Devotion 40 - a measure of truth

the biblical measure of truth, as Thomas strongly affirms, has less to do with words and concepts and more to do with what we do and how we live.

knowledge is of limited value. The challenge is to translate knowledge into something valuable for people in their everyday lives. Science has in many cases made discoveries that benefit ordinary people in their everyday life. There may also be some things that science has done or contributed to that are not proud or worthy of praise.

Academic Theology has also given much that is beneficial to the church. But just like science it has accepted some assumptions and adopted many attitudes which has left it systematically disjointed from the church - the local community of faith that every work in theology should seek to serve.

One of the dangerous assumptions that both science and theology have played with is the idea that truth is something that can be KNOWN - in a person's head. i.e. that truth is conceptual.

Wisdom knows that disembodied "truth" is no truth at all. Any claim to truth is most likely pompous arrogance. Truth is lived out - embodied in a life and a lifestyle, a set of choices and attitudes made real in a person' life. There is no need to claim truth - the truth will speak quite clearly for itself!

Devotion 38 - discourse on love

this is my least favourite of all the devotions from Thomas. It's so easy to think of all the perfect and wonderful qualities and then list them in sentences starting with the words "Love is..."

so what? what difference does that make? Love is many wonderful things, but in the end it has to be experienced.

So, here is my contribution to the "Love is..." list:

Love gets it's hands dirty with the realities of life. Self-righteous religion presents a cautious, measured, "correct" position that distances itself from the messiness and troubles of sin-sick people.

Love get's up after a shocking night of sleeplessness, because of restless children, and then does what needs to be done to feed them and get them off to school.

Love sticks by people when many others ahve given up on them!

it's not pretty. but then, that's love for you!!!

Devotion 37 - Speak Lord...

There's this little idea that crept into my mind through a sunday school teacher or some other person during my childhood years. "If anyone sees GOd they will die". It comes from some Old Testament story - even though there are a few stories which contradict this concept - Moses encounters God on Sinai, Jacob wrestles with God on the banks of the Jabbok river...

somehow these little ideas take root like seeds and prevent other, perhaps more helpful, ideas from finding a place in the spectrum of talk about God...

If I had to choose between telling my child that seeing God will kill you, or seeing (encountering) God will bring you life, it wouldn't be hard to decide which one I would prefer!

Seeking an honest encounter with God may be scary, but not because the encounter with God is dangerous to our health. It will be scary because the truth about ourselves is scary - even daunting. But if there's anyone who can (gently) help us through the scary process of acknowledging the truth, it's the One who already knows about the skeletons in the closet...

...and says he loves us!

Devotion 33 - tough love

So it seems that Thomas knew about "tough love" more than 500 years ago... He says that love (charity) sometimes acts, and sometimes it doesn't.

The key according to today's devotion is a person's intention. Also a few hundred years before modern psychology, Thomas is able to identify the troubling role of the ego ("...a persons own inclination...") in determining and shaping our attitides and actions.

I agree that loving is not only acting and giving all the time. Love demands that we want what is best for the other...

sometimes that isn't another helping!

Devotion 32 - wise counsel

I try to meet with older, wiser people on a regular basis. I have lunch with one or two retired people every month or so to keep me connected with that stream of wisdom that doesn't often come from colleagues who are close to you, or buried in the same circumstances as you are.

More recently I approached a member of my community to meet me on a weekly basis for "devotional conversation" - conversation with a particular focus on my devotional and prayer life - essentially, my relationship with God.

It's been a good experience.

I think Thomas is offering rich advice in this devotion today!



Download Devotions 33-40 (in pdf format) here

Devotion 31 - Eagerness

Thomas surprised me with this thought: "use a little restraint even in good desires and inclinations..." it seems he's saying too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Too much eagerness can lead to a hasty, unwise decision. In the same way, too much caution could lead to indecision and difficulty in making important decisions.

A church without passion will certainly die but perhaps too much passion could be harmful in ways we aren't even aware of ...

I think that people who are addicted to things sometimes don't sort out their addiction, they just change the focus of their addiction. Moving from one excess to another fails to deal with the core problem...

so, restraint...

Devotion 27 - self-love and loving yourself

I think the "self-love" that Thomas is talking about would be better understood as "attachment to the self". In a real sense we are setting ourselves up for pain by becoming overly attached to our life, our possessions, our career - even our own bodies. These things will all pass away...

Loving yourself, as in caring, tenderness and attentiveness - is a key to truly loving others. I think many of us will struggle to really love others (without agenda) until we have learned to love ourselves.

Real love does not attach, cling or seek to control. I think we often "love" people in the same way we "love" ourselves... with great attachment - which makes freedom in life and relationship difficult to find!

Devotion 25 - Taking the lowest place

Thomas advises, in today's devotion, that we

"Always take the lowest place and the highest will be given you, for the highest cannot exist apart from the lowest."

I think the "highest place" is not a place of honour and recognition... as if taking a humble place will be rewarded with the opposite. Then the spiritual life would be reduced to simple sacrifice that leads to a payoff in the end. So anyone wanting to be great will give up greatness for a time so that they can get WHAT THEY WANT in the end.

The "highest place" is a mystery to those of us seeking highness - until we see life from the perspective of the lowest. This unfamiliar perspective for some of us opens our eyes to things we could not see before. "The highest place" is in fact a new persecptive, a new set of values - a new heart!

We place ourselves in the hands of Grace when we embrace the journey downwards... and trust that we are being taught what we really need to know...

Devotion 24 - being calm

i have to admit that there is a lot of Thomas a Kempis' language that I don't relate to. I try not to just write him off - I try to give him the benefit of the doubt and work out what issue in his time he might have been dealing with or responding to... and then consider how it might have relevance to me today.

today's meditation - for me - was about being calm. living with a contentment that is able to withstand the challenges of sometimes turbulent circumstances.

Thomas might say - it's easy to remain calm and peaceful when you're walking on a beach far from the daily concerns that plague you. But what about a calmness - a sense of enduring peace - that is not easily upset by the challenges of a busy day.

Whatever words Thomas might use to describe it - "a truly interior person" - what he is describing is something I admire in others - when I see it - and something I would long for myself.

I remember once being served by a young woman in an indian restaurant. She served us efficiently and courteously - but she moved slowly. Her whole body reflected peace and grace as she moved about her work. That brief encounter has inspired me for a long time...

Devotion 21 - letting our opinion be just that!

Richard Rohr likes to remind us that "a point-of-view is simply a view from a point"...

I like Thomas' challenge to us to consider why "opposition to our opinions" disturbs us so much.

Earlier there is the challenge about judging others. Most definitely worthy of reflection for all of us.

But the thing that most surprised me as I read slowly and prayefully was the line about being disturbed when our opinions are challenged.

I think it is always of spiritual value to reflect deeply when we are disturbed - or even more seriously - when we are offended. We assume that the cause of the disturbance (obviously!!!!) must be the person who caused the disturbance or the person who caused the sense of offence.

But Thomas is suggesting that this disturbance may have more to say about us, than about the other...

Eish. and suddenly the tide turns, and we find ourselves in the deep waters of surprising realisation... if we are willing to do the work of honest reflection, that is!

Devotion 20 - Reading the Holy Scriptures

Thomas asks us today to read for the sake of transformation - not to gain information!!!

I recently stumbled upon a wonderful metaphor for reading the Bible. It comes from the title of Eugene Peterson's recent book... Eat This Book. Seeing scripture as food for the soul is a far more helpful metaphor than the usual one of a "Manual for Living".

The thing about a Manual is that people only consult a manual when the thing isn't working. I believe that if we turn to our Bible only when things aren't working, we won't find easy solutions there to complex human struggles.

The Bible is daily food. As we "eat" it and as it becomes a part of us, we become a part of it - we become the word - so that we are shaped and formed by the teaching of scripture. This is a much more challenging way of thinking about scripture. It doesn't require that believe that it's INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (which it may be)... all that's required is that you EAT!!!!

Devotion 17-18 - Living with Tempation

I've always enjoyed the story in Genesis chapter 3 about the Talking Snake - the tempter. It's interesting to me that the snake has no actual power to enforce it's desires - only it's voice. The snake's powers come through convincing people to listen and "obey".

I believe that temptation is precisely like that. No power to make us do things - but subtle power over us when we are drawn to the attractive "offers" that the tempter makes.

I believe (controversially?) that evil has no spiritual power - until we give our consent and bring our powers and abilities to bear on it's purposes. When the voice of the snake get's us picking apples and offering them to others... then there is power - but not evil power... OUR power!!!

Devotion 13-16 - living with trials and suffering

There is a strong part of me that doesn't want to be told WHY we have to suffer. My heart feels it something like this: if there is a reason why I'm suffering then i have to accept it as a part of human existence. And there are some kinds of suffering that are just never going to be acceptable as a "normal" part of life.

for example, the suffering and trials of a woman living in an abusive relationship. That kind of suffering is simply not acceptable - and so I don't think it's ok to say to that woman - your trials are a part of God's plan for your growth and maturity...

but then there are the trials and suffering that are clearly self-induced. (or becoming clearer...) When I've decided to start exercising and I've confidently sprinted down the road and find myself 3 kms from home, exhausted... and now I have to limp home because I've overdone it... suffering - but not without responsibility on my part... these are the "trials" that are worth praying about and reflecting on deeply - they may reflect all sorts of insights that would be of help to us. They reveal challenges and weaknesses that we may choose to address. These insights invite us to grow and deepen what it means to be "moral", "responsible" and "aware"!

incredibly free, but not without danger...

Further reflections on Devotion 11...

Thomas suggests that Peace will be found when we "Direct [our] every intention toward pleasing [God] alone"...

in some ways this makes space for incredible freedom... We can say no to many things on the basis that it is not concerned with pleasing God. The idea of living to please God alone strikes me as a very much less busy life than the one I now lead.

Perhaps for some people the idea of pleasing God would take them out of their comfort zone and into new committments and new areas of activity and service. But for me, the comfort zone i would have to leave is the comfort of activity and business. Actions speak louder than words in the world of achievement. And there's a big spot-light on our lives, esp. those who live in the public eye. Busy-ness and activity is the place where I hide my fear of insignificance.

and the danger...? well, most people I know who claim (very overtly) to be living to please God alone seem very much like they are using that goal as a way out of having to face some very real challenges in their lives. For instance, the person who "shares his faith" in an objectionable and aggressive way makes no friends, but claims that he is willing to handle the "persecution" because he "seeks to please God alone"... there's a problem there! How can we seee to please God alone without using that powerful idea for our own agenda...?

Devotion 11 (Day 13) - progress in peace

am I getting Thomas right here? Peace is not an absence of difficulty or a life that is without disruption or distraction. Peace is a an attitude and a quality that is present (or not) within each different circumstance of our lives...

The statement at the beginning of today's meditation sums it all up... The voice of Christ comments - we all want peace but we don't all want to do what brings peace.

If I may be so bold as to rephrase... I think we might ask the question: "do we really want peace?" (if we're not willing to do what it takes to claim it?) Is Thomas not, in a roundabout way suggesting that the problem begins in our hearts. We have not truly longed for peace yet - otherwise we would cling to God and to Christ and we would trust them enough to listen and obey and find the peace they are offering.

what is it about business and conflict and business and work and business... that we so "love" that we would cling to non-peace in favour of the peace Christ offers?

Do you find it hard to rest?

Has it been a surprise to find that Sundays are not included in the 40 days leading up to Lent?

Devotion 10 (Day 11) - choose less rather than more

this week we've been reflecting on the spiritual discipline of frugality...

interesting that Thomas doesn't say "be happy with less". rather his encouragement is an intentionality: always choose to have less rather than more.

poverty, and the indignity and brokenness it can result in is not the aim of a simple life. There is little choice, little intentionality in situations of desperate poverty.

but to choose to have less rather than more... ah, well now we're speaking about another group of people!

Devotion 9 (Day 10) - Peace and Zeal...

Thomas is profoundly contemporary in todays devotion: Letting our progress in the spiritual life depend on "it's externals alone" is regarded as extremely dangerous.

It seems that our consumer world and consumer culture has succeeded in convincing us that things are only real if they can be touched, measured and experienced. And consumers have become impatient. they will buy on credit because they want, no they deserve, these things NOW!!!

Romans 12:2 reminds us to beware of conforming ourselves to the patterns of this world. Thomas is calling us forward toward a mature view which is able to perceive beyond the superficial to measure and discern what is "progress" in the spiritaul journey.

Too much of what is encouraged in many churches relates to instant gratification and self-serving happiness and fulfillment - the "externals alone"!

Devotion 8 (Day 9) - the grace of devotion

it seems almost a paradox that this meditation is entitled the grace of devotion, when it comes across so harshly - asking us to humiliate the self (para 2) and blame the self (para 3)... this really does seem to reflect a tone which is unfamiliar and difficult to relate to.

and yet... i am finding that the ego - that aspect of the self that is stubbornly dedicated to self-preservation, concerned with image, how one is perceived etc.... - is extremely well versed in avoiding being challenged or unseated.

Could it be that to destabilise the ego, one actually has to resort to this kind of "radical surgery"?

Devotion 7 (Day 8) - humble works

the phrase that really stood out for me today was...

"Refresh yourself in good deeds"

I wonder how many of us regard "good deeds" as a refreshing thing...

Devotion 6 (day 7) - Self-abasement

Woah! sounds grueling... self-abasement...

i find some of the old language and hectic rejection of self quite difficult to accept. is it that Thomas is a little too hard on the person, asking so much "self-abasement" - or is it that I am so well versed in our modern self-help culture, with it's 7 step programmes and methods of growing self-esteem etc etc etc..

is the spirit and heart of the prayer true - that we meet God on the journey down...?

...that death comes before resurrection?

midnight is where the day begins

(from a song by U2)

Devotion 5 (Day 6) - Hiding Grace

I would encourage you to read and re-read today's devotion. Much is "hidden" by the older language of this text. When Thomas encourages us to conceal our spiritual experience and not give too much attention to it, that can easily resemble an unhealthy denial and sublimation - which so quickly leads to doormat mentality - humility is hiding our light under a bushel.

Rather, I think Thomas is referring to the common problem of the spiritual life - and most concerning in our present time - that we focus on the outward signs of devotion and spiritual experience, talking a lot and measuring alot by those "credentials"

I think today's meditation challenges us deeply to a spirituality of the journey - not quick-fix, but a faithful, honest, searching, long-term spirituality that puts a lot of emphasis on becoming good, and less emphasis on what only sounds good...

Sunday is a REST day!!!

The 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays!!! So, if you've given up chocolate.....

Devotion 4 - listening

there are at least two different motivations for listening to an "authority"... the most common motivation has to do with duty and obedience. We read scripture and take it seriously because we sense that is the right thing to do. authority precedes the reading. We read expecting something because we believe that it has something to say.

Another motivation comes from experience. whatever led us to read scripture in the first place is not so significant. We have discovered, from reflecting on scripture, that it has something significant to offer. Experience shows that it describes the landscape well. When we use the "map" we regularly find the destination and so we have come to trust the map because it has proved itself to be helpful...

either way, Thomas is suggesting that we read scripture from a position of trust. that it is this sense of trust that enables us to read "in silence"... any voice of skepticism or argumentative spirit is put aside so that our spirit can be shaped and directed by the authoritative voice of Scripture...

Devotion 3 - God be with you

I wonder what it mean to "take care that God be with you" - it can't possibly refer to actual presence. Scripture promises that God will neither leave us or forsake us. God with us isn't up to us. So what could it mean?

I remembered a prayer by Richard Foster today - from his book Prayers from the Heart...

Prayer of Tears

Enter my heart, O God.
Let me see what breaks your heart.
Le my heart be broken also.


...take care that God be with you in everything you do...

Devotion 2 - avoiding pride

I do not think that Thomas saying that all created things (including humanity) are untrustworthy or inherently sinful.

What he may be warning against is the common human tendency to equate physical well-being with overall wellbeing. Trusting in self, or in people or in created things may be a reference to a life that is overly concerned with the usual measures of ok-ness. like, do i have a job? is there food in the fridge? do my friends accept and respect me? are my children in a good school? do i look presentable?

These are not insignificant concerns.

but when these concerns take up all of our energy there may be little left over to direct towards other questions like, is there food for my soul? how are my abilities and talents being used to honour God? how sensitive am I to the needs of people around me? am i becoming more patient, growing in kindness...?

Devotion 1 - humble opinion of self

i think this devotion raises the question regarding learning. When I was at school intelligence was related to how good you were at Maths. Relational or social abiility was seen as a side issue. Now that I am a parent (and a marriage partner) my ability to get an "A" in Maths pales into insignificance.

What kind of "intelligence" does the spiritual life invite us to discover and honour?

Day 1 - beginning

Dear friend,

Welcome to the St John's Devotional Reading Project!

We've entitled this project "Seeds" - each day through Lent we will allow seeds to be planted in our minds, in our hearts, in our souls...

The Leader of our Devotional Journey is Thomas a Kempis. These devotional meditations, written more than 500 years ago, can provide for us a starting point from which to move into healthy and searching times of reflection during this Lent.

The purpose of this project is to encourage people to engage with devotional writings that have substance.

A secondary purpose is also to try to bring devotional reading to life by making it more easily accesible and encouraging some interaction and conversation between fellow readers...

Some suggestions for the 40 days:

1. Try to read everyday. Each meditation should not take longer than 5 minutes to read. With time for reflection, 5-10 minutes should be sufficient. This should be achievable even for a very busy person.

2. Try to make a little time to think about the reading. There are one or two questions included after each meditation to assist you in reflecting on what Thomas is saying.

3. Use the method that is most helpful for you:

• We can provide printed notes, or email you a copy of the devotions. I have attatched the first 8 devotions to this email - more are on their way. The Devotions are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. You can download a free Adobe Reader (which is useful and essential software) by clicking here.
• Alternatively, if you have internet access, try visiting the Seeds Website and access the daily devotion there.
• On the website you will find a link to the Seeds Blog where I will post a daily response to the devotion and invite comments, questions and further responses from anyone who would like to engage deeper. I would encourage as many people as possible to visit the Blog, listen to what others are saying and make a comment.
• Finally, we can provide you with a CD of the devotions, read by Ian Wiseman and featuring contemplative music to assist in quieting yourself to listen to the daily reading. If you would like a CD please email me and you can collect it from the Potter's House. (if you have an iPod, you can also download the devotions in mp3 format from the website) The purpose of the CD/mp3's format is two-fold, to assist those who are not able to read easily and also to provide a way for busy people to participate while driving or at the gym.

Remember the Ash Wednesday service at 5.30pm today (6th) which marks the beginning of Lent. If possible try to stay for 10 minutes after the service to meet with others who are doing the Seeds project...

I am looking forward to the journey!!!

Welcome!

This blog is an attempt to create an online conversation about the material we are reading each day. So far about 50 people have signed up for the Seeds project, so it's an exciting prospect...

Conversation could be helpful for a variety of reasons...

Thomas wrote these devotions more than 500 years ago. Perhaps some of his ideas or perspectives need to be adapted or translated into our context and experience in 2008. I think the relevance of his ancient writings will shone through, but there may be times when we struggle to grasp his insight. Or we may simply disagree with Thomas. But conversation will give us an opportunity to share the struggle to understand.

Also, conversation will aid in our reflection. Others may hear or grasp things that we glanced over.

Finally, a shared conversation will allow us to celebrate the discoveries and the growth.

So, as the seeds are planted, visit the blog and share some of your thoughts. I will, as my committment to the conversation, post a daily "conversation starter" on the blog. You are then invited to post a "comment" that will be visible to all other visitors... Let's read and reflect together!