A Labyrinthine Journey

Wow, it has been too long since I have sat down to reflect and really this is one of those “can’t write now, but I’m thinking of you” posts. Here are my excuses:

1. 3 weeks ago I was on a 5 day directed retreat without computer,
2. since we are moving in about 8 days not only have we been packing, but I’ve been trying to make sure things I can wrap up for my successor are wrapped up, and
3. last week was our 4 day Iowa Annual Conference (which takes at least a day to recover from).

Now those things have two results: not much time to reflect and write, and an accumulation of things that I want to reflect and write about.

I’m hoping soon to have a convergence of all the universal energies so that I can get back to reflecting and writing. Whether it is where I am currently sitting or in a new town and place, we will have to see.

You want a hint at some of those things?

• more reflection on the whole idea of status and service with ordination/certification
• Many reflections from Gerald May’s last book, The Wisdom of Wilderness which led my retreat.
• Reflecting on our thanatoptic dillemma in the church as a result of Dr Philip Amerson’s address to the Clergy Session about the Study on Ministry.
• A couple reflections from various teaching times at Annual Conference.

How’s that?

Oh, you probably are wondering about the thanatoptic dilemma. Thanatos is the greek word for death and dying. It is Dr Amerson’s view (and I am really appreciating it) that one of the biggest dilemmas facing the church today is that we are too focused on a perspective that sees only the death of the church and we have forgotten that we are a church of resurrection, formed and reformed by the Spirit of God not by our structures, circumstances and numerical tables. (how’s that for a taste?)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 at 8:58 am and is filed under church. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.