What is our choice in the role of please?The example of the four friends lowering their friend through a hole in the roof provides an intense example of using feelings of compassion to do works.Please - What is the relationship between please and complexity?Complexity symbolizes the difficulty of life including questioning why in the face of injustice or tragedy. Complexity will never go away and encourages us to ask questions. Asking questions isn't bad. The words in the season of simplicity and complexity tune our hearts towards God and others. If we don't greet complexity with sorry, help and please, we are at risk of our hearts contracting and turning back to pride and selfishness.Please - what words, combined, help us exercise please as we're holding open a desire for someone in need?Please. bless, guide, support, comfort, stamina, strength, wisdomWhen - What does when representWhen represents the complexity of frustration in something that is not yet resolved. Example?When - Why practice when?It is not healthy to hold frustrations of when, how long and where inside. As many wrestled in the bible and as Joseph Smith wrestled at Liberty, when actually creates a void. A concrete recognition that something is missing. This void creates a power for movement, for empowerment, for new potential.When - What are other, or companion words for When?How long? where?Why - why does why need to be so extreme?Why exhausts our rage and in a way vents out the false god that haunts us. Without that full rage, we can't get to zero, preparing us forWhy - What are the three postures of complexity and the infest of each?When of anticipation, no of rage, why of acceptance.Why-why is it necessary to go through when and no before reaching why?As long as you're in when and no, you feel that you're still in control. You haven't yet embraced that life can't be boiled into a set of neat equations.Why-why is this question subtitled Why: the practice of lament and agony?You reach this stage when you truly feel alone and abandoned and your fighting hasn't worked. Your rage of control has been completely fruitless and you are left to sincerely wonder why it has to be this way.Why-why is this called surviving through abandonment?You get to the point where you feel like the God you expected and thought you knew has abandoned you. Why is where you work through the realization thatWhy - Why is this referred to as Surviving Abandonment and what is the irony about this abandonment?The god you knew has abandoned you. The combination of the rules you thought governed life and your own sense of entitlement about things has abandoned you. This now shattered image of God leaves you feeling abandoned.Why - There are two types of why. What are they and what characterizes each?Backward why - This is the why that is looking to the past for an explanation or how this fits into the broader "plan". Forward why - This is the why that searches for meaning in difficulty. It asks the question: What good can come out of this tragedy? What meaning can be derived from it?Why - How did Jesus show a pure example of naked spirituality in his death?By his question of "If it is possible, remove this cup", he showed,"When". By him asking "Why hast Thou forsaken me"? shows that he doesn't completely understand, but that he is putting ultimate trust in his Father.Why - What does it look like to hold a prayer of "Why" open?1. Imagine yourself alone, feeling your own pain, exhaustion and disappointment 2. Still alone, think of the suffering of others that nobody is doing anything about and ask yourself why 3. Now imagine yourself joining them as a group of people who suffer untold agony, hurt and darkness... 4. Now let your why lean forward...why does it have to be like that? Move forward to the possibility of not perfection, but greater hope and light.What did Gregory of Nyssa mean by "Only wonder understands"?Ponder...How do no and why pave the way for behold?They allow us to let go and move toward submission, opening ourselves up to just behold.What natural tendencies will we inevitably fight as we strive to practice behold?Trying to explain everything and getting rid of any uncertainty by trying to apply our current limited understanding to something complex.How do you practice behold?Take look at one thing and hold it up in amazement. Slowly observe it. Step back from your current perspective and observe from a higher place.Behold - Public place-what is the temptation when be holding people?Getting out of the courtroom of judging. Try be holding people now...Behold - nature...what is the temptation here?Assigning good and bad to what we see. Try be holding nature now...Behold - yourself in a difficult and uncomfortable situation...Try it...the key is being able to step outside the situation and look at it through the lens of God.Behold - what is the relationship between be holding and explanation?Like a fragile butterfly, to capture it would be to damage or kill it. Behold is slow, Savor, treasure, holding each fragment of meaning that accumulates into a larger and larger meaning.Yes - Simplicity is to Harmony as the call of Communion is to...The call of CommissionYes - Simplicity is to Harmony as the call to transformation is to...the vocation to transforming mission, to join with God in God's work in the world.Yes - Simplicity is to Harmony as "being together and seeing together" is to...serving and suffering together.Yes - Who does the call of Yes look offensive to?Those who seek fame, comfort, advantage, safety and status.Yes - Who does the call of Yes look joyful and good to?Those who seek to put compassion into action.Yes - What role do religious practices and ordinances play throughout our lives, including the regular Eucharist?They provide an opportunity to affirm our yes.Yes - Regular traditions and practices to re-affirm our yes can become routine. At what times is our Yes really challenged?When there is someone in need at a time of inconvenience. When its hard to serve. When we are tired. etc...[...] - what is the purpose of the silence we create through contemplation?The silence is a blank canvas that we create through contemplation having used the other words to deal with our incompletions. We may not have completely resolved our incompletions but we can still create silence. On this canvas we can receive inspiration, or just be in stillness.[...] - what gifts from God permit us to have silence in him?We must accept the embrace of his grace, mercy and perfect love. Doing so make it okay for us to dwell in silence. He gives us space if we accept it.