tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11152324332480145702024-03-11T21:51:41.548-07:00Bishop Dan's SermonsSupplement to Bishop Dan's BlogBishop Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00677552161067636954noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-62496893021581547962023-03-19T13:28:00.002-07:002023-03-19T13:31:14.390-07:00GROUP THINK VS. FAITH<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blind man in today’s Gospel is one of my favorite Bible characters. I’d give him the Oscar for best supporting actor in a New Testament role. He gave us the hymn verse, “I once was . . . blind but now I see.”That isn’t quite what he said though. Not wrong -- but the feeling’s not right.We translate his words as “I see.” </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>But in the original Greek, it’s just one word – </span><i>Vlepo.</i><span> “I once was blind. Now: </span><i><span>vlepo</span></i><span>.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s emphatic like the French <i>Voila, </i>the Spanish <i>Claro, </i>or the Italian <i>Presto. </i>Once I couldn’t find it. Now <i>voila</i>. Once I didn’t have a clue. Now <i>claro. </i>Once I was stuck. Now <i>presto.</i>Once I was blind. Now <i>vlepo. </i>It’s a crisp, emphatic rejoinder.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Pharisees didn’t like it one bit that Jesus restored this man’s sight. They knew such healing was just hocus pocus to fool rural hicks in Galilee. Now Jesus had healed someone in the city. To add insult to injury, he did it on the Sabbath. Well that wasn’t right. So they confronted the man with an undeniable religious truth. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">“</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>We know this Jesus is a sinner, so how can he have restored your sight? Just answer us that.”He replied. “You say he is a sinner. I don’t know whether he’s a sinner or not. All I know is I was blind. Now </span><i><span>vlepo</span></i><span>.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see what I like about this guy? It’s such a Zen thing to say, He physically sees while the Pharisees remain spiritually blind. So, how is it that this man could see but they couldn’t? There’s a clue in the singular and plural subjects of the sentences in our Gospel. The Pharisees (plural) speak 10 times – always, every time -- in one voice. I hear their voices in unison like the chorus in a Greek drama. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Whether or not they literally spoke in unison, they all said the same thing always in lockstep because they thought in lockstep. They say, “We know . . ..” They’re stuck in group think mentality</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As John Heywood said in 1546 and Ray Stevens sang in 1970, “There is none so blind as he who will not see.” Like the churchmen who refused to look through Galileo’s telescope for fear they might see something different from Church teachings, our Pharisees are afraid to look outside the box of what “we know” – “how we do things.” The only people in this story who speak for themselves (first person singular) are Jesus and the man he healed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Group think is a cataract obscuring insight into ourselves, each other, and the world. We all live in groups and every group -- political parties, churches, families, poker clubs – all of them have their dogmas and their heresies.They all try to think alike.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need community. We become ourselves through relationships. We need to sing together, pray together, serve the world together.Community is good. But it can easily slip into group think conformity. Unless we keep enough self to think our own thoughts, feel our own feelings, pray our own prayers, we have nothing to bring to the community table-- be it church, family, friends, whatever. Without individual identity, we melt into a human glob.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The difference between community and group think conformity is just this: Community is built on love; group think is built on anxiety. Anxiety wants to control life, pin it down with certainties and rules. Then we want a group to assure us we’re right.The group think veil hangs from a rod of anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our secular critics accuse Christianity of religious group think.There’s some truth in that. Christians are fallible human beings. The Church is a fallible community. Anxiety distorts religion into everyone sticking to the same opinions, rituals, and customs. That’s religious group think. No argument.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But group think isn’t faith. In fact it’s the opposite of faith. It’s fear. It’s anxiously trying to tie life down with rigid rules. Faith on the other hand rachets down our anxiety by trusting Reality with an open heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the disciples were afraid during a storm at sea,Jesus said, “Why are you afraid? O ye of little faith?” His most repeated commandment was “Do not be afraid.” The Bible says, “Do not be afraid” 365 times – once for each day of the year. John writes, “God is love,” and, “There is no room for fear in love.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;">Faith isn’t afraid because it knows that so much is just gift. Jesus said, </span><span class="initcap"><span style="line-height: 36px;">“Have no fear little flock.It is the Father’s good pleasure to <u>give</u> you the Kingdom</span></span><span style="line-height: 36px;">”</span><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"> </span><i><span style="line-height: 36px;">-- </span></i><span style="line-height: 36px;">not reward you with the Kingdom – “<u>give</u> you the Kingdom.”<i> </i></span><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"> We don’t make the sun rise, the flowers bloom, or the rivers flow. We don’t paint the shadows of bare branches on the winter snow. We don’t have to control things by what we think and what we do. Mary Oliver wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">I don’t know . . . what . . . prayer is.</span><span style="color: #111111;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;">I do know . . . how to kneel down in the grass,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">how to be idle and blessed . . ..</span></span><span style="color: #242424;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith relaxes our minds and opens our hearts to receive these gifts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We don’t get free from group think by some heroic act of defiance. We don’t rebel against our communities. We need them. It’s faith that sets us free from group think. We get free by exercising faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.333332px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One faith exercise is to notice situations we are trying to control -- then just step back and make space for the gift.We might give up fretting for Lent. We might “kneel down in the grass to be idle and blessed.” Then look around and see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.333332px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.333332px;">Post-Script. Quite a few people told me how much they apperciated this sermon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.333332px;">They cited specific points that struck them. They asked me how to spell words I had used. But I got more people saying they could not hear it. We had tried multiple sound amplification technique and I used the best. Sound checks proved that it was working perfectly. Nonetheless, I asked people siting in different parts of the building if they could hear. They said they heard the sound check perfectly clearly. But many people could not hear the sermon. I was completely perplexed. I then reread the text and came to a suspicion the problem might not be acoustic but spiritual. </span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-1309885156783374352023-03-03T16:16:00.189-08:002023-03-04T15:21:45.772-08:00MY POOR EARTHBOUND COMPANION AND FELLOW MORTAL<p> <span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On Ash Wednesday we talk </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">about sin and death together. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">So what’s the connection? </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">It isn’t that sin causes death. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Death is the price tag for having a life to begin with.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">The connection is that we don’t want to think </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">about either one. Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize winning book, </span><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u> </u></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><u>The Denial of Death</u>, says, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">to </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">a greater or lesser extent </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">we all pretend we aren’t mortal </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">– like the Paul Simon lyric: </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“and so I’ll continue to continue to pretend </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">my life will never end. . ..”</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">No surprise there. </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But Becker goes on to show convincingly </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">that denial of death </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">is the psychological root </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"> of all sorts </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">of regrettable behaviors </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">and our refusal to own up to them. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">In Christian parlance, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">to the extent we deny our death, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">we deny our sin.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">I once heard several people furiously </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">denying they were racist</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"> though no one had said they were.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">In Georgia we used to say, “It’s the hit dog hollers.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">People accuse religion of shoring up our denial.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">They say it’s a pie in the sky fantasy for hiding </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">from hard truths.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Often, they’re right. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Many Ash Wednesday sermons </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">will caution people not to think </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">about anything unpleasant. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Some priests use cute variations </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">on the imposition ashes. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">More than once I’ve heard: </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“Remember that ‘You are stardust. </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">You are golden.’” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">There’s plenty of escapist religion.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">But St. Augustine, defined “sin” as precisely </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">this kind of escapism. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Sin is disengagement. Sin is denial. Religion can be sin.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">In Isaiah’s day, people were jumping through religious hoops </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">so they could bypass the hard stuff.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">But God wasn’t impressed. He said, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“On the day of your fasting . . . you exploit yourworkers.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife. . .”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">He had no use for petty pieties like giving up coffee, candy, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">or Face Book for 40 days – as if that makes us ok. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">He thought we had real issues to deal with </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">– especially each other. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Feel good religion, self-help books, and video games </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">are all escape routes for fleeing from the common life </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">of family, church, and civic engagement. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Smoke and mirrors religion won’t cut it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">God says, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“Let’s get real.” </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">This is real. We’re awash in unspoken grief </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">that life doesn’t meet our expectations. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">We’re lonely. Sometimes we’re angry. Often, we’re afraid. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">We aren’t who we want to be, so we’re ashamed. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Sooner or later, we’re going to die. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">It adds up to a load of unacknowledged grief </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">we act out in unfortunate ways. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">That leave us with a rucksack of unacknowledged guilt. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Theologian Luke Bretherton says we avoid guilt andgrief</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">in two ways: denial and projection. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Denial pushes our guilt, grief, and shame down </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">below our awareness, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">but they don’t go away. They fester.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">So we project our negative feelings on scapegoats </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">-- human screens for the parts of ourselves </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">we refuse to own.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">I’m not selfish – not manipulative – not judgmental. </span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">I’m not angry and I’ll fight the man who says I am. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">I don’t have the psychological baggage </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">that afflicts everyone else. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Not me. It’s the immigrants, the gays, the homeless.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Jesus said a Pharisee and a Tax Collector went up topray:</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“The Pharisee stood apart and prayed,</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people – </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">robbers, evildoers, adulterers, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">or even like this tax collector. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">I fast twice a week (and tithe).’” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">But the Tax Collector prayed, “God have mercy on me a sinner.”</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">He didn’t escape. He didn’t project. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">He owned his moral failures. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">It was the Tax Collector who went home justified.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">If we want a Lenten discipline, let’s try this one: </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Withdraw our projections. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">The road to personal wholeness begins </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">when we withdraw our projections. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Jesus’ word for personal wholeness was “salvation.”</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Whoever we’re demonizing, give it up – at least for 40 days. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Instead of giving up chocolate, give up a grudge. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Maybe it’s someone in our family, church, or neighborhood. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Maybe it’s someone we disagree with over politics. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">A rational disagreement is good. A principled stance is good. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">But passionate animosity is ineffective and fueled by projection. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">This Lent let’s withdraw our projections and look inside. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">When we stop blaming others and acknowledge </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">our own sin and mortality, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">two things become possible:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">First, we can see someone else as, in Robert Burns’ words,</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">“my poor earthbound companion and fellow mortal. “ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Second, we can do some serious soul-searching, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">cultivating a healthy self-awareness.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">We may find some stuff that isn’t pretty. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">But we may also discover the capacity </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">to forgive ourselves for being human. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">We don’t have to beat ourselves up. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Beating ourselves up misses the point.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">The point is to acknowledge our faults </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">with Christ-like compassion. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Maybe start with just one. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Acknowledge one fault and forgive yourself. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Then forgive someone else.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">If we practice the gentle art of self-forgiveness, </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">we can forgive our “poor earthbound companion(s) </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">and fellow mortal(s).” </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">We may even forgive life for disappointing us long enough </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">to actually live it. </span><span style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">Wouldn’t that be an Easter! Wouldn’t that be a Resurrection!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></div><p><br /></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-53535612451100059582023-02-13T12:26:00.004-08:002023-02-13T12:38:52.030-08:00RECIPES FOR LIFE RECONSIDERED<p><span style="font-size: large;">“Where is the wisdom of the wise?” Paul asks,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Philosopher Auguste Compte was the child of the Enlightenment </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> and the father of much philosophy that would follow.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A large stone monument<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to Compte stands in front of the Sorbonne, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> one of the world’s greatest universities.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It portrays the triumph of modern philosophy</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> over the both of the old wisdom ways </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>– Greco-Roman Classical philosophy : </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Aristotle, Cicero, and Marcus Aurelius. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> and the Medieval Christianity of St. Francis, St. Benedict, etc.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The statue of a proud Compte is big, very big.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> There are two small figures at his feet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> To his left is a forlorn Classical Greek boy with his lyre </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> resting idly in his lap -- superseded and un-played.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> To his right is Mary, the Christ Child in her arms;</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but she does not look at Baby Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> She gazes upward in rapt adoration of Auguste Compte.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> But on the day I saw this monument,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a real life pigeon was perched on Compte’s head,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> there to do what pigeons do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The pigeon’s name was Paul.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Actually, the Bible isn’t anti-intellectual.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The so-called “wisdom” Paul rejected</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>wasn’t about reason in search of truth. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It was a prescriptive philosophy </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>– a how to succeed at business formula</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> -- only it’s broader than business. It’s how to succeed at life .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Take the adage, “Early to bed, early to rise,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Ben Franklin was paraphrasing a Greek adage from </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> the how-to-be successful guidelines of Paul’s day,<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> what he called “the wisdom of the world.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Prescriptions for a happy life still abound.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Some are religious like Joel Osteen’s prosperity gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Others are secular or New Age. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Amazon offers The 7 Habits of Effective People, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>The 48 Laws of Power,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Think And Grow Rich, and multiple guides for how </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>to make our spouse affectionate, our children obedient,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>our subordinates at work docile, and our boss distracted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Much of this is rubbish, but there’s some sound advice in the mix.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It would be rank hypocrisy of me to condemn it all</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-- not while I eat a brain health diet, do family systems therapy,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and keep a warehouse of nutritional supplements.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> So eat kale. Wear sunscreen. Fine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> But here’s Paul’s point: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>T</span><span style="font-size: large;">here are limits to what life prescriptions can do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Too many things are beyond our control;</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>most are even beyond our influence:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>genetics, family history, social and economic constraints,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>the weight of history and random luck.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> When we drive down life’s highway, we should drive carefully, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> but we aren’t the only driver on the road. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Other people run red lights.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Driving carefully down life’s highway </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>improves our odds but it doesn’t guarantee happiness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Kentucky poet Robert Penn Warren says,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“the earth grind(s) on its axis . . . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> history drip(s) in darkness like a leaking pipe . . ..” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Call it entropy, Murphy’s law, fate, or bad luck. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes life is tough.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Christians say it this way: life has a cross in it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Sometimes we fail. Sometimes we suffer. Eventually we die.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> That’s the cross. But you know who we meet at the cross? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus. We meet Jesus at the cross.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> At Calvary he made our cross his cross.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The cross isn’t the only place of communion with Jesus,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>but it’s the place that we need him most. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We meet him in times of trouble, at the point of our vulnerability.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I’ve had times of trouble. You have too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Maybe you’ve got troubles today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Those troubles lead us to the Beatitudes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Matthew’s and Luke’s versions are a little different, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>but their point is the same.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Instead of “Blessed are the indigent,” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>it’s “blessed are the depressed.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Instead of “Blessed are the malnourished;’ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>it’s “blessed are the downtrodden.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus never said, “Blessed are the rich, the good-looking </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and charming, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the self-assured and serene, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span><span> </span>the prosperous and the healthy.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s “blessed are the afflicted, the anxious, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>the stumblers on life’s road.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus isn’t prescribing masochistic self-mortification </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>like Medieval monks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We don’t have to fast, flagellate ourselves, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>or climb stone steps on our knees.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Life deals us our share of sorrow.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> But when hardship inevitably happens, Jesus meets us there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> When we bleed, he bleeds – we bleed together. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus doesn’t just comfort us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> He redeems our suffering by investing it with spiritual meaning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> He doesn’t cause our suffering. The world does that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>He redeems it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus turns our tragedy into the gateway to joy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We are blessed when we falter, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> because we meet Jesus at the cross</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> and that’s Communion with the power of love in it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> For Holy Communion to happen, the bread of life must be broken.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Hemingway said,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“The world breaks everyone and afterward </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> many are strong in the broken places.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> In R. S. Thomas’s poem about the sinking </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>of a Welsh fishing trawler, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">he says to Jesus,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> “You are there also </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>at the foot of the precipice</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>of water that was too steep for the drowned . . ..</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> You have made an altar of the deck of the lost</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> trawler whose spars are your cross. . . . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>There is a sacrament there . . ..”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our cross. Jesus’ cross. It’s the same cross. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That’s the sacrament. That’s Communion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> We may or may not feel his presence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> But he’s there. We know it by faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Rough patches are where we find the love of Jesus,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span><span> </span>and to know the love of Jesus is better – it is better –</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>than being “healthy, wealthy and wise.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> A high school music teacher, Rhea Miller, said it best:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span><span> </span>“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’d rather be his than have riches untold.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’d rather be led by his nail pierced hand.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-51536858375713057062023-01-07T15:31:00.002-08:002023-01-07T15:34:35.104-08:00LET US GO TO BETHLEHEM AND SEE<p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In 16th century Spain, where Teresa of Avila was the abbess </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>of a convent,<span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">the high point in Catholic mysticism </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>was a vision of the Virgin Mary.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One night a novice rushed to Teresa’s door and breathlessly called,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Rev. Mother, Rev. Mother, I have received a vision </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>of the Blessed Virgin.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Teresa replied, “It’s alright. Just keep praying. It will go away.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Teresa, you see, had read today’s Gospel lesson</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>in which the Shepherds teach us a spiritual practice </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> that runs 180 degrees opposite <span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>to what we sometimes call “spirituality.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This story isn’t about getting into some “spiritual” zone </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> -- an out-of-the ordinary state above this world </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>of jobs, bills, and car repairs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We may think of “spirituality” as a place </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> of deep serenity, or visions, or a glow of love</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> where our feet don’t touch the pavement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">All that’s good. I’m not disparaging it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But Luke is about a different spirituality – related but different.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like Teresa’s novice, our Shepherds were in the zone </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> -- gazing in awe at the night sky.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They saw angels, heard the heavenly chorus. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But what did they do next?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They could have just reveled in their advanced spiritual state,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> maybe built a shrine to mark the spot.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They could have travelled to a holy place to give thanks</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> —maybe to Mount Zion -- or if they were interfaith </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> to Delphi, Kathmandu, or a Celtic thin place.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Jerusalem Temple was just up the road.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Instead they went to a stable in po-dunk Bethlehem – population, 300 </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- </span><span style="font-size: large;">to see a poor couple with a new baby</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To imagine this scene the way Luke painted it, just for today,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> we need to set aside our creche and Christmas carols.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We’ll go back to them later but —just for today </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">– </span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">let’s look at Luke’s description</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> of what the shepherd’s saw in Bethlehem. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are no angels – no wisemen – no little drummer boy </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> – an ox, maybe, but no lamb.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If the poor baby woke, he cried. This wasn’t the zone. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They were looking at earth, not heaven -- at people, not angels.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is “the sacred ordinary” – a spiritual discipline </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> of simple, caring attention to people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The words “look” or “see” appear in this Gospel over 100 times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Luke keeps saying, “Look at what’s right there in front of you.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christian practice begins with holy people watching </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>– the holy watching of ordinary people -- </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>the grocery store cashier, </span><span style="font-size: large;">the furnace repair technician, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>our neighbors walking their dogs</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It takes an interest in people – not their roles or functions – </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>but themselves</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> -- attending to their stories, their situations, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>the expressions on their faces. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We don’t evaluate them like an HR executive, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>diagnose them like a therapist, </span><span style="font-size: large;">or judge them like a magistrate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We see them personally -- or as painter might,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> as DaVinci saw Mona Lisa </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and Vermeer saw the girl with a pearl earring . </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Chaucer, Burns, Hawthorne, and Melville </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>all worked in Customs Houses.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Their jobs were so boring they had to watch the people there </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>just to stay awake.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those people became characters </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>in some of the world’s greatest literature. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">John Donne’s newest biographer says Donne’s core message is that</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“for all its horror, the human animal is worth your attention.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are on stage with a wild and wonderful cast of characters</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> – if we just look up and notice them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Paying attention is delightfully engaging, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>but it isn’t just for entertainment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s the foundation of morality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We cannot treat people justly unless we first see them clearly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Morality – Buddhists call it “right action” – is a natural, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> nearly automatic, response to other people if we just look at them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">20th Century philosophers, Simone Weill and Iris Murdoch, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> both taught that morality isn’t following a rule book,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>and it doesn’t spontaneously gush from our good hearts.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Moral acts happen -- almost reflexively -- </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>when we really see each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today’s neurology supports their point. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Murdoch said, morality begins </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> with “patient, loving regard directed upon a person . . ..” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Weill said, “Attention, taken to its highest degree, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>is the same thing as prayer.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Weill left her professorship to work in factories and on farms </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> with ordinary people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing them led her from agnosticism to Christian faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Murdoch was an atheist.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But Weill believed that an atheist who pays attention to people </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> is a better Christian than is a Christian who doesn’t pay attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Luke’s primordial commandment is, “Look” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> because seeing is itself an act of justice and mercy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In The Death Of A Salesman, Willy Loman is </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>the most mundane of people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But, at his burial, his widow pleads,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“He’s not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Bible says, “If we don’t find Christ in our brothers and sisters, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> we won’t find him in Heaven.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">True, but Christ is both divine and human. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His humanity is our contact point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, we may see his divinity in someone and say “namaste.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But that’s advanced practice. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First we connect to Christ’s humanity </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> by looking for the humanity in others.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just see them as human and take an interest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So I invite you to make this your 2023 spiritual discipline. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Look. Look closely. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Look beneath people’s orneriness, wrongheadedness,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> rudeness, and outrageous politics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those are just costumes. Look beneath them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Look deeper for the struggling, vulnerable, mortal person </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> who is Christ just by being human.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we see people as themselves, we bless them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It may make them better. It will make us better.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It certainly makes our world vastly more interesting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Brothers and sisters, Bethlehem is all around us</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let us go to Bethlehem and see.”</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>1</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-5019309631352404702022-07-14T13:39:00.001-07:002022-07-14T13:39:32.187-07:00PUSHING UP SUGAR BEETS<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back in the 70s, when I was younger and dumber,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I was hitch hiking from Denver to Greeley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two men picked me up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were fresh out of prison<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on parole for serious felonies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of them intended to rob me.The other did not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, their communication with each other<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was unworthy of partners in crime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Criminals, like spouses, need to talk to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> One of them told me way too much about themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They drove out into the beet fields Northeast of Ft. Lupton, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">flashed a gun, relieved me of my $15, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">put me out of the car in the middle of nowhere, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and drove off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then they remembered they’d told me their names,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> their parole officer’s name, where they lived, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Letting me live wasn’t smart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They came back and ordered me into the car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I wasn’t that dumb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So one got out and tried to drag me in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, the miracle. A car came driving down that lonely dirt road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I dragged my assailant into the path of the oncoming vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He let go and I started flagging down the car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I saw the driver, I knew I was ok.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was a fit, clean-cut, young white guy -- my kind of people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I knew I was saved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He sped up, nearly killed me, and rushed right past. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The robber resumed pulling me toward their car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, miracle of miracles, another car along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again I pulled the robber into car’s lane. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, the robber released me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, I started to flag down the car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But this time when I saw the driver, my heart sank.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was a Latina mother in a cheap old car </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>hauling a load of kids.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">No way was she going to stop for me in a dangerous situation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She didn’t stop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She slowed down, threw open the passenger door <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">for me to jump in on the run, then hit the gas and sped off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She turned out to be someone with a strong reason </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>to avoid <i>situations</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her family was undocumented.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But if they’d been legally in Mexico </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>instead of illegally in Colorado,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I’d be pushing up sugar beets in Weld County.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The lawyer had read Leviticus. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He knew salvation depends on loving our neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he asked: <i>who is my neighbor? </i>Jesus answered:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Jew was beaten, robbed, and left by the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A priest and Levite came along. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were bound by race, religion, & nationality </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>to help their fellow Jew.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they just passed him by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then along came s Samaritan<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- wrong race, wrong religion, wrong nationality. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he stopped and helped<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">beyond anything the Jew could expect from his own kind.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">said, “go and do likewise."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, when the chips were down, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">why did I assume the young white guy would save me<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">and the Latina mother would not?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the Stone Ages people used tribalism as a survival strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tribalism -- -- us vs them -- our group vs their group – told them <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">who they were bound to help </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">and who they could expect help from.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Evolution passes survival strategies </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>down through the generations<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> so it’s with us today </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- White vs Black, Christian vs Muslim, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Liberal vs Conservative, Straight vs. Gay, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Native vs Immigrant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dividing into antagonistic groups is wired into all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the way of the world. Enter Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He said, <i>In this world you will have trouble.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He might have elaborated, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>You will have racism, classism, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> divisions of religion, politics, and language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">In this world you will have trouble, </span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Jesus said, <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but take heart. I have overcome the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus can set us free from those constraints that separate us <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">-- divisions that shackle our minds <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and hold us back from full humanity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They make our hearts tighter, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">our minds narrower, and our lives smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But how does that work? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do we overcome genetically programed prejudice? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Philosopher Martha Nussbaum, calls it <i>participatory imagination</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> seeing things through another person’s eyes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> walking in their shoes, feeling what they feel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Basic empathy expands our experience </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and wisdom immeasurably.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a fundamental part of being human.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nussbaum says today fear is intensifying our divisions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are regressing into tribalism,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> losing our capacity for participatory imagination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">and our lives are diminished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus said,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span>I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To make our life abundant, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">especially our who neighbor is the wrong race, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">wrong nationality, wrong religion, wrong language, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">wrong sexuality, or wrong political party. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine how things look to that person<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">and – bam! -- the size of your life doubles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But how can we possibly </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>go against genetically wired human nature<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">to love across the divide?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The answer is enabling, empowering, amazing grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever Jesus commands us to do,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he gives us the power to do it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To love across the divides is a miracle – a supernatural act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we can do it – <i>with God’s help</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We just direct our hearts toward anyone Jesus calls us to love,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">then pray for Jesus to open our hearts and our eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">His grace will do the rest. </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-59482822162036848812022-03-02T15:08:00.007-08:002022-03-02T15:42:16.137-08:00I AM ENOUGH VS I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beware of practicing your piety before (others).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s a public display of piety at my grocery store.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A magazine cover beside the cashier features a woman <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the mountain yoga pose, eyes serenely closed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a self-satisfied smile on her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Below her tranquil face, the text reads, <i>I am enough.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, <i>Methinks the lady doth protest too much. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I mean, does anyone who is that sure they are enough assume a yoga pose <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on a silly magazine cover proclaiming </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>that they are enough?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I ‘m not criticizing yoga.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just wrote dust jacket endorsement for a yoga book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I respect the kindness of assuring people of their worth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do have worth. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are God’s children, created in God’s image.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">God has </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">wonderfully created </span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">and yet more wonderfully </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><i>restored </i><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">the dignity of human nature.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But are we, in ourselves, enough to handle life’s challenges?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">The leading proponent of I</span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> am enough philosophy </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span> <span> </span></span>is author, motivational speaker, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> <span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">and personal trainer, Marisa Peer.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She also offers hypnotherapy, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>programs to change our thoughts, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and ways to lose weight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I’m enough, why do I need to get hypnotized, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>change my thoughts, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> and lose weight?</span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Maybe I'm too much. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Peer also sells an audio titled </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span> <span> </span></span>Why Lying To Yourself Could Be A Good Thing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see why I’m suspicious?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">No ancient spiritual tradition says </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">we are enough</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- not the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Sutras, or the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Are we stronger than Shakespeare’s</span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span> <span> </span></span>slings and arrows of outrageous fortune </span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> . . . the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">?</span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">I’m not. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">The only prayer I’ve ever prayed with 100% sincerity is </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Help!</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">It’s my prayer when I know good and well I’m not enough. </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We may occasionally work up an inflated illusion </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of self-sufficiency. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">But </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">d</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">eep inside, we know we are not enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So we spend our lives compensating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we can make enough money to be ok.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 1960s, oil tycoon, J. Paul Getty, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was the world’s richest man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A journalist asked him, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Mr. Getty, how much money do you need? </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> How much is enough?</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Getty answered, </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Just one more dollar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we listen to the right music, read the right books, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or have the right friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">But Ecclesiastes says, </span><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">I have seen all the(se) deeds </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>that are done under the sun.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> They are mere</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> chasing after the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Polishing our resume and reciting the <i>I am enough </i>mantra <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> won’t wash away our dusty nature, our human frailly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So on Ash Wednesday, we admit,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>that (we) are dust and to dust (we) shall return.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But these aren’t words of despair. Quite the opposite. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holy Scripture is the roadmap for our journey from dust to glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Augustine showed us how that works.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He tried everything to compensate for not being enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He won at sports. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He used romantic conquests to prove to he was desirable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He tried to get rich. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He became a famous scholar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it didn’t work. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine summed up his achievements and said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>We pursued the empty glory of popularity, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> ambitious for the applause </i></span></span><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">of the audience . . .</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to win a garland of mere grass.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the story has a happy ending.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine discovered that his sense of inadequacy </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was really his longing for God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He said, There<i> is a God-shaped hole in every human heart </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> that only God can fill.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God is enough. Only God is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dean Richard recently spoke of our <i>absolute dependence </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> on God.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was echoing the greatest 19<sup>th</sup> Century theologian, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Freiderich Schleiermacher, </span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-size: large;">who said</span><span style="color: #343434; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i style="color: #343434;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">faith means admitting our absolute dependence on God.</span></i><span style="color: #343434; font-size: x-large;"> </span><i style="color: #343434;"> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the old hymn says, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I<i> need thee every hour, most gracious Lord. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I need thee. O I need thee. Every hour I need thee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul didn’t measure up either. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Corinthians fired him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Besides his physical handicap, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Paul’s sermons were so boring <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a young man in a balcony fell asleep </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and plummeted to his death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So if your neighbor starts nodding, give them a little nudge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul didn’t measure up, but he did a fine job of compensating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He bragged, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> If anyone has reason for confidence . . . I have more.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Then he read us his impressive resume. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul had the degrees, certificates, and credentials.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then he said, <i>Now I count all these things as rubbish <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> </span></i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">– that’s the translator’s polite word for what Paul actually said</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> <span> <span> </span></span>– 4-letters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>I count (them) all as rubbish compared to the surpassing worth<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord</span></i><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not -enough-ness is the God-shaped hole in our heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The journey begins in dust – nowhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we give our flawed, failed, futile selves to God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that’s when we become whole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only God is enough. Only in God are we enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In God, we will be abundantly more than enough. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Austrian psychotherapist, Eugene Gendlin, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> called today’s sovereign self-reliance <i>process skipping.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buddhist psychologist John Wellwood calls it <i>spiritual bypassing.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both say to skip the trip is to miss the goal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We reach the East by sailing West.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To see the light we face our deeper darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The path to God -- our hope and our joy -- </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>begins when we admit <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #343434; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that we are dust and to dust we shall return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-32520938816719488692022-01-18T14:58:00.006-08:002022-01-18T15:44:55.586-08:00THE PRIMORDIAL ACT OF GENTLENESS<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Today’s Gospel lesson is puzzling.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">John tells 7 miracle stories<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> -- 3 taken directly from the earlier Gospels<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> -- 3 roughly similar to the earlier Gospels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then there’s this one – water into wine. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s entirely different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Most miracles are healings. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Others display Jesus’ power to the multitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But he did this one privately in the kitchen</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> – not publicly in the banquet hall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The <i>sommeliers</i> at the party gave credit </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> to the bridegroom -- not Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So is this just a parlor trick? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It must be important. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was Jesus’ first miracle in John.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In case we’ve lost count, the last verse says, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>This was Jesus’ first miracle</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Miracle</span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> doesn’t mean magic. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">It means sign. But what’s it a sign of?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There’s much here I still don’t understand,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but the main point is clear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The first miracle keeps the party rolling. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span>I</span></span><span>t enables the host to provide for his guests.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But instead of just making a run to Argonaut,<a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[1]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>Jesus used this miracle as a sign </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> of deep spiritual hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s the first miracle because everything </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>Jesus will do </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">flows from that spirit </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>of profound welcome.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to associate <i>hospitality</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span> with superficial niceties </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><span style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">in Southern</span></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Living Magazine.</span>. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But John Koenig’s book, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>New Testament Hospitality, </i>says<i> </i></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">hospitality </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>was the heart of Jesus’ message</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> -- feeding the multitude; </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> </span></span>the homecoming party for the prodigal son;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> sharing meals with tax collectors, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> sinners, and pharisees;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> inviting: <i>All who are weary </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span> <span> </span></span>and heavy laden, come to me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Let the children come to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christian worship still expresses </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Jesus’ welcome.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T. S. Eliot called our sacraments <i>commodious,</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">the medieval word for welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the Eucharist, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>we receive Christ into our hearts<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as he receives us into his Body. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the Ancient Middle East, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>hospitality was the foundation of morality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then the Bible elevated it </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>to a spiritual discipline. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">To see how this spirituality works, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>we need to recognize </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the two sides </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> </span></span>of hospitality – inner and outer.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Outer hospitality welcomes </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>and cares for other people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Philosopher Emmanuel Levinas called it </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span> </span>the primordial act of gentleness</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He said we become our true selves </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>through greeting strangers <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> – people who are not like us.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Bible says our humanity blossoms </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>when we discover God in each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Centuries before Jesus supplied wine </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>for a party,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Abraham invited three strangers into his tent,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> gave them food to eat and water to drink.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The strangers turned out to be God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Just so, Jesus said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span> </span>I was hungry, and you gave me </span></i><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">food<span style="background-color: white;">; <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was a stranger, and you invited me in . . . </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> (For when) you did it to </span></i><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">even<span style="background-color: white;"> the least </span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"> of my brothers,<span style="background-color: white;"> you did it to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The first Rule of Life for Christian monks says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span><i><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Let all guests . . . be received like Christ,</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> for he is going to say, </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">“I came as a guest, and you received me”</span></i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s outer hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The other side of the coin is inner hospitality,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and outer hospitality is impossible </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">without it.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All depth psychologists agree </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> that we have different parts inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They can be called subpersonalities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some are easy to get along with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other parts of ourselves we don’t like so much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We try to banish them, but they won’t leave.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Depth psychologist, Roberto Assagioli, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>says we also have a Core Self, a Soul.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Soul respects all our subpersonalities, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> is interested in them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and welcomes them as friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When our Souls befriend the disagreeable </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>parts of ourselves, we’re healed inside. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We become whole. That’s inner hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now here’s the connection </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> between inner and outer hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently I had a meeting with some people </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> who were angry with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As the meeting date approached, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I felt threatened and defensive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Defender subpersonality, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> which resembles an abused pit bull,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> was devising arguments to prove </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was right and they were wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was right, by the way, but that isn’t the point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Usually, I do such meetings in pit bull mode.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But this time, for the first time, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> my Defender and my Soul had a talk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Soul understood, cared for, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and appreciated my anxious angry Defender.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Defender asked, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span> </span>How should we handle this meeting?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Soul said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Suppose I take the meeting for you? </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Defender said, <i>ok. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At that meeting, I listened to my attackers, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> </span>cared for them,</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">understood their concerns, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and shared their hopes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The meeting ended well, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and my enemies became friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Inner hospitality produced hospitality </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> toward others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The wine for the party miracle comes first<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> because all of Jesus’ teaching </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and healing flow <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> from a deep spiritual hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But what’s that got to do with us? Just this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus empowers us to welcome </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as he welcomes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> At the wedding banquet, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> he equipped the bridegroom to be hospitable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He does the same for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus empowers us to welcome </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and care for our whole selves,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> then to welcome and care for other people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So today, I invite you to be kind </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> to a part of yourself <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> that you don’t particularly like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then look for an opportunity to be gracious<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> to someone you might ordinarily ignore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It may not come easy; </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but, by the grace of God, you can do it <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> -- and it’s<i> </i>the most important practice </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> of your spiritual life,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>the primordial act of gentleness</i>.<a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[4]</span></span></span></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[1]</span></span></span></a> Liquor store with which St. John’s Cathedral shares a parking </span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[2]</span></span></span></a> Levinas says we truly discover our existence </span><span style="font-size: large;">and our nature</span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> when we encounter someone who is not us. The</span><span>more unlike us</span></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>the better. In object relations psychoanalysis we </span><span>see ourselves </span></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>reflected in the eyes of others. Like it or not, “no </span><span>man is an </span></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">island.” We need each other in order to be ourselves.</span></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[3]</span></span></span></a> This is why outer hospitality is impossible without inner </span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">hospitality. As long as we try to banish the disowned parts of </span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">ourselves, we project them onto other people. We see in others</span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> our own exiled subpersonalities. Even if we could befriend the </span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">other person as they are in themselves, we reject them because</span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they carry the image of our despised parts.</span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 15.333332061767578px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://60A948D9-37DC-4D31-B845-F7DFEAF23307#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[4]</span></span></span></a> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #484848;">When a friend calls to me from the road </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;">And slows his horse to a meaning walk, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">I don't stand still and look around </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">On all the hills I haven't hoed, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">And shout from where I am, What is it? </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">No, not as there is a time to talk. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Blade-end up and five feet tall, </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">And plod: I go up to the stone wall </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">For a friendly visit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #484848;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- Robert Frost </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-18287111577155601062021-12-14T11:54:00.003-08:002021-12-14T11:54:47.183-08:00Courage & The Kingdom<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span face="Arial, sans-serif">For Israel, the time was dark.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">They had been a vassal state for 600 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">The old ways were being forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">People were angrily divided along partisan lines<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> – Roman collaborators versus violent insurrectionists.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Things were dark when the old priest, Zechariah, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> entered the dark inmost sanctuary of the Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">In that darkness, the shining archangel Gabriel <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> surprised Zechariah with good news.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Gabriel’s message began, “Do not be afraid.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">But Zechariah was afraid <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> – too afraid to believe the rest of the good news<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> about a future of <i>joy and delight</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">So he fell mute for nine months. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> People are dumbstruck another time in Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">In Mark, after the crucifixion, 3 women entered the dark tomb. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">An angel was waiting for them too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">The angel said, “Do not be afraid.” “Do <b>not</b> be afraid. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> He is risen. Go tell his disciples to meet him in Galilee.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">But Mark says, “They fled from the tomb <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and told no one anything because they were afraid.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In both cases, muteness was natural.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">We are neurologically wired so that, when we feel threatened,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> one of our automatic responses is to freeze up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Freeze can be fainting, dissociating, numbing out, or muteness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Our Biblical characters froze because they were afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">They were afraid because God called them out of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> their secure Hobbit holes of habit to go on an adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Starting with God calling Abram to leave his homeland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and journey to a far-off place he did not know,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> the Bible portrays life as an adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Adventures are not safe. They are risky, perilous.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Real life takes real courage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Courage isn’t being reckless, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> refusing to take realistic precautions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">It’s saying “Yes” to the abundant life God offers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> even with its ups and downs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">It looks like this: Gabriel said to Mary, <i>Do not be afraid. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> God calls you to be an unwed mother </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>in 1<sup>st</sup> Century Judea.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> And she said, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>Let it be unto me according to thy word.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">That’s courage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Angels usually begin their messages <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>Do not be afraid </i>because we must manage our fear <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> before we can hear God’s word and act on it.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">The classic sci-fi book, <u>Dune</u><i>, </i>calls fear <i>the mind-killer.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">That’s literally true.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">In a state of fear, we are neurologically incapable<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> of personal relationships, creativity, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and even rational thought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Jesus said, <i>Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Clinging to safety, we don’t dare to live. We lose our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Life is an ongoing unfolding process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">But when we freeze, life stops unfolding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">That’s why the Bible says <i>Do not be afraid </i>365 times. <i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Fear grips us today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Terrorists disrupt democracy that </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> requires mutual trust to function.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Mass shootings from Oxford to Boulder frighten us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Politicians use fear of Mexicans, Muslims, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and miscellaneous outsiders to manipulate us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Businesses spread fear to sell guns, gates, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and security cameras.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Even Flonase ads portray allergens as menacing monsters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">To make matters worse, fear is contagious.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Fearful people emit a subtle odor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">When we unconsciously smell someone else’s fear, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> we catch it like a virus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2021 feels like Narnia at the beginning</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> of <u>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> It’s always winter but never Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">So how do we thaw out? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">The Bible gives us three ways: faith, hope, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Faith is trusting the good news that our mixed-up mortal lives are just chapters in an epic novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Spoiler alert. Our novel ends in grace and mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Jesus called it <i>the Kingdom of God.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">He said, <i>Have no fear little flock. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">When today’s chapter is scary,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> we trust the larger story, God’s story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Tagore said, <i>Faith is the bird that sings at night <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> because he feels the light.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Faith is trusting God’s bright promise even in the dark. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Hope is taking a risk on today for the sake of tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Emily Dickinson called hope:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>. . . the thing with feathers -<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> That perches in the soul - . . ..<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> I’ve heard it in the chillest land – . . .. </span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Europe was a <i>chilled land </i>when the Black Plague <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> spread fear and death.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">But at</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> the height of the Plague, Lady Julian wrote,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>All shall be well, and all shall be well<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> and every manner of thing shall be well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">It isn’t well now – but it shall be – everything shall be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">That’s hope. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Love is appreciative attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">In the first <i>Frozen</i> movie,<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> Elsa’s </span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">love thaws her frozen sister Anna. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">We can listen to each other and care. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">That’s love 101 and it’s enough to unfreeze Narnia <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> one friend at a time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">But how do we thaw ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Three ways: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> First, we notice the people who care for us now<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> -- or have cared for us in the past, even briefly or long ago <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> – a parent, a child, a lover, or a friend. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">We trust that they saw beauty in us, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> even if we can’t see it ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Their love tells us something more deeply true than any fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Even a memory of love sets us free. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Second, each day, we locate where <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> we hold the fear in our bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Is it a tight throat, trembling hands, or jumpy knees?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Find the bodily experience of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Then enfold it with caring, gentle attention,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> holding it like a child, reassuring it </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>like an angel whispering, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>Do not be afraid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Finally, we circle back to Faith<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> because Faith is the opposite of Fear. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">We trust the gospel promise that Reality is reliable. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">Our unknown future, with all its risks and perils, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> leads us inevitably into the heart of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">God is our destiny and God is Love. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">There is no fear in love,</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> John says</span>,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> <i>for perfect love casts out fear.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">God is perfect love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;">So, <i>have no fear little flock <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"> </span></span><i style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 42.66667175292969px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-11743386345553740932021-07-29T17:09:00.001-07:002021-07-29T17:09:39.983-07:00QUMRAN, JESUS, & LUCRETIUS<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The prevailing worldview in America today is neither Christian nor secular. It is that of the Qumran Community, a separatist cult living in the Judean Desert in Jesus’ day. Their core premise was dualism – dividing the world into good and evil. Zoroaster did that first. But the Qumran community eagerly anticipated a resolution of this division through an apocalyptic bloodbath in which they,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">the Sons of Light</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, would vanquish everyone else,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">the Sons of Darkness. </i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The War Scroll, </i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">the leaders anticipate the great day when</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">the sons of light put forth their hands to make a beginning against the lot of the sons of darkness</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> (1qm 1:1). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The two key obligations of membership in the Qumran Sons of Light were love and hate. Members vowed <i><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">to love all the sons of light, each according to his lot in the council of God, and to hate the sons of darkness, each according to his guilt in the vengeance of God" (1qs 1:9–11). The apostate is to be cut off from the midst of the sons of light</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> (1qs 2:16). </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Beginning with the Enlightenment, but especially since the birth of nationalism in the 1930s, we define good and evil, light and dark, more by politics than religion, but it comes to much the same thing. Qumran dualism is the prototype for how the left and right view each other today. Each side sees itself as the <i>Sons of Light </i>and their adversaries as the <i>Sons of Darkness </i>who must be forced to convert or die. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Early Christianity included diverse views; but let’s focus on the three main voices: Jesus, St. Paul, and St. John the Evangelist.<a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[i]</span></span></a> Jesus does not set up an apocalyptic shootout. He makes two statements that recognize a division of ways of being. In Luke 16: 8, he says the <i>people of this world are more shrewd.. . . than the people of light. </i>At John 12: 36, Jesus teaches his disciples to <i>believe in the light so as to become children of light. </i>That’s it. No hating the world, no hating the children of darkness. To the contrary, Jesus said at Matthew 5: 43-48, <i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">You have heard that it was said, ‘</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Love<span style="background-color: white;"> </span>your<span style="background-color: white;"> neighbor and hate </span>you<b>r</b><span style="background-color: white;"> enemy.’ But I tell you, </span><b>love</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><b>your</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><b>enemies</b></span></i><b><i> </i></b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">and <b>pray for those who persecute you</b>, that you may be children of </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">your<span style="background-color: white;"> Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ...</span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><span style="background-color: white;">Paul, at Ephesians 5: 8 and I Thessalonians 5: 5 urged followers of the Way to <i>live as children of light</i> but did not call for war against anyone. In Chapter 4 of his First Epistle, John posits a spirit of Anti-Christ to be overcome, but it turns out that spirit is overcome not thorugh domination but rather love. </span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. <b><sup> </sup></b>This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. <b><sup> </sup></b>Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <b><sup> </sup></b>No one has ever seen </span></i><i>God; but</i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Now this is the point that gets confusing. What is the attitude for Christians to take toward Qumran’s Sons of Light? How are proponents of peace and justice to regard perpetrators of violence and injustice? Jesus said, <i><span style="background-color: white;">(B)</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">e children of </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">you<span style="background-color: white;"> Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ...</span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><span style="background-color: white;">Jesus prescribes a kind of <i>equal regard</i>, to use the term most common in contemporary Christian ethics to interpret <i>agape.<a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><b><span style="color: black;">[ii]</span></b></span></span></a> </i> Such equal regard is not about agreeing. It’s about caring, wishing well, acknowledging each other’s human worth. That attitude is in short supply among the adversaries in today’s political arena. Even Christian leaders are sometimes all too ready to cast out those who are not following Jesus. But Jesus did not cast out those who did not follow him. How then can lovers of the light of peace also love the violent and oppressive?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Lucretius was a 1<sup>st</sup> Century CE Roman philosopher<a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black;">[iii]</span></span></span></a> who wrote his philosophy in verse. He began his classic, <i>The Nature of Things, </i>in a rather perplexing way for one who did not literally believe in gods, with a love scene between Venus and Mars. He drew on the ideas of a 5<sup>th</sup> Century BCE Greek philosopher, Empedocles. In his view, the universe is governed by the interplay of two forces, Love (represented by Aphrodite/Venus) and Strife (represented by Ares/Mars). In Lucretius’ and Empedocles’ view, Strife is necessary to keep things moving, to stir the waters, to spark change necessary for life. So, like it or not, in this world, there will be trouble. Jesus knew that. He said, </span><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In this world you will have trouble.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But take heart! I have overcome</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">the world.</span></i></span><a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><b>[iv]</b></span></span></i></span></a><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Strife goes with the turf of earthly life. But if Strife is not contained, held, embraced within the larger context of Love, the universe falls apart. We need the centripetal power of Love to hold us together when our centrifugal impulses would hurl us into chaos. It is precisely Mars who must be embraced by Venus. The Christian way of being in the world is <i>agape, </i>equal regard, caring for the just and the unjust. But that is our way only for now. The Christian Faith and Hope is in Eternity. And in Eternity, Love wins. </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[i]</span></span></a> St. John the Divine sometimes seems more in line with Qumran than his fellow Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn2"><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[ii]</span></span></a> Gene Outka, <i>Agape: An Ethical Analysis<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn3"><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[</span><span style="font-size: large;">iii]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> I admit it is ironic I am citing Lucretius since he was decidedly anti-religious and was anathematized by St. Jerome in the 4<sup>th</sup> Century. But I appeal outside the Christian box quite intentionally to show there is a solid philosophical foundation for our way. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn4"><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://AC70E29A-A0B0-45C0-94F1-DDD9F6C6D235#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[iv]</span></span></a> John 16: 33</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-12019645767801186112021-07-04T13:44:00.005-07:002021-07-04T14:35:12.996-07:00CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM JULY 4, 2021: CAN A CHRISTIAN LOVE AMERICA?<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">July 4 poses thornier issues for Christians this year </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>than it used to.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Things are thornier because religion and politics are mixed up </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in a new way. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Last January 6, one of the rioters charged into the Capitol <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>to stop the certification of the election </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> carrying a sign that said, <i>JESUS SAVES.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What has <i>Jesus Saves</i> got to do </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with seizing the Capitol building?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Since the early 1970s, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> there has been a movement called <i>dominionism</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In a nutshell it’s an attempt by some Christians </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to impose the Kingdom of God by force of law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Karl Marx of dominionism, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> also known as Reconstructionism, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and as Christian Nationalism was<i> </i>R. J. Rushdoony.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the 1970s, he called for Christian fundamentalists </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to seize the reins of political power.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Around that time, the Ayatollah Khomeini was calling </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Islamic fundamentalist </span><span style="font-size: large;">to do the same thing in Iran.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That <i>Jesus Saves </i>rioter didn’t come from nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In a 2006 sermon, Ohio pastor, Rod Parsley, said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Now this revolution is not for the temperate.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>This revolution – that’s what it is – </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> is not for the timid and the week.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but for the brave and strong who step over the line . . .. </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span> </span>and become disciples of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>. . . . The secular media never like it when I say this </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> so </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">let me say it twice. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Man your battle stations! Ready your weapons! . . . <span> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> I came to incite a riot. . .. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Man your battle stations. Lock and load!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ron Luce runs a Christian youth organization called Battle Cry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At a rock concert Luce told 25,000 teens,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>This is war and Jesus invites us to get into the action . . ..<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The new Christian dominion movement has roots </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in the distant past. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So let’s look at some history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">II.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]-->RELIGION AND VIOLENCE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: 0px;">Most people assume that religions have always been</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>murderously intolerant and have caused violence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> from the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Well, there is some truth to that </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> – but not as much as you might think.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In her study of so-called religious violence, <i>Fields of Blood,</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Prof. Karen Armstrong finds religion’s hands are not clean<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but religion is usually more of a pretext </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> than a cause of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The so-called <i>Wars of Religion</i> in the 16<sup>th</sup> Century </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> were ostensibly <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>between Catholics and Protestants.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But it turns out there were plenty of Protestants fighting </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> on the Catholic side<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and plenty of Catholics fighting </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> on the Protestant side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was more about turf disputes between new states </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> as the Holy Roman Empire came apart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the 1415, when the English army charged </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> into the Battle of Agincourt shouting <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Cry God for Harry, for England, and St. George,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">the French army, charging from the opposite side, was shouting,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Cry God for the Dauphin, for France, and St. Joan.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, what’s the real role of religion?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When humankind took up agriculture around 10,000 BC, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> we established <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>domination systems so that the elite could own the land <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and control the people who farmed it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Religion provided a justification for that dominance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Pharaohs, kings, and Caesars of antiquity </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> were all gods or sons of gods or consorts of gods.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Statues of Augustus bore this inscription, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> Augustus Caesar, the son of God</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Religious institutions supported the wealthy and powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Priests were cheerleaders for monarchs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All religions existed to serve the king until around 1300 BC <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>when Moses introduced a God for slaves, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> a God who said to Pharoah, <i>Let my people go.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Moses freed his people from Egyptian tyranny </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and established an egalitarian society </span><span style="font-size: large;">of shepherds </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> with very little political structure of any kind.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But when the Israelites too up farming,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>they wanted a political order like their farming neighbors had. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They wanted a king. That’s what lies behind today’s lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The rest of the Old Testament is a running argument </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> between the monarchists,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>who saw the king as the son of God,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>and the anti-monarchist prophets who saw the king </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> as a usurper and exploiter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">By Jesus’ day, Israel had broken apart and been conquered </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> by Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Among Jews, there were Roman collaborators </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who supported the Empire, good Roman citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There were insurrectionists called Zealots </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who wanted to kick the Romans out<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and restore the Jewish monarchy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Others called Essenes wanted to escape both factions </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and live in isolated communes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All these groups wanted Jesus on their side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The best biblical scholars, both liberal and conservative,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>say Jesus refused to join any of those parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He wanted a revolution too, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but he didn’t trust political, economic, or military power<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>to make things better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Instead, he called for a spiritual revolution of love </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> lived out in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He called it the Kingdom of God breaking in.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s why the Early Christians kept their distance </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> from the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">St. Paul insisted in Colossians and Ephesians </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> that our allegiance is to Christ<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>over any powers and principalities of this world.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the 2<sup>nd</sup> century, Hippolytus of Rome, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>forbade Christians to serve as magistrates or a soldiers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Early Christians were martyred not for their religious beliefs </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but for their refusal </span><span style="font-size: large;">to burn a pinch of incense </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to show their loyalty to Caesar.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then Emperor Constantine made Christianity the state religion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and that was confusing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the Middle Ages, Christianity was so mixed up </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with the feudal system<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>you couldn’t tell one from the other. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Feudalism and Medieval Christianity fell apart at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Since then, we have argued over the proper relation </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> between Church and State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They had not really existed as separate institutions before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But now they did, so what’s the relationship?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Some places had state sponsored religions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But the United States opted for religious liberty.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We never precluded religious people from expressing </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> a moral perspective </span><span>i</span><span>n civic conversations </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> about justice and mercy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Religious voices spoke out on slavery, temperance, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> women’s suffrage, </span><span style="font-size: large;">war and peace, worker’s rights, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> segregation, nutrition insecurity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s gone on from the very beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 1<sup>st</sup> Amendment doesn’t prohibit religious voices </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in the public square. It protects them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But it doesn’t conscience the government imposing a religion <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>or a religion imposing a government. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">III.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]-->NATIONALISM<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then the 1930s changed things. Nationalism was born. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Progressive politics and pragmatic philosophy </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> combined in a new ideology to unify the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They thought religions divided people, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> so they insisted religion should be private, individual,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>a take it or leave it personal choice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But pledging our ultimate allegiance to the nation </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> would bring us together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What united us and was expected of every citizen </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> was nationalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">John Dewey, who gave us the decimal system, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> was American nationalism’s principal author.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He saw that to evoke the kind of commitment religions </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> had once done, </span><span style="font-size: large;">nationalism needed </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to assume the trappings of a religion, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to become the new religion.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So there came to be nationalist rituals </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> like raising and lowering the flag,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>national creeds like the pledge of allegiance, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> national hymns, </span><span style="font-size: large;">national holy days, </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> national sacred documents displayed to be reverenced,</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>national monuments and holy sites, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>national saints like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and national martyrs like the war dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We’d had some of this before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But in the 1930s Americanism became </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the core belief system expected of all Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Other nationalisms were surging around the world </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> at the same time, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>especially Spain, Italy, Germany, and Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the 1930s, <span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the America First Committee was formed </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> espousing American nationalism<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and appeasement of fascist aggression in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A Christian dominionist of our time, Pat Buchannan,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>praises the America First Committee of the 1930s <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and says we should model our policies </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> on their <i>monumental achievements.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Religion made a comeback in the 1950s with revivalism. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But in the context of modern nationalism, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>some revivalists were quite cozy with politicians </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who wielded the real power.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Billy Graham fawned over and served various political leaders </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through the decades, </span><span style="font-size: large;">most of all Richard Nixon </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> whom he regarded as the model of a Godly ruler.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then Watergate disillusioned him </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> about cloaking political power in the mantle of religion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Graham apologized for his mistakes, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and when Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>took Evangelical Christianity full tilt into the political arena, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span> </span>Billy Graham would have no part of it.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All this leaves us with three points from history </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> that set the stage for today’s challenge:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Politics has superseded religion </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> as our primary allegiance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0px;">Even in churches, people will get along </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: 0px;"> despite disagreements over religious belief,</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but political differences are a deal breaker </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>for relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Religious leaders who deliver their people </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>for political agendas </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0px;">driven by competition </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0px;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>for wealth and power </span><span style="text-indent: 0px;">are relegating religion </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0px;"> to the role it played </span><span style="text-indent: 0px;">as a pep squad for the powerful </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: 0px;"> in Ancient Egypt, Assyria, and Rome.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Christian Nationalism is directly at odds </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> -- not just with the Constitution –<span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but with the religion of Moses and Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">IV.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]-->CAN CHRISTIANS LOVE THEIR COUNTRY?<span> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I acknowledge and respect the Christian tradition </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> that is leery of nations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>-- the Amish, Mennonites, Brethren, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and other Separatists.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But I notice that since the 1930s, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> when push comes to shove,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>many of those folks will choose their nationalism </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> over their religious faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I offer instead some more moderate guidance </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> from St. Augustine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>He used the metaphor of two cities, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> occupying the same space <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- the Earthly City and the Heavenly City.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Earthly City is governed by self-interest, greed, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and power.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Heavenly City is governed by love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We easily see the Earthly City in government </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but it’s in the Church too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We see the Heavenly City in the Church when it’s faithful,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but it also makes surprising guest appearances </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in the government.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Augustine said government couldn’t create paradise,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but it could keep order and do a bit of good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He taught that Christians ought to be good citizens,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>to do their duty, and whenever possible </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to infuse a little love into the world,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>even in the affairs of state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But for Christians to try to impose the Kingdom of God </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> by way of government<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>was futile and would only corrupt Christians </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> because that’s what worldly power does.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Power politics is inherently at odds </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with God’s Kingdom of Love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, can Christians love their country?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Yes and no. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If we mean a 1930s or 2020s brand of America First, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>making nationalism our religion </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and treating America like a god, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>the answer is no.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Christian Nationalism is an oxymoron.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Charging into the Capitol with a <i>Jesus Saves </i>sign </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> is a sacrilege.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The powers and principalities of this present age</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> weaponize God </span><span>for their own purposes.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That betrays the gospel of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But love is<i> the first and greatest commandment.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving our homeland is part of that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Think of the Jewish Exiles in Psalm 137:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span> </span><i><span>If I forget you, Jerusalem,</span></i></span><i> </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span>may my right hand forget its skill.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> If I do not remember you,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> If I do not consider </i><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Jerusalem my highest joy.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span> </span> </i><i> </i><span><i> </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span><span> </span><span> </span></span></i><span>2,300 years later, Sir Walter Scott </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">echoed the Psalmist</span>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span> </span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,</span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span>Who never to himself hath said,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span>This is my own, my native land!</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span>Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span>As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,</span></span></i><i><span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Just so, an American Christian loves America, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>but what do we love and how do we love it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Four things:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We love the land, our native land. </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> America is a place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">America is <i>purple mountain majesties </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> above the fruited plain.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The song says, <i>I love thy rocks and rills,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Thy woods and templed hills. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To love America is to see it and appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving America is seeing and appreciating the place <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>– but it’s more than appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s stewardship of the land, the waters, the air, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the wildlife, the climate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We cannot love America and destroy it </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving America includes a commitment </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to the beauty & the vitality of the place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->America is also the people who live here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So crown thy good with brotherhood.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving America means loving the people here<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- people of all races, religions, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and gender identities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It means loving people who are like us </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and people who are different.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It means loving Liberals and Conservatives,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Black Lives Matter protestors </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and right wingers charging into the Capitol.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We can passionately disagree agree </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but still find some spark of good <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>in each other and wish each other well.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There’s a particularly crucial part of loving our fellow Americans these days<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>– compassion for those in despair. Here’s why:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our time is soaked in rage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One young Colorado man said he supported </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> a left wing presidential candidate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>because he was <i>loud and angry.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In 2016, supporters of that loud and angry </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> left wing candidate in the primaries<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>voted for a right wing candidate </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in the general election <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>because he was loud and angry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">More and more, we vote for rage, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> regardless of policies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Journalist Chris Hedges says, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> Stories of rage are first stories of despair.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He quotes Fritz Stern’s book on the rise of fascism </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in 1930s Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Theirs was a resentment (born) of loneliness.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Their one desire was for a new faith, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>a new community of believers, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>a world of fixed standards and no doubts,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>a new <u>national religion</u> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> that would bind all Germans together.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Despair and loneliness underly the extremism of today<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>as it did German extremism then.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Certainly, extremists have to be restrained </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in their violence, sedition, and crimes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But condemning them as ignorant deplorables </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> only make things worse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">New York Times journalist Charlie Walzer </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> has studied internet radicalization. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He says conspiracy theorists are usually lonely people</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who feel disrespected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They buy into QAnon in a desperate attempt </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to connect with somebody.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At a Bishops’ meeting with House Majority Whip, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> Jim Clyber, last week, </span><span>he told us the story </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of a young veteran who missed military comradery.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>so he joined the Proud Boys <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- not because he was a White Supremacist, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but because he was lonely. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving America means caring for those folks </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and creating a community<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>where they can find a place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We love the heart of America, our moral identity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">America’s moral identity is as a democratic society.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To love America is to love our core values </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of liberty and justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>My country tis of thee<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Sweet land of liberty . . ..<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>From every mountainside <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Let freedom ring.</span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many people today, both left and right, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> are all too eager </span><span>to curtail the liberty </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of those who disagree with them.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They don’t just want to defeat them in elections.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They want to lock them up the way they do </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in Russia, China, and Myanmar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I understand why people wanted </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to see Derek Chauvin convicted; </span><span style="font-size: large;">but some </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> (and I mean White people) were angry </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>that his lawyer defended him.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many who love America in a nationalist way </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> are all too eager </span><span style="font-size: large;">to strip America </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of its moral identity.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Loving America means loving freedom of speech, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> freedom of religion, </span> <span>the right to vote, </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and due process of law.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The fourth point is that we love the real America, </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> not a fantasy wonderland.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We don’t pretend slavery, lynching, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and segregation didn’t happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We don ’t forget the Sand Creek Massacre </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> here in Colorado,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>the Tulsa Race Massacre, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Red Summer of 1919,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>the internment of Japanese Americans, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and the burning of San Jose’s Chinatown.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We don’t forget the 20,000 Nazis </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> at Madison Square Garden in 1939.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We face the truth of our story, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with both its glory and its shame,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>knowing we are all sinners and all saints.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We acknowledge both parts of our story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then we forgive, make amends, and reconcile. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s how love works.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We don’t claim to be perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We sing <i>America! America, God mend thine ev’ry flaw.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Confirm thy soul in self-control,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>Thy liberty in law.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To sum up, We love America as it is <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- a nation that often gets it right </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and sometimes gets it wrong –<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> </span>and out of love we strive to mend its every flaw.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We love the land, democracy, and the people <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Black and White, left and right, </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Christian, Jew, and Muslim,</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One nation under God </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">with liberty and justice for all.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 32px; margin-left: 0.75in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-8313621161906050922021-02-15T13:12:00.002-08:002021-02-15T13:12:19.152-08:00CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN CHARACTER: HOPE<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story goes that there was an Italian village </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>whose pride and joy </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">was their statue of Jesus </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> </span></span>graciously extending his hands in the village square.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">During World War II, it was demolished by a bomb.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the War, the village undertook </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>to rebuild the statue from its shards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">An art restoration team reassembled the statue,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> except that they did not have the right shards </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>to replace the hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They said, “We can sculpt new hands for it.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the town council said “no.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, they inscribed on the statue’s base </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>the words of St. Theresa of Avila,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Christ has . . . hands, no feet on earth but yours. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>on this world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yours are the hands through which he blesses</span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>all the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> yours are the eyes, you are his body. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Christ has no body now on earth but yours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><div><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We practice the virtues so we can be Christ </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to a world that desperately needs Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The virtues do allow us to live fuller, happier lives. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they are not just a coping mechanism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we use them only as a coping mechanism, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we get stuck in the basic spiritual Catch 22:<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as long as we’re trying to get our needs met, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we can’t get our needs met.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we grow a heart for others, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> our needs take care of themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we are in the depths of an epidemic </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – but the Coronavirus is only one factor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have a deeper epidemic of an old </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and persistent plague, Despair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">These days, Despair has spiked and it can be fatal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2015, Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> coined the term <i>deaths of despair</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life expectancy in the United States rose steadily </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the 20<sup>th</sup> Century; </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">but starting in the 1990s, </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> it took a U-turn for white, middle-aged people</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> without college degrees. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were drinking themselves to death, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> accidentally overdosing, and committing suicide.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Case and Deaton attributed their deaths </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to declining job prospects, disintegrating families,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and alienation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blacks said, <i>Welcome to our world. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Blacks, deaths of despair had surged in the 70s and 80s. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">New York Times columnist, Charles Blow, an African American, </span></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> said that the </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-weight: normal;">uprising </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">following George Floyd’s death </span></h1><h1 style="line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>was not just about racist policing,</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but about Black American despair. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He says, <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>When people feel helpless, like there is nothing left </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> to lose . . . , </i></span></span><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">a wild swirling, undirected rage</span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>is a logical result.</span> </span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ironically, right-wing populism mirrors that experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Berkeley sociologist, Arlie Russel Hochschild, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> stepped out of her social bubble<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to get to know people in rural Louisiana.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She found good, decent people, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> consumed by seething anger rooted in Despair <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> over a lost way of life and no prospects </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for a decent new one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Coronavirus pandemic and the recession </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> have produced a spike in the fever<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that has been burning for 30 years for Whites </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and much longer for people of color.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fritz Stern’s book <i>The Politics of Cultural Despair </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> describes the political appropriation </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">of futile rage </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>that sounds like 2021;</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but he wrote it in 1963 and it's about political despair</span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in 19<sup>th</sup> Century Germany </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">and how it led to Nazism.</span></h1><div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">If we are going to be Jesus to this world, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"> we need to talk about </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px;">Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have heard it said, <i>Where there’s life, there’s hope.</i> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I say unto you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Where there’s hope, there’s life. </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Without hope, there is no life.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(74, 74, 74); color: #4a4a4a; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.20000000298023224px;">Soren Kierkegaard called Despair the</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(74, 74, 74); color: #4a4a4a; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.20000000298023224px;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(74, 74, 74); color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.20000000298023224px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sickness Unto Death.</span></i></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Dante’s <i>Inferno, </i>the sign at the entrance said, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Abandon hope you who enter here.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isidore of Seville said in the 6<sup>th</sup> Century, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> without Hope we are already in Hell. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so theologian journalist Chris Hedges said last November,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #181818;"> </span></b><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2b2b2b;">(D)espair . . . is killing us. It eats into the social fabric, <span> <span> </span></span>rupturing social bonds, and manifests . . . in . . . self-destructive and aggressive pathologies. It fosters . . . “poisoned solidarity,” the communal intoxication forged from the negative energies of fear, suspicion, envy and the lust for vengeance and violence. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2b2b2b;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2b2b2b;">Despair detonates bombs on Christmas Day </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2b2b2b;"> in Nashville and Aurora.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, let’s talk about Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope and Despair wrestle in an arena </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> defined by two contrasting world views.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">These two views are the arena </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – not to be confused with Hope and Despair themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first world view was stated in an old evangelical hymn:<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>This is my Father’s world. I rest me in the thought<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Of rocks and trees and skies and seas. </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> His hands the wonders wrought.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew Fox, rejects the notion of <i>original sin,</i> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which means there’s something amiss <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with our world and with us. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He extolls <i>original blessing </i>instead<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brother David Stendahl-Rast prescribes </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a spirituality of gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both are saying, the creation is good, we are good, life is good. Enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other view says things are not so good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Telling the people of Yemen, Myanmar, and Afghanistan <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to cheer up and be grateful doesn’t preach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buddha’s First Noble Truth is Suffering or Unsatisfactoriness: </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The world grinds on its axis</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s what Augustine meant by <i>original sin.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It isn’t so much <i>evil</i> as it is Murphy’s Law </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> about the propensity of things to go wrong<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which includes the propensity of people to go wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, which is true? Both. It’s a paradox. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope holds that paradox in tension.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Hope is less on the contemporary Christian radar screen</span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>than any other virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A recent 4 day conference on the theological virtues </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> had 2 days on faith and 2 days on love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The organizers skipped hope; </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">so the participants threw together a program on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That produced Prof. Paul Waddel’s article </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Hope: The Forgotten Virtue Of Our Time. </i>He says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Although we live in an era of . . . technological and scientific achievements, it (is) also . . . an age of diminished hope or . . . . , misdirected hope, because it . . . replace(s) the theological virtue of hope with flimsy substitutes that cannot . . . give us what our souls ultimately need. We also live in an era marked by violence, which leads to a barrage of images . . . . (of) citizens fighting police, children in Syria bloodied by war, refugee children washed up on a beach . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> (W)hat threatens hope even more </span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">he says<i>, (is) . . . the soft and subtle despair we settle into (as) ways of living that rob us of the exalted good God wants for us. The problem is not that we hope for too much, but that we have . . . settle(d) for so little . . . . We have lost sight of hope’s transcendent dimension because we have forgotten the incomparable promise to which hope always beckons.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Case and Deaton say social and economic troubles </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> produce Despair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Case and Deaton’s analysis does not explain</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the 30% increase in the suicide rate <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> among 15 to 24-year-olds </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or why Black deaths of despair climbed<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in one decade when Black financial prospects</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> were improving.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Might a pre-existing spiritual Despair be at the root </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of our social, economic, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">and political troubles? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Is Despair an effect or might it be a cause?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis says, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are . . . <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the medicine we need in today’s world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the Church has largely ignored hope. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, we have told people to cheer up and be grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Depth psychologist Stephen Diamond agrees that <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>clinical despair is primarily a spiritual crisis</i>.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he cautions against </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the <i>just whistle a happy tune</i> prescription.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Repressing Despair only exacerbates it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diamond insists something has to be accepted </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> before it can be healed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">To overcome Despair, both social and personal,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we have to acknowledge the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Existential psychologist Rollo May said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Courage is not the absence of despair.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it is rather the capacity to move ahead </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in spite of despair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what do we mean by Hope in our time?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s go back to the two worldviews: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the beauty of the earth versus the pain of mortal life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boulder’s own Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche once said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The world is a wonderful place. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> The world is a horrible place.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rinpoche was stating the paradox. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">So how do we hold it in tension?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #4a4a4a; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">St. Augustine said, </span><i><span style="color: #181818;">Hope has two beautiful daughters. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> their names are Anger and Courage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anger at the way things are, and Courage </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to see that they do not remain as they are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine was far from naïve. He knew the limits of this world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he believed the Heavenly City is here too </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on the same spot as the Earthly City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the grace of God, we can make a difference, but it isn’t easy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Thomas Aquinas said that Hope </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is the desire for something good <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that is <i>difficult but possible to attain.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hope for things that are difficult but possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we can only achieve a little on our own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s impossible to be happy in a miserable community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Thomas said, there are far more reasons for hope </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> when we have friends to rely on.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Prof. Waddel puts it,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>If the objects of our hope extend no further than what we can secure for ourselves, then our hopes will necessarily be rather cautious </i>and limited. . . . . <i>We do not hope alone. We hope together.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christianity is a team sport. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need each other to sustain our Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what do we hope for? Pope Benedict’s encyclical<i> </i>In Hope We Are Saved, relies on Paul:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white;">For in this hope we were saved. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> But hope that is seen is no hope at all. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Who hopes for what they already have?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benedict is saying Hope is both immanent and transcendent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Transcendent Hope lies in the Eternity of God who loves us, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> wishes us well, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">and wants us to flourish </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> more than this world will ever allow.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We see the image of Transcendent Hope in Revelation:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. . . . It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Benedict adamantly denies that we live only </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for the sake of an afterlife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We may be <i>poor wayfaring strangers </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> while travelling through this world of woe</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but we are<u> travelling</u> and we are travelling together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immanent Hope is the journey – Benedict calls it a <i>pilgrimage</i> –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> toward <i>that bright world (where) there is </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> no sickness, toil, or danger.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it’s a pilgrimage only if we are striving here and now</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to overcome those evils.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benedict said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> This community-oriented vision of “the blessed life” </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> is certainly directed </i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">beyond this present world, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (but) it also has to do with the building up of this world.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His two key points are: first that Hope is something we do together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> second, that our hope lies both in Eternity </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and in what we achieve together in this world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immanent Hope ultimately depends on Transcendent Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To run a race well, we have to run beyond the finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To run a hundred yard dash well, we have to sprint for 110.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We lost that practice in the 17<sup>th</sup> Century </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when Western culture undertook <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to create a kingdom of humanity </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through human structures that were supposed <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to make life good for all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is the project we see failing in our time. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Humanistic hope was planted in too shallow a soil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Benedict says, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Let us put if very simply. (People) need God; <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> otherwise (we) remain without hope. . . . </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>The human being <span> <span> </span></span>needs unconditional love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (We) need the certainty which makes (us) say “neither life, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>nor death, nor principalities,</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> nor powers, nor height, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>nor depth, nor anything in all creation can separate us </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” . . . or </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>I will fear no evil for thou art with me.” . . . . </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>(Humanity’s) true hope which holds firm in spite of all </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>disappointments can only be God – God who has loved us </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>and continues to love us “to the end”. . . .</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This brings us to the relationship of Hope and Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are not the same, but they are so closely connected <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that we can’t draw a precise line where one begins </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the other ends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Biblical scholar Krister Stendahl described </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the New Testament teaching about where to look </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for the Kingdom of God after Jesus and before the end of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His classic term was “already/not yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Kingdom happens now whenever we pray faithfully, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> act justly, and live out of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Selfishness, greed, domination, deceit, disease, hunger, violence</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> keep happening – for now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, since Jesus, the final outcome is assured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is about the already. Hope is about the not yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Already, God loves us unconditionally. Our destiny is secured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, for now, the world still grinds on its axle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do not yet have the good life we hope for. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is our ground for that Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we lose what we love, we grieve. But Paul says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> we do</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> not grieve as others do who have no hope.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We grieve, but since all good is from God and God is eternal,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we know nothing good is lost to us forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus said </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Blessed are the hungry </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">– present tense – </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">for they will be satisfied</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> –</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> future tense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Blessed are those who weep now </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">– present tense -- </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">for they shall laugh </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> – </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">future tense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The present tense is Faith that we are blessed now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The future tense is Hope for a destiny </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that redeems our present experience<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> however hard it may be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus put Hope at the center and Christian hope is cosmic. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Romans, Paul said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> </span></sup></b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the cosmos waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; <b><sup> </sup></b>. . . . in hope <b><sup> </sup></b>that the cosmos itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">of the children of God.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The phrase </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">waits in eager longing</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> is actually more physical, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> like </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">standing on tiptoe.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The universe is pregnant with the Kingdom of God. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul compared our worldly sufferings<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to labor pains as we give birth to that Kingdom. He said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">the whole creation has been groaning </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"> as in the pains of childbirth . . . .</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If God is good and God is Eternity, then we know how the story ends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith assures us. Hope keeps us moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith and Hope are twin virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Francis said three things about Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">First, it is </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">light for the journey. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Knowing our destiny in God shows us our path.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope is the green energy fuel for the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Liberation theologian Jurgen Moltmann says </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Hope </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">opens the road to life in time . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Second, Francis said Faith is something we </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Profess<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> -- </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">but not just ritually by reciting the Creed.</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Professing the Faith is responding to the good news of God’s love </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by living out of it, enacting it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In Romans, Paul said we </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">believe with our hearts . . . </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> and confess with our lips.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It isn’t just reciting the Creed. It’s living the gospel. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what does that look like?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benedict gives us the answer:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Our relationship with God is established </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> through communion with Jesus . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a relationship with the one who gave himself </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as a ransom for all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To be in communion with Jesus, to profess the Faith, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to respond to the gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is to commit ourselves to each other’s well-being </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the age to come and right now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Bonhoeffer famously called Jesus </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">the man for others.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">To be in communion with Jesus means being </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">for others</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> in the world today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Pope Francis’s third word for Faith is </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Build.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He says, we walk in the light and respond to the gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> by </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">preparing a place in which human beings can dwell </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> with one another.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He’s echoing the Lutheran Jurgen Moltmann.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Moltmann says the secular visions of </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">a better, more humane, </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> more peaceable world </span></i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">are inadequate </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> because they don’t run past the finish line.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immanent Hope is sustainable only with Transcendent Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Moltmann says those secular visions express more hope <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> than we find in </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">calm despair </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">or </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">skeptical realism. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can’t build the Kingdom of God, but we can prepare a place for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do that, Francis and Moltmann say, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when we respect the dignity of every human being<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and work for peace and justice on their behalf.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith reassures us day but day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But when today is a pit of Despair, Hope carries us into tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope is angry. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope grieves over the distance between how things are </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and how they ought to be;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Hope is courageous enough </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to persistently, doggedly insist on change.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-3810268594988648802021-02-08T11:59:00.001-08:002021-02-08T12:04:34.904-08:00CLASSIC CHRISTIAN CHARACTER: FAITH<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Albert Schweitzer called St. Paul’s religion <i>Christ Mysticism, </i> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> releasing our egos to live <i>en Christos, </i>in Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by cultivating a character like Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We understand his character in terms of 7 core virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That isn’t an exclusive list. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are our starting point for how we live. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The core qualities of character are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 4 cardinal virtues: prudence, fortitude,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> justice, and temperance;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and 3 theological virtues: faith, hope, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Prudence</b> is <i>wisdom in practical affairs, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> seeing things clearly and acting sensibly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fortitude </b>is inner strength,<i> </i>boldness and resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Justice</b> is right relationship, first with ourself, then other people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Temperance </b>is moderation, balance, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> self-control, and equanimity<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">These virtues are interconnected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each is possible only in combination with the other three.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are a rope of tightly woven cords.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now we shift to Theological Virtues. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what’s the difference?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some say that the cardinal virtues are innate in human nature,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> while the theological virtues are infused by grace. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But everything is infused by grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">No virtue is possible without God’s help, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but God doesn’t force any of them on us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We practice to perfect them over time. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">God plants the seed. We water it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Others say that the cardinal virtues come </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from Greek philosophy <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> while the theological virtues come from the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s mostly right, but it’s not completely accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The thing that makes the cardinal virtues important is </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that we see them in Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Jesus is in the Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what’s the difference?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">While all virtues are interconnected, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the theological virtues are connected <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in a different way. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the cardinal virtues intertwine to form the stalk of a plant,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then where do the theological virtues connect? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are they the root or the flower, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>the source or the product?</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are different opinions. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, just keep that question in the back of your mind for now. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The virtue of Faith isn’t about doctrines. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a way of seeing and acting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Paul, Soren Kierkegaard, and Pope Francis </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> all regard Abraham as the prototype of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He slipped occasionally. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But when God told him to do something he did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">When God made a promise Abraham counted on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The key verse says, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Abraham believed the Lord and it was counted to him </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> as righteousness.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kierkegaard stood in awe of Abraham, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because Faith is how we live a bold, authentic life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hebrews 11: 1 says, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Faith is confidence in things hoped for but unseen. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> We are not of those who shrink back . . . , </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> but those who persevere . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Those <i>things hoped for </i>add up to our ultimate well-being </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in God’s love<i>. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The old hymn calls it, <i>Standing On The Promises Of God.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We get a better sense of Faith if we consider its connection </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to three things:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Faith & Reason; Faith & Fear; and last Faith & Hope. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ll save Faith & Hope till next week </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when the main topic is Hope. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, let’s start with Faith and Reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the 18<sup>th</sup> Century, many have treated them as opposites.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If something can be observed or if it makes logical sense, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that’s Reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we are just making stuff up, that’s Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That creates a huge gulf with Science and Philosophy </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on one side and Religion on the other.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Atheists define Faith as believing irrational things </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for which there is no evidence <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and call it a <i>get out of thinking card. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a grain of truth to that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">2<sup>nd</sup> Century Church leader, Tertullian, said </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>and <i>Credo quia absurdum – </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> I believe because it is absurd.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using Faith as a protest against Reason </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> has never gone away. It still happens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Tertullian was excommunicated as a heretic </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the broad tradition of the Church<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> has on the whole taken quite a different view </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of Faith and Reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But there are two Christian approaches.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, St. Thomas Aquinas believed in Reason. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He loved logic. </span><span style="font-size: large;">He presented five logical proofs of God.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he said Reason takes us only so far before it hits a wall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are things that in principle we cannot know.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> Century science thought </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we could eventually figure Reality out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But 21<sup>st</sup> Century science is humbler. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We know there are things we will never know.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And post-modern philosophy doesn’t prove things. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It just dismantles false certainties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But St. Thomas thought Reason gives us a trajectory. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith then takes us the rest of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is the extension of Reason’s trajectory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we link Reason to the cardinal virtue of Prudence, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then Faith would be the flower on the stalk of Prudence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Thomas’s view guided Anglicans, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> like 18<sup>th</sup> Century Bishop Joseph Butler <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who wrote, <i>The Analogy of Religion,</i> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> making science the floor <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but not the ceiling for <i>a reasonable faith.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A reasonable faith is <u>faith</u> because we can’t prove it; </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but it’s <u>reasonable</u> because </span><span style="font-size: large;">we can state reasons for it.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That approach continued in the 19<sup>th</sup> Century </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with Oxford’s Frederick Denison Maurice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Sewanee’s William Porcher Dubose </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> accepting Darwin </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">and </span><span style="font-size: large;">reinterpreting the Faith </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in light of Darwin – then Darwin in light of the Faith --</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>not rejecting Darwin</span><span> </span><span>as Fundamentalists would do </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> later in the 1920s.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Reasonable Faith approach continued </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the 20<sup>th</sup> Century<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with the science-based process theology </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of Charles Hartshorne, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the New Physics theology of theologians </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> like John Polkinghorne.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the Hubble Telescope essentially proved </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Big Bang theory,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> one of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century’s greatest atheist philosophers,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anthony Flew, </span><span style="font-size: large;">converted to theism because</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> it there was a Big Bang, </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">someone had to light the fuse.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was accepting Thomas Aquinas’s 2<sup>nd</sup> Proof of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s another view of Faith that extends Thomas’s approach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contemporary philosopher Jean Luc Marion </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> wouldn’t call himself a Thomist,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but I think he’s actually taken Thomas one step deeper. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marion says everything we experience is richer in meaning </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> than we can comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We look at things. We see them. But we never see it all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Human consciousness is too limited.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The danger is being so arrogant </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as to think what we see is all there is. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just a footnote on how this applies to Justice:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith never limits our sense of another person </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to an assessment or diagnosis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It always sees them as what they are </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but with a halo of mystique. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we have the humility, the Temperance, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to realize there’s more afoot than we know, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then we set our limited knowledge </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the larger context of wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Understood this way, Faith isn’t a dogmatic insistence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on doctrines.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s an openness to the mystery </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that lies beyond our understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is a flower on the twin stalks </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of Prudence and Temperance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In any approach where we put Reason or experience first, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Faith becomes the final interpretation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Post-Modern philosophy, starting with Heidegger,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> questions how much objectivity is out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So interpretation is huge. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">When asked “Is it interpretation all the way down?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they say, “Yeah it kinda is.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So Faith is not just an afterthought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another strand of the tradition, however, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> takes the opposite tack. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Augustine was a philosopher before he became a Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He had devoted his life, as philosophers do, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to figuring things out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But after having run up against a lot of brick walls, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he became a Christian <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and said, <i>Credo ut intellagam. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> I believe so that I can understand.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 10<sup>th</sup> Century St. Anselm of Canterbury paraphrased him,<o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">For I do not seek to understand in order </span></i></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"> that I may believe, <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but I believe in order to understand. </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For . . . . unless I believe I shall not understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><div><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their point is that we see everything </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through a lens of basic assumptions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Thomas Kuhn said that science gathers data </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"> and interprets it </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">according to previously established </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> paradigms or models.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When too many things don’t fit the model, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we can just change the model.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Faith, Augustine and Anselm meant a meta-paradigm, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an overarching model of Reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In that paradigm, there is a source, destiny, order, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and meaning to Reality. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s Love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jean Luc Marion identifies with this approach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his book, <i>Believing In Order To Understand, </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Marion points out that </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">the whole scientific process </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"> depends on the idea </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">that experiments </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> ought to be repeatable.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reality isn’t random. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If x plus y equals z one time,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then the next time you put x and y together, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> you ought to get z.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">If you do, it isn’t a coincidence. It’s a law of nature.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Science depends on the unproven and unprovable Faith </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that Reality is orderly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Isaac Newton, the laws of nature are an expression of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immanuel Kant used logic to show </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that there is also a moral order to Reality. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Some things are right and others wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Kant acknowledged that his proof of the moral order </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> depended on Faith </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">that logical proofs we construct </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"> in our heads correspond </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">to a </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Reality outside our heads.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The poet, Donald Revell, once told me </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he has Faith that language is meaningful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So when he writes a poem, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he doesn’t start with a point he wants to make.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He starts with words that come to him, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he puts them together on the page,<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and lets the meaning emerge from language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The point is that all Reason rests upon some sort of Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We see the world through a lens. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The lens we look through determines what we see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 17<sup>th</sup> Century Tibet, mystics had visions of dancing <i>dakinis.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 17<sup>th</sup> Century France, mystics had visions </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one in France saw <i>dakinis</i>. No one in Tibet saw Mary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What we see depends on how we look at it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is a way of looking at the world </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that makes all the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the people of Nazareth looked at Mary </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through their cynical eyes, <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they didn’t see the Blessed Virgin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They saw an unwed mother </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and they didn’t say <i>Hail Mary full of grace.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They didn’t consider Joseph a skilled craftsman </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> like today’s carpenters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was more like a day laborer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">People threw Jesus’ father in his face. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Is not this the son of the carpenter?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was an expression of contempt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But through the eyes of faith, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Luke saw Mary as the mother of God,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Matthew saw Joseph </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as a saint who listened to his dream angel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Galilee wasn’t <i>the Holy Land </i>then.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pharisees rejected Jesus arguing, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Prophets do not come from Galilee. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Matthew quoted an obscure passage from Isaiah,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Galilee of the Gentiles<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> The people living in darkness have seen a great light.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stable was a ritually unclean, dishonorable place </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to be born. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But St. Francis, through the eyes of faith, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> saw it as a shrine,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and built the first crèche as a holy object </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for us to venerate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Augustinians, Reason is impossible without Faith. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The expression <i>blind faith </i>is nonsense. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis rejects it In his papal encyclical, <i>Lumen Fidei</i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He says,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="color: #211e1e;">There is an urgent need . . . to see once again that <u>faith <span> <span> </span></span>is a light</u>, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim. The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence. A light this powerful cannot come from ourselves but from a more primordial source: . . . Faith comes from . . . an encounter with the living God who reveals his love . . . upon which we can lean for security and build our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith isn’t a set of ideas we shut our eyes to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the opposite. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith is a way of seeing, a way of looking at everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The expression, <i>the Light of Faith, </i>means Faith shows us reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian Faith isn’t an object we look at. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a way of looking at everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Francis says Faith doesn’t mean just gazing at Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It means <u>seeing things as Jesus sees them</u>, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> participating in his vision. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Francis continues, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Those who believe see. They see with <u>a light that </u></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u> illumines </u></i><u>t<i>he entire journey,</i></u> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">for it comes from the Risen</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Christ, </span></i><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">t<span style="font-size: large;">he morning star that never sets.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If Prudence is the stalk, Faith is its root.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world we see is determined </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">by the kind of Faith we start with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now let’s turn to Faith and the universal human experience of Fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fear doesn’t just react to the world we inhabit. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fear produces it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Criminologist, Scott Bonn, agrees </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that violence expresses anger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But he insists, anger isn’t a primary emotion. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s secondary. Anger’s root is fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;">During a pandemic, homicides, gun violence, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> overdoses, and domestic violence<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> surge because people are afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For times like these, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus gave us this central statement of Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Have no fear, little flock, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> for it is the Father’s good pleasure<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> to give you the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The imperative sentence Jesus said most often was </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Do not be afraid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bible says <i>Do not be afraid</i> 365 times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t mean, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Don’t feel the fear </i>that automatically surges in the amygdala.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It means, <i>Don’t believe your fear. Don’t trust your fear. </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Don’t live in your fear.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith isn’t giving intellectual assent to doctrines. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a matter of trust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abraham didn’t believe that God exists. He believed God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To believe <u>in</u> someone, isn’t to acknowledge they exist. I</span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">t’s to <u>trust</u> them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Creed begins <i>I believe</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That renders the Latin <i>Credo</i>, which is literally <i>I give my heart –<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">not <i>I hold the opinion that there is a God, </i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"> but rather <i>I give my heart to God –<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">not we believe <i>that;</i> we believe <i>in.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The English word <i>believe </i>wasn’t originally an opinion word, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but a loving word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It derives from the Anglo-Saxon, <i>beleven</i>, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which is the root of <i>beloved.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about trusting a God we can’t manipulate or even define. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we trust the mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The late Bishop of Atlanta, Frank Alan, used to say, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Faith is trusting that the mystery is friendly.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortitude is the essential boldness to live our life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where do Christians get that Fortitude?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If Fortitude is the stalk of the plant, Faith is its root.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith gives us the Fortitude to live through pandemic, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> political turmoil and economic insecurity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith isn’t naïve confidence bad things won’t happen. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith resides in the words <i>even if. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith trusts a redemption we can’t see yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">People call Abraham the model of Faith; </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but the one who stands out to me is Job<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in a verse sometimes translated, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Even if he slay me, I will trust in him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what do we trust and how does trusting play out in living?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main Old Testament word for God’s love is <i>hesed</i> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which means covenant love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about promise keeping. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God makes us promises we can stand on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But faithfulness sounds stationary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Standing on the promises sounds stationary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis describes Faith and faithfulness </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as more of a journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abraham’s act of faith was a journey. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story begins with Genesis 12 verse 1: <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"> </span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal;">The LORD had said to Abram, </span></i></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal;"><span> </span>"Go from your country, your people </span></i></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal;"> and your father''s </span></i></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">house to the land I will show you.”</span></span></i></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abraham’s whole life was a journey. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deuteronomy calls him <i>a wandering Aramaean.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now look at the structure of Luke’s Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fully one-third of the book is Jesus’ journey </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from Galilee to Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In real life geography, it isn’t that far.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But for Luke, Jesus is a man on a journey </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> l</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">ike Abraham before him.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of his teachings are set in the context of a journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then in Acts, the sequel to Luke, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we have the journeys of Paul <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which ended with his death in Rome, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but he was planning to go to Spain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis calls Faith <i>light for the journey.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To shift metaphors, I’d call faithfulness </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> dancing with the one who brung you.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But don’t miss the point, it’s still dancing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what does this journey metaphor mean?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One meaning is that Faith isn’t stagnant. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our relationship with Jesus isn’t stagnant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over the course of a lifetime, we get to know him better. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We learn <i>to trust him more and more</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t worry about what religious ideas people hold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ideas come and go like weather. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What matters is the journey into relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To call life a journey is a cliché but it’s a cliché because it’s true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even if we stay in the same place geographically, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> each day the place is new </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">and we are new</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">.</span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first challenge is to pay attention, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> be alert to what’s happening, <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> including changes in ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second challenge is to summon the Fortitude </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to keep moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are ups and downs. </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The road is sometimes smooth; sometimes, rough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do we navigate that? </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do we navigate pandemics, recessions, and insurrections<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in a way that constitutes living well, living fully, </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> living justly?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith in a loving God, a merciful and beautiful <o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> source, destiny, order, and meaning to life<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is essential especially when the circumstances </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>are upsetting or demoralizing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christians see the source, destiny, order, and meaning of life<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> not in an abstract principle we can put </span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in a neat paragraph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We place our Faith in mystery so personal<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 64px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that it could be revealed only in a person, Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-35513381461645563332021-02-02T12:49:00.002-08:002021-02-02T12:49:21.856-08:00CLASSIC CHRISTIAN CHARACTER: TEMPERANCE<p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ethics is what we do. Virtue is why we do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Virtue ethics is the point where action and motive connect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Christian way is to grow into the likeness of Christ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through a life of disciplined practice </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">of Christlike virtues.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s about the inner good of who we become, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> not the external good of a reward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But what’s the point of becoming virtuous?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are three points: The first isn’t about us. It’s about others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Virtue makes us better parents, spouses, neighbors, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> communicants, and citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s like wearing a mask after you have the Covid vaccine. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You do it for the other person. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But we do get two things out of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A virtue is an excellence at the art of living.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We are given just a few years on this earth. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We don’t want to miss them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The virtues bring us fully alive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With Prudence, we see reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With Fortitude, we have the courage to engage it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With Justice, we can have authentic relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We’ll see today that Temperance is equally vital to a life well-lived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The second thing we get out of virtue is about Eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The virtues shape our minds, and as Milton said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #65676b;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;">The</span></i><b><i><span style="color: #767676;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="color: #767676;">mind is its own place<b>,</b></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> and in itself, </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> Can make a Heav'n of Hell, </span></i><i><span style="color: #767676;">a</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> Hell</span></i><b><i><span style="color: #767676;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="color: #767676;">of</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> Heav'n.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our experience of Eternity depends on who we have become <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and becoming is what we are here to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">William Blake said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> We are put on this earth a little space,</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> That we might learn to bear the beams of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Christian virtue ethics holds that the core of the Christian life <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> – not all of it; but the core – </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">consists of 3 theological virtues: faith, hope, and love;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">and 4 cardinal virtues: prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First we considered <b>Prudence</b>, the mother of all virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Prudence is <i>wisdom in practical affairs, </i>seeing things </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> clearly as they are and acting sensibly. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 1<sup>st</sup> Commandment of Prudence is: <i>Deal with the real.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Next, we considered <b>Fortitude, </b><i>mental and emotional strength <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> in facing difficulty, adversity, (or) danger . . . courageously.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Last week, we considered <b>Justice. </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Christian virtue of Justice is about right relationship.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It starts with our relationship with ourself, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and out of that inner balance,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> we can relate to other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The starting point for right relationship is </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to know others as real persons <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who taste soup, dream dreams, and have feelings at sunset <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> -- not as tools, mirrors for our egos, or screens for our projections. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We make a moral practice of empathy, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> imaginatively seeing the world through other eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">These virtues are interwoven.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Justice is possible only if we have the Prudence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to see ourselves and others,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> recognizing the sensible action, and then the Fortitude to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When I hear the things some people say,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> I think their head must be a scary place to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It takes Fortitude to say with Abraham Lincoln, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Prudence is possible only if we have the will to see reality,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> which is born of Justice, and the Fortitude to face facts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fortitude depends on the Prudence to see our challenges </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and deal with them sensibly,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and the Justice that cares enough to make it worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Today, we consider <b>Temperance </b>– dictionary definition: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>moderation or self-restraint in action, thought, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> or feeling, self-control.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Its synonyms include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>equanimity, calmness, serenity, forbearance, self-denial, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> judiciousness, measure.</span> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">For Plato, Temperance included four elements,</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> none of which is sufficient in itself, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but all of which are necessary:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, quietness of soul that comes from self-acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Second, the humility of knowing our limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Third, minding our own business, being contented in our own life,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> instead of judging others and meddling in their affairs <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> or becoming consumed by ambition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fourth, self-awareness, the Delphic oracle’s adage, <i>Know thyself.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Aristotle considered temperance the most important virtue</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> and Euripides called it </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">the noblest gift of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is the virtue with the greatest cross-cultural consensus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Confucius taught that modesty and self-control were essential </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to a humane life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Gautama Buddha included temperance in speech and action </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in his 8-fold path. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But it doesn’t come easy. Buddha said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Temperance is a tree which for its root has little contentment,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but for its fruit, calm and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lao Tzu made moderation the center of the Tao Te Ching. He wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> Filling all the way to the brim is</span></i><i> not as good as halting in time.</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Pounding an edge to sharpness will not make it last.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Keeping plenty of gold and jade in the palace </span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> makes no one able to defend it.</span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> T<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">hose who stand on their toes are not steady.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Those who take long steps cannot keep the pace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Those who show off do not shine.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Those who are self-righteous are not prominent.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Those who boast are not respected.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 7.5pt 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Hinduism teaches, </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Even nectar is a poison if taken to excess.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Mohammed said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately. . . <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> Always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course . . . .</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 17<sup>th</sup> Century Anglican priest and poet Robert Herrick wrote,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">In things a moderation keep; </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> Kings ought to shear, not skin, their sheep. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So did our American forebears toss moderation overboard </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> on their way here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Apparently not. Lord Byron said, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> America is a model of force and freedom and moderation <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> -- with all the coarseness and rudeness of its people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Abraham Lincoln, the exemplar of American political temperance, said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white;">The demon of intemperance ever seems to . . . suck the blood <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of genius and of generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the 20<sup>th</sup> Century, however, moderation and temperance </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> were widely repudiated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Oscar Wilde said, <i>Moderation is fatal. Nothing succeeds like excess.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> -- which leads to Barry Goldwater’s adage,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Compare that to Aristotle who said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>The virtue of justice consists in moderation, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> as regulated by wisdom.</i></span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Or as George MacDonald, the role model of C. S. Lewis, put it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>Moderation is the basis of justice.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But Ann Coulter disparages moderation <i>per se</i>. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A leftist friend of mine agrees with her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He calls moderation complicity with evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Right wing Ann and my progressive friend agree </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> because both are following Eminem <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> who sum it up for the modern era: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>Yo, I can’t do anything in moderation. I don’t know how.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let’s recall two historical examples of excess </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> as an intentional way of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, there was the cultural revolution of the 1960s <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> – summarized by Ian Drury and the Blockheads </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in their anthem for the era: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Sex and </span></i><a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/drugs" style="color: #954f72;"><i><span style="color: #222222;">drugs</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #333333;"> and rock and roll is all my <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/brain" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: #222222;">brain</span></a> and body need. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 60s ended with several exclamation points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One was a series of high profile drug overdose deaths </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> – Joplin, Hendrix, Morrison, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Another was the Altamont Rock Festival </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> which featured four accidental deaths,<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> five live births, a Hells Angels murder </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of a gun-toting 20 year old,<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and their knocking out one of the Rolling Stones on stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Finally, came the Manson Family murders </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> intended to incite a race war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In reaction to the hedonistic excess of the 60s, </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> we got the religious excess of the Christian right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That brand of religiosity organized around two things:<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> maximizing the intensity of emotions </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> associated with religious ideas; and <o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> devotion to religious celebrities like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and James Dobson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sex, drugs, and rock and roll were out. </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Family values were in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Christian right led to Eric Rudolph’s bombings </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of Centennial Olympic Park </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and a lesbian night club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then Scott Roeder murdered an abortion doctor </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in a Wichita Lutheran Churc </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">prophesying that </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>God’s judgment (will) sweep over America </span></i></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>like a prairie wind</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">James Kopp murdered a doctor in Buffalo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then another Christian extremist murdered three people <o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood Clinic, </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> hometown of Focus On The Family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Randy Weaver of the Christian Identity Movement,<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> which advocated death for adulterers and gays, <o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> shot it out with federal authorities </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Adventist breakaway David Koresh </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>formed the Waco cult in which 76 people </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">were killed in a gunfight with law enforcement.</span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As revenge, Timothy McVeigh, </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> also of the Christian Identity Movement,<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> bombed the Oklahoma City federal building </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> killing 168 people and injuring 680. </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Extremism in one direction leads </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to extremism in the other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s as if any extremist ideology is a pretext </span></span></pre><pre style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.666664123535156px; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> for extremism itself, the passions running loose. <o:p></o:p></span></span></pre><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Today, we are living with the implications of valorizing excess </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> over temperance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thankfully, we have a few contemporary voices for moderation, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> the best of which is Julia Child who said,</span><br /><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: maroon;"> Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. </span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: maroon;"> These are the secrets of happiness and good health.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is a reciprocal relationship between virtues </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and spiritual experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Moral practices can open us up to spiritual experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But spiritual experiences can also teach us virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">People use various ways to access spiritual experience:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> prayer, meditation, chanting, fasting, yoga, tai chi, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and psychedelic drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I don’t presume to prescribe which is right for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But one day in 1569, Michel de Montaigne had a profound experience <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> by a method I do not recommend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He fell off a horse, hit his head, and lost consciousness<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but his body was convulsing and thrashing about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">His companions, in a panic, took him home, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> where the horrified household <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> rushed around, crying and wringing their hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But Montaigne felt as if he were floating above the whole scene </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> just watching it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He could see his body flailing. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He could see everyone in panicky distress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Montaigne, however, felt utterly at peace </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> until the whole thing passed and he recovered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">From that point on, he had a new perspective </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> on his life and the world around him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Out of that perspective he wrote his famous <i>Essays</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> which became the philosophical backdrop </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> to Shakespeare’s plays.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The plays are full of passion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Romeo and Juliet plunge into fatal romance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Macbeth’s ambition leads to war, his wife’s suicide, and his own ruin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">King Leontes, in a fit of jealousy, jails Queen Hermione <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and orders the murder of his best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But Shakespeare is the author, in control, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> writing the story and watching it performed<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> like Montaigne watching the drama unfold in his bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Christian Temperance isn’t aloof detachment. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It cares, but from a perspective of serenity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;">As T. S. Eliot put it in <i>Ash Wednesday,</i></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"> Teach us to care and not to care. Teach us to sit still.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #101010;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Temperance cares without losing the balanced, serene, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> curious center of the self,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> which Eliot called <i>the still point of the turning world</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our total personality includes sub-personalities, passions, ideas, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and inclinations </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">that are often in conflict with each other </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> and charging off in this or that direction,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but the serene center holds us together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We are always at risk of being taken over by a subpersonality </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> or a passion,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> especially if a situation or another person </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> is pushing our buttons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The serene center does not deny those impulses, but it tempers them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It moderates the staff meeting going on inside us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It helps the parts of ourselves negotiate their compromises,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> so that we are able to behave moderately with others, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> including in the public square. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are four playing fields on which we can cultivate Temperance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">First, our inner being, moderating our feelings </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> without denying or suppressing them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Second, our personal life of family and close friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> These are the people who can press our buttons the most.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> So that’s where we most need our serene center to be still, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> ask questions, </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">and listen rather than react impulsively.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The third playing field is our voluntary associations </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> like our church, our HOA, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> our bowling team, or our garden club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One blessing of our voluntary associations is they develop </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the civic virtues </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">necessary to public life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The fourth playing field is the public square </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> where we structure our common life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Last week two things happened in the Southern Baptist Church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Not all, but multiple, pastors called for repentance </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> for the Church’s complicity </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">in the Capitol riot.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Texas, Jonathan Davis said,<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"> </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;">If you hold a ‘Jesus Saves’ sign while violently storming </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a civic building in a fear-driven, anti-democratic </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-size: large;"> attempt for earthly political power, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the basis of your faith is way off.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Knoxville, Pastor Bill Ireland cited Hosea, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> Those who sow the wind, will reap the whirlwind.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><i><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The second event was an op ed in The Baptist News </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> by North Carolina Pastor Steve Shoemaker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Pastor Steve said it will take two virtues to heal our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The first is Justice. He said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> We as a nation cannot move forward toward healing </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> without the civic virtue of justice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But, Pastor Steve continued, we also need a second virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;">He called it <i>Forbearance </i>corresponding to what we call <i>Temperance. </i>He quoted St. Paul:</span><i> </i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #383d40;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with one another in love. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> through the bond of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Justice and Temperance in the public life are a kind of paradox.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Pursuing justice requires compassion, which has passion in it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We need a powerful emotional motivation to do </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the hard work of justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But that can be a slippery slope into intemperance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Passions blow like a whirlwind in society and we can get lost in them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Participating in the public square for Justice but with Temperance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> is a delicate balancing act.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Parker Palmer calls it a paradox. He says,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;">If I didn’t have the idea of “holding</span><b><span style="color: #767676;"> paradox”</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> to help me </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> understand myself and the world around me, I’d be more lost </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> than I am! . . .. (H)olding</span><b><span style="color: #767676;"> paradox</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"> means <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> thinking about some (but not all) things as “both-ands” </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> instead of “either-ors.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666666;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He says that paradox, two truths or two values, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> both valid in themselves <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> -- but inconsistent with each other --<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> creates a tension we are tempted to resolve too quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We want to go with one or the other, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> or to find a middle ground compromise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He urges us instead to <i>hold the tension</i>, to honor both </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> until something </span>new </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">arises out of it over time.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Temperance is intentional awareness of both sides of a paradox<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and the discipline of holding them in tension.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I will wrap up with suggestions for two forms </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> of practicing Temperance -- inner and outer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For Inner Temperance, pay attention to your feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you think you are thinking, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> stop and find the feeling behind your thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Find it in your body and just notice it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don’t try to erase it or change it. Don’t even judge it. Just let it be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let the healing power of your awareness do the healing over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For Outer Temperance, get to know the other side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Think of whoever it is that upsets you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then approach the other side with curiosity. Try to learn something.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Nelson Mandela started as a Gandhi devotee of non-violence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> but just as a strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He lost patience, became a violent revolutionary, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and went to prison for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While he was in prison, he had a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The food was ample, but they served the whole day’s food at once.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So his lunch and dinner were cold. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He wanted to ask the guards for a hotplate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But they were white so they wouldn’t speak with him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So Mandela listened to their conversation with each other<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and discovered that they talked constantly </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> about one thing – football.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In those days, Black South Africans despised football </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> as a white man’s game.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But Mandela needed a hotplate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So he went to the library, got the sports magazines, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> and read up on current football.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then, he’d call out to the guards, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i> How about them Broncos? Did you see so and so?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Next thing you know, they were talking and he got his hotplate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the course of that experience, Mandela adopted a new principle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If somebody was saying something that made no sense to him,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> they must know something he didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So he asked the guards questions. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He didn’t explain to them how wrong apartheid was. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He asked questions and just by his open curiosity, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> he converted the guards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He kept on asking questions all the way </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> up the power chain to F. W. DeKlerk,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> until he had questioned South Africa out of apartheid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, practice curiosity. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If Black Lives Matter marches push your buttons, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> talk with a Black friend </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">or read a Black novel.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Read Ta-Nahisi Coates, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Richard Wright, or Maya Angelou.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If the radical right strikes you as simply crazy,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> learn what makes them tick from some sociological studies like<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i>Strangers In Their Own Land </i>by Arlie Hochshild </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> or <i>American Fascists </i>by Chris Hedges. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Problematic passions in society, like problematic passions </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> in our own hearts, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">do not go away by being ridiculed.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We start by seeing others from the serene center of our being. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We can hold fast to our own sense of morality and still engage others<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> with curiosity rather than moral indignation </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> or personal contempt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you hear me saying just go along, or even compromise with evil,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> I’m not saying that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I’m saying: just stay in your center and try to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s Temperance in the public square.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-15428111027426993812021-01-25T11:36:00.003-08:002021-01-25T11:38:27.034-08:00CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN CHARACTER: JUSTICE<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the tv series, <i>The Good Place</i>, four young people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>live faulty lives, </span><span style="font-size: large;">die young, and are consigned </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>to the bad place.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they negotiate for a 2<sup>nd</sup> chance, are returned to life, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and behave impeccably.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>But again, they are sentenced to the bad place, </span><span>because </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>the motive for all their good behavior was selfish.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were doing it for themselves to get into the good place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So they negotiate for a third run at it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no way to deliberately get the external good </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>of the good place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their only possibility is the internal good </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>of becoming good people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ethics is about what we do. Virtue is about the reason we do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtue ethics is the point where action and motive connect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Christian way is to grow into the likeness of Christ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span>through the disciplined practice </span><span>of Christlike virtues </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>over the course of a lifetime.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It isn’t about external goods or rewards. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about who we become.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian virtue ethics holds that the core of the Christian life <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – not all of it; but the core tradition – </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>consists of 7 primary virtues <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – 3 theological virtues: faith, hope, and love; </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and 4 cardinal virtues: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">First we considered <b>Prudence</b>, the mother of all virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence is <i>wisdom in practical affairs, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>seeing things clearly as they are and acting sensibly. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 1<sup>st</sup> Commandment of Prudence is: <i>Deal with the real.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, we considered <b>Fortitude, </b><i>mental and emotional strength <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> in facing difficulty, adversity, (or) danger . . . courageously.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today we take up the cardinal virtue of <b>Justice.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So much has been written about justice </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>from different perspectives <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">– philosophical, theological, sociological, psychological, political.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much of it has been tendentious and there has often been </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span>a failure </span><span>to see that the writers are coming </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>from different disciplines </span><span>and are not so much disagreeing</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>as talking past each other.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The classical sense of justice as a virtue has gotten lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The word virtue still gets used and abused in justice talk <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – but what they mean by virtue is something quite obscure. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do not intend to go down the rabbit hole</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span> of competing theories of justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll just focus on the Christian virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even that isn’t going to yield anything neat and simple.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Justice can be understood as a set of principles </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> defining right and wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Justice can also be understood as a social value, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> something we care about.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But in virtue ethics, we are looking for a quality of character, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> something we can practice and grow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The virtue of justice is individual </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – a quality of a person’s character.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s also social -- a quality of the community, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an attitude and pattern of behavior that a people share.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Social virtue can be expressed by the state as laws </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> but it isn’t limited to laws. </span><span>It’s broader, more cultural.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Old Testament morality is more about rules than virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the Old Testament is nonetheless </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>profoundly interested in justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deuteronomy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> orphan, and widow.</i></span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Amos: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Let justice roll down like the waters and righteousness </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <span> </span>like an ever flowing stream.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Micah: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> love mercy, </i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">and walk humbly with your god.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two rival visions of justice carry on a sustained argument </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> throughout the Old Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, there is the Moses view, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a freedom and equality kind of morality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It demands lending generously to those in need, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but don’t count on getting repaid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">All debt was cancelled every 7 years </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and all land was to go back </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>to the family of its original owner every 50 years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aliens were to be welcomed, supported, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and included in the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were no kings, only local spiritual leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">People didn’t need the law enforced top down. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Law enforcement was vigilante style. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mob was assumed to be moral.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Better than having oppressive police like the Egyptians, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other side was the King David view, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a hierarchical nationalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The king was the adoptive son, the beloved of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">To love, honor, and obey the king was </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to love, honor, and obey God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The kings liked to build palaces and temples,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to keep standing armies, and to wage wars </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of imperialistic conquest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">This meant heavy taxes, forced labor, and the draft </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- but also law and order<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with more due process than the supposedly moral mob.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moses’s view was taken up by the Prophets </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Micah <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – who defied the kings to their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two rival senses of justice argued their way </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through the Old Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the contest was played out on the same field.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That field is the word both sides used, <i>sedeq. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We translate it <i>justice </i>or <i>righteousness.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It means <i>to be in right relationship.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Ancient Israelites didn’t agree </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on the political structure for their relationships,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but they persisted in a conversation about it </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for over a thousand years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contemporary philosopher Jurgen Habermas, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who wrote about discourse ethics and intersubjectivity,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> would say the point of the Old Testament </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> may not be who was right,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but the fact of the persistent conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Habermas says,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>We all live in a world surrounded by people of different </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> background and personality. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Relating with one another and settling our differences </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> is not always an easy task<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> but it is a task we must embrace . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Trust or suspicion, authentic communication or lies . . . , <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> unconditional love or self-interest<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> are just some of the causes of strengthening </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> or breaking human relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Persistence in relationship enriches our souls </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and is necessary to our survival.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He believed Martin Buber’s attitude of <i>I And Thou, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> viewing the other person </span><span>as a subject in their own right,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> not just an object to be persuaded into our view,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is the foundation for authentic conversation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turning to Jesus, the best place to start is the Beatitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 5: 6 reads,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for (Greek word) </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> “dikaisune” for you shall be satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We usually translate <i>dikaisune </i>as “righteousness” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but it could as easily be translated “justice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for justice . . . . </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Either way, it means <i>right relationship.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus told stories of relationship, often relationships </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that crossed conventional boundaries<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- the Good Samaritan, the Unforgiving Servant,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Prodigal Son.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And he gave specific examples:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>If you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> brother holds something against you, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> leave your gift there </i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">and go be reconciled to your brother,</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> <span> </span></span>and then come back and offer your gift.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Judge not that you may not be judged; </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> for by whatever judgment you pass you shall be </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> judged and whatever measure you measure </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> shall be meted out to you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Let the one among you who is without sin cast </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> the first stone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Be like your Father in heaven who causes the rain </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> to fall and the sun to shine<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> on the good and the evil alike. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus’ disciples included a Roman collaborator </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and a Zealot insurrectionist,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the moralistic Pharisee Nicodemus </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the prostitute who washed his feet,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the cynical skeptic Nathaniel </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the madwoman Mary Magdalene.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He not only befriended these diverse people, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he wove them into community with each other. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus envisioned a Moses kind of justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He explained his mission by quoting Isaiah,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -24pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The Spirit of the Lord is on me, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -24pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> because he has anointed me </i></span><i style="text-indent: -12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">to proclaim </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -24pt;"><i style="text-indent: -12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> good news to the poor, . . . freedom for the prisoners</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and recovery of sight for the blind,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -24pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">to set the oppressed free . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus wasn’t neutral on power and wealth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, having staked out his position, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he engaged people of all stripes in conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He resisted the idea that a merely political revolution </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> could create a virtuous society<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in which people could flourish.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judah had done that before when the Maccabees </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> threw out the Greeks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but then their rule was so bad </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that Judeans actually invited Rome<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to liberate them from their Jewish oppressors. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Changing the state may help. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it is never enough to create a just society.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The definitive view Christian view of the social order </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is from Augustine,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but we need a bridge between Jesus and Augustine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That bridge is Plato. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">What he said about justice is certainly flawed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But there’s still something in it that is essential </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to understanding justice as a virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plato taught that justice in the state </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was merely individual justice writ large.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A just state was the product of just individuals. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s start with the state and work backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plato said there were three basic kinds of people: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> rational philosophers, passionate warriors,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and responsible workers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The state was just when each fulfilled their proper purpose </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- the right person for the right job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Likewise, each individual has three corresponding parts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have a mind to think, a spirit with the bravery for life, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and a body with its appetites.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Individual justice is an inner balance </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of the three parts of the person,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">just as justice in the state is each kind of person doing their job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s obviously simplistic. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are more than three kinds of people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and our individual selves are more complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we do each have parts. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Freud gave us Id, Ego, and Super-ego.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Transactional Analysis gave Child, Parent, Adult.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Norse mythology divided the individual into 4 parts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jung gave us Persona, Shadow, Animus, and Self.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psychosynthesis gives each of us a whole inner community </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> of sub-personalities </span><span>competing for space </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>in the same body.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But these psychologists all agree with Plato: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need to work things out inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Plato called justice, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> psychologists call inner harmony or integration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That requires the different parts of our personalities </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to stay in conversation with each other,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> respecting each other’s right to exist, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> making room for each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need the different parts of ourselves playing the role </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> for which they are suited, like </span><span>keeping the passions </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the passenger seat and Mother Prudence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the driver’s seat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A just individual is self-aware and well-balanced.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second gem from Plato is that just individuals </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> actively shape their community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">By bringing our internal balance into the community process,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we lend sanity, dignity, and order to the common life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The justice of the community is an outer network of relationships <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that arises from the inner network of relationships </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That brings us to St. Augustine<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine wrote <i>The City of God</i> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as the Roman Empire was crumbling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He might well have preempted Dickens </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>and titled it <i>A Tale of Two Cities,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>because he described the world as inhabited </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>by two metaphorical cities,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the <i>Earthly City </i>and the <i>Heavenly City. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because the world is fallen </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and sin isn’t about to disappear anytime soon,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Earthly City is governed by arbitrary, amoral, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> dominating power.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Heavenly City is God’s realm in which the virtues reign.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we cannot escape the one to live in the other. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all have a foot in each city.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine’s overarching metaphor for earthly life </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> is Jesus’ parable</span><span> </span><span>of the field sown </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with a mix of wheat and weeds.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We cannot root out the weeds now </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> without destroying the wheat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So the wheat and weeds grow together </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> until God sorts them out in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The virtues sometimes manifest in the state, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> just as the vices manifest in the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine taught that Christian participate in the world </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> -- the state, the market, </span><span>and the social community -- </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> both </span></span>as Christians as responsible citizens,</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but with our ultimate allegiance not to any institution </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>or ideology </span><span>but to God, and under God, to each other.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Augustine, the virtue of justice is relational. He said,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white;">Justice is found where…the soul rules the body in all </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> (people) who belong to this City and obey God, and</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> reason faithfully rules the vices in a lawful system </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> of subordination … </span></i></span><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">the association . . . of righteous </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (people) lives on the same basis of faith, active in love, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the love with which a (person) loves God as God ought to</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> be loved, </span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">and loves his neighbor as himself.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some years ago, I was wandering about the City of Jerusalem<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and found myself in a highly politicized </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Palestinian neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stepped into a political bookstore </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> where every book was a diatribe against Israeli occupation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not criticizing that, just describing it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then, I came upon a book that didn’t fit, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The New Religious Intolerance: </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Overcoming The Politics Of Fear In An Anxious Age</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by the Jewish philosopher, Martha Nusbaum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nusbaum said our fear-based experience of the world </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>narrows, shrinks, and rigidifies<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when we fail to practice <i>participatory imagination.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Participatory imagination is empathy,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> imagining our way into someone else’s experience </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to see things their way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t mean we agree with them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we understand them as if from the inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said, <i>Love your neighbor as yourself.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enlightenment philosopher, Immanuel Kant, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> echoed Jesus in his rationalist language.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Never treat another person as a means to an end, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> but always as an end in himself.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can treat others as ends themselves, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we can love them as we love ourselves, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> only if we know them, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> if we see the world as our neighbor see it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s in line with Martin Buber and Jurgen Habermas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it’s even more in line with Emanuel Levinas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having lost loved ones in the holocaust, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he asked how that happened <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and concluded Western philosophy, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> including utilitarianism. </span><span>was immoral.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So Levinas called us back to relationship </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with those who differ from us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Levinas wrote about <i>the encounter with the other</i>, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the discovery that we aren’t the only ones here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are not even the center of the universe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The very existence of other people gives rise </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to an ethical demand. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nigel Zimmerman sums Levinas up this way:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The Other – the suffering other – the poor one, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> the widow, the orphan – </i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">is a subjective presence </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> who appears before the self . . . .(T)he other person </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> . . . . issues an ethical demand to one’s own self. . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Levinas saw justice as something that happens <i>face to face.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But that kind of encounter is in a chicken and egg relationship </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> with a larger social context he </span><span>called</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> the fraternal community.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It takes face to face encounters, one on one meetings, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to form a fraternal community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it takes a fraternal community to form us as people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> capable of face to face encounters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fraternal community acknowledges we are each unique<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but we all share the same ethical duty </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- to see each other as selves,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to acknowledge each other’s perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s why Martha Nusbaum challenges us<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to adopt the moral practice of seeing things </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from the other side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or as Tyler Hubbard and Tim McGraw put it </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in their song Undivided,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>When we gonna learn to try on someone else’s shoes?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> When we gonna see through someone else’s eyes?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can contrast Nusbaum’s approach to life with a passage <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in Marcel Proust’s epic novel <i>In Search Of Lost Time.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The protagonist, when he’s a teenage boy, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is obsessed with girls at this stage of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As he rides along the beach, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he sees each girl and wants to possess her,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but it isn’t about sex.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He later explains that sex doesn’t work for his purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">What he wants to possess is her mind. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wants her to notice him, then think about him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wants to invade her consciousness with his own image </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and turn her into a mirror for his ego. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contrast that to participatory imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if instead of trying to change her thoughts, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he had tried to see them,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> understand her experience as it was, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> uninvaded by his agenda.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The prayer of St. Francis seeks the grace, <i>to seek</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>not so much to be understood, but to understand.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The moral practice of a virtue grows us spiritually.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of imposing ourselves on others, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Justice, right relationship, truly sees them, </span><span>as they are, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an image of God -- a distorted image, but still an image.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Vision of God enlightens our souls, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and it’s right there waiting for us <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> if we just practice participatory imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we see the world through many perspectives </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> instead of just our own,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it becomes a vastly larger, more interesting place<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and we multiply many times over our capacity </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to apprehend and appreciate reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian justice isn’t neat, but it includes unexpected elements.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the Old Testament, we see that justice may reside<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> not so much in rival visions of the social order<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as in our process of working with our differences.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus gives us a picture of non-judgmental relationship </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> with people </span><span>who are different from his.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Love your neighbor</i>, he said, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then gave an example of a neighbor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as a person of a different race, different religion, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> different nationality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plato shows us to start by harmonizing our psychological parts,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because whatever we have not integrated, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we will project on someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Levinas shows us justice as recognizing </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the other’s moral claim on us,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Nusbaum says that recognition begins <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with empathy, seeing the world through the eyes <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of someone as different from us as possible.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-22879682746734845092021-01-18T12:19:00.002-08:002021-01-18T12:22:29.217-08:00CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN OUR CONTEXT: FORTITUDE<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a course on how virtue ethics might help us through </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span>pandemic, recession, </span><span>racial divisions, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> political insurrection, and whatever comes our way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week we said that Christian virtues are Christlike qualities </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> of character </span><span>that shape who we become.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Christian way is to grow into the likeness of Christ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span>through the disciplined practice </span><span>of these attitudes </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and actions over the course of a lifetime.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It isn’t about external goods or rewards like getting God </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to bless us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about who we become.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtue translates the Greek word <i>arete, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which is literally an <i>excellence</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Aristotle put it, the sharpness of a saw is an excellence </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because it helps the saw cut wood.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A virtue is a moral excellence because it helps us live better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ll look closer at what living better means </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as we examine each virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can clear up some objections to virtue ethics </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with a super quick historical recap.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the 4<sup>th</sup> Century, Christianity identified the core </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> of Christian living </span><span>as three theological virtues </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – faith, hope, and love – </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> along with four cardinal virtues </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> – </span><span>prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We took the system of virtues from Greek </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Roman philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we redefined them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Augustine said that the Roman understanding </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> of honor, a warrior virtue, </span><span>was really a form </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of individual pride and idolatry of the Empire.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, some people object that the virtues </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> are culturally defined </span><span>and don’t fit places and peoples </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> outside the European norm.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the virtues are organic, not fixed, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and have from the very beginning <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>had to be reinterpreted in new contexts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The virtues remained the core of Christian morality for 1,200<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>when Luther insisted on <i>sola fides</i>, faith alone, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>rejecting all the other virtues, including hope and love,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>then re-defining faith as theological correctness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 18<sup>th</sup> Century, Catholicism went the opposite way, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> replacing the virtues with a rule book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s called <i>manualist ethics</i>, because it took the form </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of manuals for confessors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The manuals defined what acts were sins </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and prescribed the penance for each.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, secular philosophy, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> finding both Catholic and Protestant approaches silly,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>adopted consequentialism also called utilitarianism,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>meaning you measure an act </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by its consequences or utility.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The end justifies the means. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That end is the greatest benefit for the greatest number.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That unfortunately reduced people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to producers, consumers, commodities, and instruments<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>for the state and the market. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So virtue ethics disappeared until the cultural cataclysm </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of World War II. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">After it was over, artists, psychologists, sociologists, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> philosophers, and theologians </span><span>were all asking, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What the hell happened?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How could cultured, civilized societies like Germany, Italy, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> and Spain </span><span>collapse into hateful, violent, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> fascist, nationalistic personality cults?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How could Kristallnacht and Auschwitz happen?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arnold Schwarzenegger condemned the Capitol Riot </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as <i>the American Kristallnacht <span> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span></i>where one rioter donned a shirt that said </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Camp Auschwitz.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In response to the cause of World War II question, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>several major voices brought back virtue ethics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first and most important was Elizabeth Anscombe, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an English Catholic at Oxford.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her paper <i>Modern Moral Philosophy </i>rejected consequentialism</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> which uses us </span><span>in favor of virtue which grows us.</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her best work was about prudence so I was grossly remiss </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in not mentioning her last week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 2<sup>nd</sup> philosopher, Iris Murdoch, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> while teaching philosophy at Oxford, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>also wrote famous novels.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although she was an atheist, Murdoch wrote </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to revive the virtues as a way of life, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>inspired by Aristotle, but also by Simone Weill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some feminists have called virtue a guy thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But its leading modern proponents </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> were Anscombe, Murdoch, and Weill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This isn’t to say traditional virtue ethics is the final answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It can be enriched by feminist perspectives </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as Robin Dillon did recently <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>in <i>The Oxford Handbook Of Virtue. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Valerie Saiving rightly cautions that some virtues, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>like humility, actually weaken us as moral agents, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> unless we reinterpret them<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">No argument. Augustine already said virtues need reframing.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we don’t need to throw </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anscombe and Murdoch out with the bath<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>on the premise that prudence, fortitude, temperance, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> and justice </span><span>are exclusively masculine traits.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Philosopher Grace Lee Boggs, novelist Toni Morrison, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and poet Natalie Trethewey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>are proof men have no monopoly on those virtues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The womanist social ethicist Katie Cannon said </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that Black women struggling against oppression<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>need virtues like <i>invisible dignity, quiet grace, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> and unshouted courage</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And philosophers like Jennifer Frey and Nancy Snow </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> are continuing the tradition </span><span>of virtue ethics </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in compelling new ways.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another criticism of virtue ethics that it’s all about the individual <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>instead of community relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is drastically wrong because ethics or </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> morality are all about relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no morality for the solitary individual. <span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Community is the context of all moral practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Some virtue teachers of the old days assumed </span><span>the context </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> of a community </span><span>so they didn’t talk about it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But others, from Aristotle in the 4<sup>th</sup> Century BC </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> to Alasdair MacIntryre today</span> <span>have seen </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>community as necessary to virtue </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and virtue as necessary to community.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joseph Pieper, a German Catholic philosopher </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>in the post-war era </span><span>said the absence of virtue </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>in the German community</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>had left a cultural vacuum that Nazism filled.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">MacIntyre focused less on Hitler and more on Stalin. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He thought the collapse of the supposedly egalitarian </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and liberating Russian Revolution <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>into a leftist personality cult of the individual strong man<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>resulted from replacing a virtuous community </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with a revolutionary vanguard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Political and social virtues, or the lack thereof, are connected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For example, the Capitol rioters were already acting riotously </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on the airplanes they took to DC.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week we considered <b>Prudence</b>, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> called the mother of all virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The dictionary definition of prudence is </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> wisdom in practical affairs.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Pieper emphasizes it isn’t just knowing. He says:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>This knowledge of reality must be transformed </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> into the prudent decision.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence is seeing things clearly as they are </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and acting sensibly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 1<sup>st</sup> Commandment of Prudence is:<span> </span><i>Deal with the real.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, we take up <b>Fortitude.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The dictionary definition is </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>adversity, danger, or temptation courageously.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortitude is a rope woven of three cords </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – courage, strength, and resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I present, I invite you to remember people you’ve known </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> who showed courage, </span><span>strength or resilience </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the face of challenges.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">At Luke 12: 32, Jesus said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span><span> </span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> to give you the Kingdom.</span></i><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">The imperative sentence Jesus said more than any other was <span> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Do not be afraid.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">The Bible says <i>Do not be afraid </i>365 times, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> once for each day of the year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Leap year, we’re on our own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Our religion is not so much about niceness as bravery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">To understand what kind of bravery we mean, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> let’s look at a verse that tells us<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>why we should be brave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Luke 17: 33 </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span> </span></span></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is a risky business. Vulnerability is part of the package.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The more we try to secure ourselves, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the more we learn how futile that is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">We waste our lives, we lose them, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by trying to carve out security.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joseph Pieper said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘<span> </span><i>Fortitude presupposes vulnerability; </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> without vulnerability there can be no fortitude . . . .<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Because (humanity) is by nature vulnerable, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (we) can be brave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are vulnerable to all manner of misfortunes<i>,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> </span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">but Pieper grounds all our vulnerability, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>the thousand mortal shocks that flesh is heir to, <span> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as Shakespeare put it,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> </span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">in the fundamental fact of mortality. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">He says,<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><i>By injury we understand every assault on our . . </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> . <span> </span>inviolability, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>every violation of our inner peace, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> everything that happens to us <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>or is done . . . against our will; </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> thus everything in anyway negative, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>frightening. . . <span> </span>or oppressive. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The ultimate injury is death . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>All fortitude has reference to death. . . . </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Fortitude is basically readiness to die . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ernst Becker said in his book, <i>The Denial of Death</i>, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> that all our neuroses </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;">and the things that hold us back</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: large;"> from the fullness of life stem</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>from trying to avoid the truth of our mortality. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">From William James to T. S. Eliot to Henry Miller, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> literature is replete </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;">with accounts of lives unlived </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"> because of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"> </span><span style="color: #001320;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;">unwillingness to risk vulnerability.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can’t play the game without taking the hits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t feel the pain </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when we are injured<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>or grieve for ourselves and each other </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the face of death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it does mean to love life, to live it, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we have to love it in its morality,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>in its precious transitoriness.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emily Bronte wrote in her poem Faith,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> </span></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #111111;">No coward soul is mine<br /><span> </span>No trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere<br /><span> </span>I see Heaven’s glories shine<br /><span> </span>And Faith shines equal arming me from Fear<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Though earth and moon were gone<br /><span> </span>And suns and universes ceased to be<br /><span> </span>And Thou wert left alone<br /><span> </span>Every Existence would exist in thee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus did not say</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><i style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you have no fear, the Father will give you the Kingdom.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">He said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> The Father has already given you the Kingdom, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> so have no fear.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his last speech, Martin Luther King recalled </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span> having been stabbed, </span></span><span style="color: #111111;">almost fatally, ten years earlier.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was so grateful he’d survived to see all the good things </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then he ended his last speech that night in Memphis:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #111111; font-style: normal;"><span> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><i>I would like to live a long life. . . . But I'm not concerned</i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> about that now. I just want to do God's will. </span></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span> And </span></span></i><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span>He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.</span> </i></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> And I've looked over. </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> And I've seen the Promised Land. </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> I may not get there with you. But I want you to know </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> tonight, that we, as a people, </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i><span> will get to the promised land!</span> </i></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span>And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> anything. I'm not fearing any man. <span> </span></i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.</i></span></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian fortitude isn’t a Stoic disregard or contempt for life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s embracing all of life including the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortitude isn’t fearlessness. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s grounded in prudence that knows all about danger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Fortitude is also grounded in faith and hope, </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> trusting that in Eternity, as Lady Julian said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>All shall be well and all shall be well </i></span></span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and all manner </span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of </span></i><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">things shall be well.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">In our society, shaped by action movies and video games,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>we are apt to associate courage with aggressiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">That fits the Roman definition of fortitude -- but not Augustine’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christian fortitude isn’t aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is sometimes said not to be about attack, </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but rather <i>endurance.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pieper says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Power is so manifestly of the very structure of the world</i></span></span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that endurance, not wrathful attack, is the . . . decisive test of actual fortitude which is nothing else than to love and realize that which is good in the face of injury or death . . . . </span></i></p></blockquote><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Endurance is definitely part of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some hardships are inevitable. Lashing out doesn’t help. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Endurance is what we do unless we cave in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, for other hardships, like injustice, endurance is too passive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes fortitude is more about <i>persistence.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Endurance and persistence are different; </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but they have something in common – patience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortitude is a long haul virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we practice this endurance/persistence/patience, </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> what are we to do with our anger?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Thomas Aquinas is explicit and emphatic </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that anger is an appropriate response to evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">By <i>evil</i> <span> </span>we mean things not being good, kind, life-giving, </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as they should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Evil can be a political injustice or it can be nature going </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> against us as with wildfires or diseases.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Thomas says we are right to be angry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">The word anger was introduced into the English language</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span> around 1200 </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">by Brother Ormin, </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> an Augustinian monk living in Mercia, </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> a Danish region of England.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">He took it from the Norse noun <i>angr </i>which means affliction<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and the Norse verb <i>angr-a</i> which means to grieve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anger is our grief over the distance between how things are </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and how they ought to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reason we pray <i>thy kingdom come</i> is that it isn’t here yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things are not as God or we would have them be. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">So we are angry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">But how do we fold anger into our fortitude?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Ephesians 4: 26-27 says, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><br /></span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span> </span>Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"> on your anger,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and do not give the devil a foothold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus got angry at the Pharisees, the Sadducees, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> money changers in the Temple,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>his disciples, his family, and even at God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">So the first thing to do with anger is to be angry, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> acknowledge it, not pretend it away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second thing is to manage it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;">Do not sin</span></i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"> means literally, <i>do not miss the mark</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t lose your head, don’t let an amygdala hijack </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> make you do something stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keep your anger in the passenger seat. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t give it the steering wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortitude keeps our anger at a slow boil<i>, </i>maybe a simmer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The third point: <i>Do not let the sun go down on your anger</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i> means don’t get stuck in it</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t identify with it. That’s when we lose ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The final point about anger is to recognize what lies behind it:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The poet David Whyte says<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Anger is the deepest form of compassion, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> for another person, for the world,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>for the self, for a life, for the body, for a family, </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and for our ideals,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>all vulnerable, and all, possibly about to be hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Proper anger is a form of love.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">So it’s important to keep our love in view.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we lose the point of our love, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the anger can become a thing unto itself,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and there again, we lose ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">But anger grounded in love fuels our fortitude.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what about our fear? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fear is the other side of the same coin as anger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">The angriest people are often covering the greatest fear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we have said, fortitude has room for fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">But just as fortitude manages our anger, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it also manages of our anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dread of one thing can morph into a generalized attitude </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span> of fear and loathing </span></span><span style="color: #001320;">that can turn violent.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before George Floyd, the pandemic began with a wave </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span> of xenophobic violence </span></span><span style="color: #001320;">against Asian-Americans.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fear is contagious. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">It spreads in a society through phenomes like an airborne virus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">We catch it from each other and the cable news, social media,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and rumors fuel it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Communications professor James Dillard says, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Once the world feels like a dangerous place, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> where bad things happen, </i></span></span><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">fear knows few limits.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently heard a rap song written by a 9 year old that went,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Be afraid. Be very afraid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Because if you’re not afraid, you’re not aware.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">But fear doesn’t keep us safe. It makes us more vulnerable<span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>--<span> </span>vulnerable to political manipulation </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and conspiracy theories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chronic stress raises our inflammation levels increasing </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> our risk for infection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what to do with fear?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Do not be afraid</span></i><span> does not mean <i>do not feel fear</i>. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>It means don’t live in your fear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t believe your fears. Don’t let fear control your life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Have your fears; but don’t let them have you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Nadia Bolz Webber recently said, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span><i>Don’t let fear define the contours of you heart. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i> Love does that.</i>”</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what are we afraid of? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Death, illness, financial stress, loneliness, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>loss of the meaning we used to find in our daily activities? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the generalized too-big-to-manage fear is on the loose, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it’s apt to infect us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To get our feet on the ground and focus on our own fears <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>instead of being caught up in mob panic, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we identify the threat and look it in the eye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The beginning of fortitude is to name the fear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then notice how it feels in your body. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t identify with it or judge it as valid or invalid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just let it be the feeling that it is and hold it </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as you might hold a frightened child. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let it be, but do not let it rule. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, remember that others are afraid too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pray for them and find some small act of kindness </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> you can do for somebody <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>– a call, a note, order them something online. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any act of kindness will do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Therese of Lisieux and Mother Theresa both said </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we live our faith not in grandiose gestures <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>but in <i>small acts done with great love.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The art of fortitude in a fearful time is </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span> to make our fear the occasion </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">to practice love </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> because our Bible teaches,</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><span> </span><i>There is no room for fear in love. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><i> But perfect love casts out fear</i>.</span><span style="color: #001320;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 32px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll close by summing up fortitude with David Whyte’s</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> definition of courage. He writes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><i>Courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>with life, </i></span></span><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">with another, with a community, a work; </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>a future.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>To be courageous is . . . to make conscious those things</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>we already feel deeply </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">and then live through the </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> unending vulnerabilities . . . . .</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>To be courageous is to seat our feelings deeply </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the body and in the world:<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>to live up to and into the relationships that already exist, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>with things we already care deeply about, with a person,</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a future, </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;">a possibility in society,</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span>or with the unknown that begs us on </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and always has begged us on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>To be courageous is to stay close </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to the way we are made.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /></span></i><span style="color: #001320; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-54366045062194935402021-01-10T13:29:00.002-08:002021-01-10T13:29:33.447-08:00CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN OUR CONTEXT: PRUDENCE<p> </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mozart said, <i>The problem with Protestantism is that it’s </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span>all in the head.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He didn’t really mean Protestants are just imagining things.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He meant Protestant religion turns on what you think </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> i</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">nstead of what you do.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For some people, religion is about following the rules <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> so as to go to Heaven and staying out of Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whether it’s what happens to us now or in the hereafter,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that’s what philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> <span> </span></span>called an <i>external good.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s support for that kind of religion in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t mean to dismiss it as false or wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But there’s also something else at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It isn’t about what happens to us. It’s about who we become.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">MacIntyre called that an <i>internal good, </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because it’s in our very being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Job, Marcus Aurelius, Montaigne, and Shakespeare all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> agree that what happens to us is largely </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> beyond our control.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can do all the right stuff and things still go wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But who we become is largely up to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The New Testament invites us to become like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. John said, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>We are God’s children now. </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> It does not yet appear what we shall be.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> But when he appears we shall be like him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Paul said,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white;">But we all, . . . beholding as in a glass the glory </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> of the Lord </span></i></span><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">are changed into the same image </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from glory to glory . . . .</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our religion’s original name was <i>The Way.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They did not have a Creed to affirm </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or the New Testament to read. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first Christians weren’t just believers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They had a way of life. Their way was to become like Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pagans derisively first called them <i>Christians </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> meaning <i>little Christs. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Morality</i> means a way of life. But what is our way, our morality?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jewish morality was defined by <i>the law, </i>a set of rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were 613 Commandments, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> plus hundreds of regulations interpreting them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They told Jews how to live.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some rules -- like <i>thou shalt not kill -- </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> work as universal moral norms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But a lot of them – like <i>thou shalt not eat shellfish </i>-- </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> were specific to Jewish culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Paul took Christianity to Gentiles, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> some rules just got in the way <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of connecting people with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So Paul rejected that set of rules called <i>the law. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He forged a new religion based on Jesus the person </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> instead of a legal code.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what do we see in Jesus? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are the Spiritual attributes that anointed Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and made him the Messiah, the Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul talked extensively about qualities of character <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that made Jesus our model for life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Galatians, he said,<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><b><i>The</i></b><i><span style="background-color: white;"> fruit </span></i><b><i>of</i></b><i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><b><i>the</i></b><i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><b><i>Spirit</i></b><i><span style="background-color: white;"> is love, joy, peace, forbearance, </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> and self-control. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul saw in Jesus a way of life </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>that had already been developing <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> from Greek literature and philosophy for centuries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greek philosophers said that we grow better </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through cultivating right attitudes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and performing right actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">MacIntyre calls those moral <i>practices </i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because we are still practicing<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Over time, those practices become <i>virtues</i>, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> habits which define our characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Early Christianity was a way of life </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> aimed toward becoming like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ-like qualities of character are Christian <i>virtues</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mozart’s complaint against Protestantism was</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that we had forgotten virtues<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when Luther misread Paul as saying </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that instead of the Law <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> all we had to do was believe that right ideas </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – hold the right opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Luther was just looking at <i>external goods, </i>Heaven or Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Internal good, </i>who we become, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> depends on cultivating the classical Christian virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christians are not defined by a rule book. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We live in Christ and through Christ with the goal </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of becoming like Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ was not shackled by rules. Jesus sometimes broke them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rather, he was guided by <i>virtues</i>, qualities of character<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> which sociologist Robert Bellah calls <i>habits of the heart. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bishop Curry calls them <i>habits of grace <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>we practice as a discipline </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> until they become second nature, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> until they become our Christian character. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Ambrose, one of the main shapers of Christianity </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the 4<sup>th</sup> Century, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">said</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the core of the Christian </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> way of life is a set of seven virtues.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are interdependent. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can’t have one without the rest </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because they are connected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there is a whole catalogue of sub-virtues </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> t</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">hat are expressions </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">of the seven core virtues.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great theologians like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas <span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>continued that tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those seven core qualities of character consist <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of three <i>Theological Virtues -- </i>faith, hope, and love <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and four <i>Cardinal Virtues-- </i>prudence, justice, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>temperance, and fortitude<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The four cardinal virtues come from classical philosophy</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span> </span>especially Plato via Cicero <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and <i>The Wisdom of Solomon </i>in the Old Testament. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We see these virtues lived out to perfection in Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and becoming like Jesus is the name of the game.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cardinal virtues are the backbone of Christian morality<i>.</i> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are the trunk from which other virtues are branches. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In this course we’ll look at one virtue each week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">While I’m introducing the virtue, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>I invite you to think of people you know or remember<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who demonstrated that virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">To bring this down to earth, let’s set the virtues </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>in the context of the pandemic, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> racial violence, economic recession, </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and political insurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">These days we see good and civic minded behavior </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>all around us, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">but also </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> </span></span>denial, panic, hoarding, cynicism, and even violence.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Linda and I recently re-watched the movie <i>Contagion, <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>the star studded story of a pandemic. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some characters behave extra well and others, extra badly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any public disorder does two moral things: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As a test, it exposes who we are.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As an exercise, it affords us the opportunity </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>to become better -- or worse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We could come out of our present challenges </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>as a worse people or a better one. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s up to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week, let’s consider <b>prudence</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – called <i>the mother of virtues</i> because without it, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>the others are impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common parlance associates prudence with caution. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the dictionary definition is <i>wisdom in practical affairs.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our notion of prudence evolved from the Jewish concept of <i>hachma </i>or wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It originally meant skill at a craft but came to mean skill at living.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Old Testament says skillful living begins with prudence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 8:12<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And I find knowledge and discretion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 14:15<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The naive believe everything,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But the sensible person considers his steps.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In moral theology, prudence is facing the facts, getting real,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span> </span>seeing the truth, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">not letting our feelings </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> </span></span>or anyone else’s hype carry us away.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence is defined as <i>the knowledge of reality</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Philosopher Joseph Pieper emphasizes </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it isn’t just knowing. He says:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>This knowledge of reality must be transformed </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> <span> </span></span>i</i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">nto the prudent decision</span>.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence is seeing things clearly as they are </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> then</span> acting sensibly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 1<sup>st</sup> Commandment of Prudence is: <i>Deal with the real.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Secular society may no longer recognize this </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>as a religious principle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it is. St. Thomas Aquinas said,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The prudent (person) looks where he is going. . . . </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Keep sane and sober . . . . Prudence is "right reason in </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> </span>action."<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.3in;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Augustine taught that we cannot love without prudence. He said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;">Prudence is love distinguishing with sagacity . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;">The theological virtue of love cannot exist without prudence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his book <i>The Poet’s Eye, </i>poet Donald Revell says </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>the first step in love is clear seeing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;">We cannot love something or someone </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>unless we first see them as they are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise, we are just indulging affection </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>for our own fantasy projected onto someone,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"> using them as a screen instead of respecting them </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>as themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;">To pay attention, to see someone as they are, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>is the primary act of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202122;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence largely resides in our frontal lobes </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>where we think objectively.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A lot of feelings surge in our amygdala, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>particularly fight/flight responses. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s a natural response to stress, but the problem is that <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when the amygdala grabs our steering wheel, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we generate thoughts to support our racing feelings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those thoughts are not necessarily true. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In <i>Emotional Intelligence, </i>Daniel Goleman calls that </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> <span> </span></span>the amygdala hijack.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In bygone years, we called it <i>losing your head.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence doesn’t deny our feelings,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but it does keep them from running away with us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It taps the brake and acts rationally </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>instead of reacting emotionally. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part of prudence is seeing the world out there as it is.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But to do that we have to know ourselves first </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>so we can recognize </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">how our habits of fear, loathing,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span> <span> </span></span> craving, etc. may distort our perceptions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Greek adage <i>Know thyself </i>was inscribed </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>at the entrance to the Delphic oracle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because our biases can slant what we think we see and hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence depends on self-awareness </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> as the basis for objective perception.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a sub-category, a derivative virtue, of prudence <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that is particularly important for us right now</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – <i>solertia </i>in the Latin<i>. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We translate it <b><i>shrewdness</i></b> but it doesn’t mean being sneaky.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Philosopher Joseph Pieper calls it<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>a perfected ability, by which a (person) when confronted<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> with a sudden event, does not close his eyes by reflex<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and then blindly . . . take random action. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Rather with the aid of “solertia,” (shrewdness) he can</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> swiftly </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">but with open eyes and clear sighted vision </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> <span> </span></span> </span>decide for the good </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">avoiding the pitfalls of injustice,</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> cowardice, and intemperance.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shrewdness<i> adds to </i>facing facts, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> habits of nimbleness and common sense. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The best expression of shrewdness I know is the late Kenny Rogers’s hit, <i>The Gambler</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For every virtue there is an opposing trait called a <i>vice</i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Forget Miami Vice and Vice Squad. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A vice is simply the opposite of a virtue, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a bad habit of the heart, a habit of disgrace. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The opposite of prudence is obviously <b><i>imprudence.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But imprudence<i> </i>forks into two forms. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first form of imprudence is <u>denial</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are have heard a lot of denial, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> even from our governmental leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hear people refusing to face the pandemic </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> by calling it a hoax<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and people who want to pretend racism away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But 80 million people are undeniably sick </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and two million have died. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A lot of people are out of work. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Racial divisions and inequities in our society </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> are visible baggage we carry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence faces facts, examines the evidence, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>checks the numbers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span> </span>and the shrewd person finds smart ways </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>to deal with such things.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other form of imprudence is the Chicken Little syndrome </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>-- <u>hysteria</u>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We listen to fearmongers spreading the contagion of panic. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pandemic is tragic but the Spanish flu was worse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Granted some of the attempts to overturn the election </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>have broken into new ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the President’s call to the Georgia Governor </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>seeking to overturn that vote, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was undemocratic but not unprecedented.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1800 Alexander Hamilton tried to get the Governor </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>of New York</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">to disregard the election </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and to choose his own electors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both governors said no and stood their ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conflict between protestors and police have been bloody.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But those of us who remember the 60s know </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it has been bad before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The strain on our social fabric is serious, but for context,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I recommend historian Jon Meacham’s </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>The Soul of America</i> as a guide<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to how we’ve confronted these strengths and flaws </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>in our national character over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Neither denial nor hysteria face the facts. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nor does either equip us to <i>swiftly </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span> <span> </span></span>but with open eyes and clear sighted vision <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> decide for the good avoiding the pitfalls of injustice, </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>cowardice, and intemperance. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We will likely continue to hear conspiracy theories </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>of both denial and hysteria. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last Spring, before the stolen election conspiracy theories,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> some accused President Trump of being a closet leftist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They claimed Trump personally concocted </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and spread Coronavirus to wipe out Boomers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and hand the country over to Bernie Sanders millennials. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week, Steve Bannon claimed the people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>who seized the Capitol weren’t Trump supporters. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were secret agents of Trump’s deep state enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now some on social media say it was Antifa </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>waving the confederate flag.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The human imagination is limitless, for good and for ill. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prudence is settling down, getting real, and acting sensibly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It insists on facts. It wants to see the evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The present time is a moral test that shows us </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>who we already are, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> what sort of stuff we are made of. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is also a moral exercise in which we have the opportunity </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>to grow </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">in Christ and through Christ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>into the likeness of Christ.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We grow by practicing the virtues </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>that constituted Jesus as the Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus was nobody’s fool. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He didn’t deny reality. Nor did he panic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus kept his feet on the ground, saw things as they were </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>and reacted accordingly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virtue ethics pays more attention to what Jesus did </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>than what he said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But look at his words in Luke Chapter 14:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>have enough money to complete it? </span></i><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;">29<o:p></o:p></span></sup></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;"> </span></sup></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"> everyone who sees it will ridicule you, </span></i><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;">30</span></sup></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">saying, <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"> 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.' </span></i><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;">31</span></sup></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;"> </span></sup></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"> <span> </span>king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span> <span> </span></span>able with ten thousand soldiers to oppose the one </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"> coming against him with twenty thousand? </span></i><i><sup><span style="color: #111111;">32</span></sup></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">If he is not </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span> long way off and will ask for terms of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many of Jesus’s teachings were directed </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>to Zealot revolutionaries<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who wanted to launch the insurrection against Rome </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>– the one that finally happened in 66 AD </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>with disastrous consequences.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">Compare Jesus’ parable to Tennyson’s </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Charge of the Light Brigade<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"> </span></i><i>“Forward, the Light Brigade!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Was there a man dismayed?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Not though the soldier knew<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Someone had blundered.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Theirs not to make reply,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Theirs not to reason why,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Theirs but to do and die.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Into the valley of Death<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Rode the six hundred.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">600 British cavalrymen died meaningless deaths </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>i</span><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: -12.25pt;">n the Crimean War</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because in a fight between cavalry and artillery, artillery wins.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">But theirs was <i>not to reason why</i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Theirs was just <i>to do and die</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brave? Maybe, but not prudent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">WWJD? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before charging into a valley, Jesus would count the cannons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: -12.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-81456570926073424372020-12-16T14:25:00.000-08:002020-12-16T14:25:10.469-08:00CHRISTMAS: GOD HAS RULED<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Episcopal Peace Fellowship </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> wishes you and yours a happy holy season. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This message is a gospel-based suggestion </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for how you can find </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">that happiness right now </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>-- in spite of everything.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It starts with knowing the story, the cast, and the location.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Christmas story begins with time itself<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> when Love looked out upon her whole creation </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and called it good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the beginning, Love blessed existence itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the Bible’s story of Jesus’ birth unfolds in a world <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> where people take a less charitable view.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For starters, when the people of Nazareth looked at Mary,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> through the cynical, judging eyes of the world, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they didn’t see the Blessed Virgin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They saw an unwed mother. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They didn’t say <i>Hail Mary full of grace.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They said less pleasant things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Gospel of Thomas suggests </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>Jesus was called <i>the son of a harlot.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But when St. Luke looked at Mary t</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> t</span></span></span></span>hrough the non-violent eyes of faith, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he saw the Holy Virgin, the <i>Theotokos, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span>the Mother of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">People didn’t consider Joseph a leading citizen either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He wasn’t a skilled craftsman like today’s carpenters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was more like a day laborer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When grownup Jesus began teaching, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>people threw his father in his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Is not this the son of the carpenter?</span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> they sneered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But through the eyes of faith, Matthew saw Joseph as a saint,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who listened to his dream angel </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and married a disgraced girl<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> who was in God’s eyes full of grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Shepherds were a questionable lot too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their job made ritual purity impossible <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and they were rumored to be larcenous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Priests wouldn’t allow them in the Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Mary welcomed them into the stable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The angels chose the shepherds to hear the first Gloria. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wise men were not even Jewish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were Zoroastrian astrologers, foreign pagans. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Matthew says they were the first to worship our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Galilee wasn’t <i>the Holy Land </i>in those days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being from Galilee was reason enough to reject Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Can anything good come out of Nazareth? </span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Nathaniel scoffed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Prophets do not come from Galilee, </span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">the Pharisees claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Matthew quoted an obscure passage from Isaiah,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Galilee of the Gentiles<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The people living in darkness have seen a great light. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matthew means God chose Galilee to be the home of our Savior <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> precisely because the world looked down on it.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bethlehem then was an occupied city, as it is today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The prophet Micah called it <i>the least significant (town) in Judah,</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but Matthew corrected Micah:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>You Bethlehem are by no means the least of Judah<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> for out of you will come a . . . shepherd for my people</span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> . . .</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stable was not just an unhygienic birthplace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was ritually unclean, dishonorable, a mark of shame. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But St. Francis, through the eyes of faith, saw it as a shrine,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> made holy by its very earthiness, its humility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He built the first crèche as a holy object for us to venerate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Nativity happens whenever the rejected is embraced,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the one the village called vile names <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is seen through faith as a holy virgin,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and a smelly stable is reverenced as a shrine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adam’s sin, the primal violence,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was to divide the world into good and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fundamental act of violence is dividing us </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>into in-groups and out-groups,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> acceptable and unacceptable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In that system, no one can ever be safe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even if we are in favor today, we may be cast aside tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do we live in such a world? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Judge others before they judge you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But God doesn’t work that way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Christ’s incarnation as the illegitimate, stable-born child </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>of a poor couple </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">from backwater Galilee, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>God broke open the domination system</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of in and out, admired and despised</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;">God overthrew the established order </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <span> </span></span>that keeps the oppressed down</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the privileged perpetually nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a young man, theologian Virgilio Elizondo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">attended <i>pastorelas, </i>miracle plays about saints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He recalls, “. . . (T)he costumes . . . appeared very shabby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I was . . . tempted to give the(m) . . . some money <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> so they could buy finer materials . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Eventually I learned that . . . (miracle play costumes)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> may be made only from discarded materials (because) </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the Incarnation the rejected of the world </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> are chosen and beautified.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul said, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>God has called not . . . . the powerful, </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> not the important of society, </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but the insignificant, the weak, and the despised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said, <i>the stone that the builders rejected </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> has become the cornerstone. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elizondo explains: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <span> </span>What the world rejects, God chooses as his own.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God chose Mary. God chose Galilee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If God cherishes what the world scorns<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">how then do we regard ourselves and each other?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world we live in is the world we see,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the eyes of faith see a better world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we want to see the world as God sees it and call it <i>good</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we befriend the outcast whether they are cast out <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on grounds of race, class, religion, political opinions, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span>or legal status.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we can’t extend grace to others </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> until we find grace in our own lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, how’s your life this Christmas?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the fires and hurricanes, the political turmoil, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>and the racist brutality, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">during COVID, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>are you having a Jennifer Lopez</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Most Wonderful Time</span> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">with <i>parties for hosting, marshmallows for roasting, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> and caroling out in the snow</span></i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, neither did Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the parts of our lives that don’t measure up </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>to worldly expectations </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">that touch God’s heart.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s when life feels empty, God fills that emptiness with grace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But who we are matters more than our circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what judgments are you laboring under?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you looking at yourself through the violent, cynical,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> judging eyes of the world?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is it we have been taught to hate about ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are we the wrong height, the wrong weight, the wrong gender, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> </span></span>the wrong color?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it our voice, our mannerisms, our ineptitude at this or that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe some of these things are faults in the word’s eyes, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but not God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zephaniah says, <i>God has torn up the judgements of the world</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God has ruled. To God, we are already a delight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s the good news we call <i>gospel</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God has ruled: we are the beloved -- just as we are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joy to the World isn’t just about what happened long, long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about what started long ago <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but is still happening in you today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">At Christmas, we discover that any shame we carry<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is the world’s judgment – not God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Paul said, <i>If God is for us, who can be against us?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> . . . If God declares us justified, who can condemn us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I invite you to repent. Repent of shame. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dare to believe that God enjoys you just as you are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You are the Christmas miracle happening right here, right now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, repent of your judgements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we stop the violence against ourselves, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we’ll be free to let up on our violence </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>against everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we root our self-worth In God’s love,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we can share that love with somebody else <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – show some kindness to a stranger</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span> – regardless of their race, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> religion, gender identification, or yes, even their politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brothers and sisters, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> if we practice the Christian paradox </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>of accepting the unacceptable,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the night sky will lighten faintly in our East <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and the Star of Bethlehem will rise in our souls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-7587165225535980202020-12-03T16:44:00.007-08:002020-12-04T09:02:20.701-08:00IS ADVENT SAYING SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR?<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> N’ allez pas trop vite. </i>(Let us not go too fast.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- Marcel Proust<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> Love, the new moon, grows slowly, stage by stage;</span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> We should progress like that, deliberately, with patience.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> I hear the new moon whispering, "Impatient fool!"</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> It is only step by step you climb to the roof.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Be a seasoned cook, let the pot boil little by little;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> A stew cooked in mad haste tastes terrible.</span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> -- </span></i><span style="background-color: white;">Rumi<i> </i></span><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2_eNErLQSmCTIat0agQIPrsL3BydmAVv3mJoq9DSQ0_1EjqBxGQfdRz4U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2_eNErLQSmCTIat0agQIPrsL3BydmAVv3mJoq9DSQ0_1EjqBxGQfdRz4U</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The volume is turned up this year. All the feelings are heightened. That can be a strain but it also puts things in bold relief so that we may be able to read them better. Take resistance to Advent. There’s nothing new in that. Even people who plunge masochistically into Lent each Spring, have been grumbling and kvetching about Advent for as long as I can remember, but perhaps this year they are pleading more desperately to skip go and rush straightway to Christmas. More clergy than ever are ready and willing to do exactly that. As I say, this is nothing new. The last Church I served greened the Church for Christmas services the day before Advent I. Obviously, December is the <b><i>commercial </i></b><i>Christmas Season</i><b>, </b>the market shapes the culture, and the Church wants to conform, fit in, be accepted. Hence, we take our orders from Wall Street. But I sense there is more afoot than being manipulated by the market (a market which by the way I have nothing against).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not push delete yet. I am not going to bemoan change such as the demise of the liturgical year like the curmudgeonly retired bishop I am. It is the nature of the world to vanish before we have left it. I will not shout against that tide. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> But since resistance to Advent now by laity and clergy alike shines in such bold relief, this is a chance to ask a question, perhaps learn something, whether we choose to let our learning influence our life or not. Knowing things is more satisfying than not knowing them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> So I want to ask: <i>what is Advent saying that we are so desperate <b>not </b>to hear</i>? I do not pretend to know the answer, at least not all of it. But I will suggest a couple of strands from the Advent theme that pose interesting challenge to our usual way of life in this Year of Our Lord 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>PACE AND PERCEPTION<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>This may seem far afield but stay with me. When I was an adjunct law school professor teaching client interviewing and counselling, I realized how seriously wrong I had gotten it when I was practicing law. My legal training had taught me to recognize the issues. I knew which facts were <i>relevant (!!!). </i>My clients did not, so they wanted to tell me a great deal more than I wanted to hear. They wanted to tell me rambling tales that were not <i>relevant </i>to the legal issue that I had already decided was the nature of their case. I did my dead level best to hurry the meeting along – time is money – guiding the conversation through the strait and narrow gate of relevance as I had defined it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Through teaching client interviewing, I realized that my approach was grievously defective. First, I was failing to get to know my client. And the client is more important -- even to the outcome of the case -- than is the issue. Second, I was cutting off conversation that might have revealed relevant facts I had not anticipated. Third, if I’d been willing to hear the whole story, I might have learned that there were other issues that I was missing. By rushing clients through interviews, I was aggravating my tunnel vision and erecting a barrier against personal relationship. I was instrumentalizing my client, reducing the living <i>person</i> to a litigation <i>party</i>. This was my failure as a lawyer and as a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I now look back over my 70 years of life, including my years as clergy, and am struck by the speed at which I have moved and the corresponding narrowness of my vision. Granted, I was more goal-oriented and project-focused than many people. But today’s world teaches most of us to rush toward our goals. Life is a race. It’s all about speed, and as the highway signs used to say <i>Speed Kills! </i>My analogy is this: We know Advent is leading to Christmas, so let’s just get on with it. Celebrate Christmas now. But what might there be in Advent, like my clients’ stories I did not want to hear, what might there for us to learn; and if we learned it, might Christmas arrive in a new and unexpected way?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Three times over the years I tried to read Proust and simply could not endure his ambling, rambling, verbose attention to detail. The first publisher he approached with his great novel was a friend but said he would not publish a book that spent 30 pages telling how a boy went about falling asleep. Now, however, I am reading, marinating in Proust, not marching through to see what happens next. He doesn’t write that kind of book. It is more a matter of soaking in the experience, and soaking takes time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Alaine de Botton in <i>How Proust Can Change Your Life</i>, tells the story of Proust meeting a young diplomat at the Versailles Peace Conference at a party. Proust asked him to describe his days at the Conference. He began with neat summaries, but Proust kept interrupting, <i>N’ allez pas trop vite. </i>(Let us not go too fast.) He wanted as much detail as possible. He wanted to look closely at the diplomat’s experience because he was interested, he valued it. Proust learned that each morning the diplomats ate macaroons with their tea. The young diplomat found the conversation quite gratifying. It’s good to be heard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> What we do not deign to notice does not matter to us, and that turns out to be most of our life. This is why Rumi teaches us, <i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">It is only step by step you climb to the roof.</span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Be a seasoned cook, let the pot boil little by little</span></span></i><i><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></i><span style="background-color: white;">And Max Ehrman begins his classic <i>Desiderata</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;">Go placidly amid the noise and haste,<br /> and remember what peace there may be in silence. . . .<br /> Speak your truth quietly and clearly;<br /> and listen to others,<br /> even the dull and the ignorant;<br /> they too have their story.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Southern novelist Walker Percy asked, <i>Is it possible for a man to miss his life as he might miss a bus? </i>The answer is all too clearly <i>yes</i>, and the way we miss our life is by rushing through with our eyes closed. Our life is all we’ve got and we are apt to miss it through speed. The foundation of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic spirituality is hospitality, making space, taking time for each other. This is a discipline of sitting still and waiting. The practice of hospitality is openness to others, but not just others – it is also openness to our own experience.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Even if we want to push on toward our goals, speed can get in the way. In this June’s issue of <i>Forbes, </i>Chris Cancialosi said we sometimes need to stop and reboot if we hope to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; caret-color: rgb(20, 24, 35);"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: large;">I</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">n a recent discussion with one of my colleagues, </span></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-size: large;">she compared the work she is doing with teams </span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-size: large;">to rebooting her computer. Every once in a while, we realize that we have opened so many files, folders, web pages, and software programs in the course of our work and life that things just aren’t operating as smoothly and quickly as we might expect. To get things back in working order, we need to carve out some time to reboot- to close everything out and to start over. To go slow in order to go fast again.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Stillness is our Advent practice. We slow down, reboot if you will, as we begin a new year. But the prospect of slowing down to take in Reality prompts an anxious response. We want to rush onward, eat our Christmas raw. Why is that? I don’t know but I’ll ask this. When we are running so headlong, so desperately toward a goal, is it possible we are actually <b>running from</b> something? Is it possible the goal is a way to keep whatever is behind us out of our consciousness? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Proust’s <i>Recovery Of Time Lost </i>explores the power of memories, especially repressed memories, to shape our lives, but also with the power we have through memory to redeem the past, to forge meaning that was not apparent at the time. I wonder this Advent what we may be avoiding by rushing toward a feel-good Christmas. I wonder if slowing down and letting our past catch up with us might not be a way to heal. But we cannot heal what we will not face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b>II.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>LOVING AND LONGING<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>The Feast of the Incarnation, aka Christmas, ritually enacts <i>God with us. </i>It celebrates our experience of God’s presence. But we also have the experience that God isn’t fully manifest yet. If God is fully manifest, then why is there carnage in Azerbaijan and Ethiopia, why is a plague killing us by the hundreds of thousands, why are suicides, gun violence, drug overdoses, and political insanity so prevalent? New Testament scholar, Krister Stendahl, said the New Testament characterizes the era after Jesus and before the final consummation of history as the time of <i>Already/ Not Yet.</i>Both are part of our experience. We live in that tension. Jesus taught us to pray <i>Thy Kingdom come </i>precisely because it hasn’t come yet. And our experiences of God, blessed as they may be, are not the full experience of God. We are not ready. Paul said, <i>Now I see as through a glass darkly, but then, face to face. </i>T. S. Eliot called what we can know of God in this life <i>hints and guesses. </i>Christmas celebrates the <i>Already. </i>Advent acknowledges the <i>Not Yet. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>This goes to how we hope to love God. How, in this mix and muddle of mortal life, do we love a God whom we know only a little. I said in a recent essay that there are different ways of loving God, for different times and different people. All are good and holy. But the one we practice in Advent is not comfortable. It’s just real. Advent is a season of <b>longing</b>. Part of love is <i>longing</i> and the Bible is rich in expressing human longing for God who is not yet fully with us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As the deer pants for streams of water,<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> so my soul longs after You, O God.<a name="3"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My soul thirsts for God, the living God.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When shall I come and appear in God’s presence? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;">Psalm 42<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> O God, you are my God, and I long for you</span></i></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> My whole being desires you;</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> like a dry, worn out and waterless land</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">my soul is thirsty for you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Psalm 63<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,<br /></span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> t</span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">hat the mountains would tremble before you!<br /> As when fire sets twigs ablaze</span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">and causes water to boil,<br /> come down to make your name known to your enemies<br /></span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">and cause the nations to quake before you! <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Isaiah 64<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">This is no blissy <i>everything’s all right </i>spirituality, but an acknowledgement of our nagging sense that something is missing. St. Augustine’s love of God is first a foremost a longing. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #272727;">The God Augustine loves is shaped by the God Augustine seeks. He says, <i>Thou hast made us for thyself, and our heart is restless until it rests in thee. </i>Augustine is restless. He looks within himself and finds something missing. God is the missing piece, the <i>deus absconditus, the hidden God</i>. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #272727;"> Paradoxically, Augustine’s love of God has a quality of longing for someone far away even though he is looking for God within himself. At the same time, he senses that God is longing for him, that God is not the one who has left. It is Augustine who has left God. His love is a kind of homesickness and a restlessness. His love is not a self-satisfied <i>I’ve found it</i> as evangelical bumper stickers used to proclaim. It is more of an <i>I’ve lost it</i> <i>and yearn to find it again. </i>It is love as a discontent and aspiration. This inner search for God, not as an answer but a question, not a Presence but a Poignant Absence, will live on in the Christian Tradition. In the 17<sup>th</sup> Century, Blaise Pascal would say in </span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #535a60; padding: 0in;">Pensées</span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> VII (425)</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #272727;">, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #272727;"> </span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;">What else does this craving, and this </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> helplessness, proclaim but that there was </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> once in man a true happiness, of which all that </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60; font-size: large;">now remains is the empty print and trace? This he </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span><i>tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span><i>in things that are not there the help he cannot find in</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> those that are, though none can help, since this </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> immutable object; in other words by God himself.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So what is the message in Advent we do not want to hear? It is the message of longing which utterly defeats our pretense that everything will be all right if we just imagine it to be so. If the President persists in saying loud enough and often enough that he won the election, he will be inaugurated again. We cling desperately to denial as a way to deal with all we experience as <i>Not Right. </i>Advent leaves no room for denial. It sings, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>O come, O come Emmanuel<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And ransom captive Israel<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Which waits in lonely exile here . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"> </span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;">Advent acknowledges the <i>Not Right </i>of lonely exile, but immediately transforms that <i>Not Right </i>into <i>Not Yet.</i>Advent carries a certain emotional contradiction. On one hand, there is a distinct pleasure in deferred gratification. As Andy Warhol said, <i>Waiting for something makes it more exciting. </i>The adage goes, <i>Anticipation is half the fun. </i>But it also faces up to the <i>Not Right</i> in this moment. And in a time of pandemic, racial injustice, and political instability, we would much rather sing <i>Silent Night </i>on a Sunday morning and pretend it all away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #535a60; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">III.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;">HOW IT COMES TOGETHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #535a60;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slowing down in order to be hospitable to each other and to our own lives opens our consciousness to the reality of things as they are. It faces facts and feelings, the ones we actually have in our gut. It allows our memories to catch up with our consciousness. It’s always a hard time. This is an especially hard time. So we want to hit the fast forward button. But I wonder something. My wondering about Advent has made me wonder about something broader, perhaps deeper. If the Jews had skipped the Exile, we wouldn't have Ezekiel or 2nd Isaiah, two of the high points of Hebrew Scripture. So, I wonder: is there something of value in this hard time, something we might not want to miss? Might we learn something? Might we change and grow in some vital way? If we hit the pause button instead, what might we see? Do we dare to see it?</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-14465371316892051192020-10-14T08:51:00.084-07:002020-10-15T17:17:20.933-07:00IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOVE GOD?<p> <b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </b></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">No one has seen God at any time . . . . How can he love God whom he has not seen?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>1 John 4: 12, 20b<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">. . . – I love the word<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“love” I want to wear it as<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">the human clothing, though I know that I do not<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">know what it means for someone to love . . . <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Sharon Olds, <i>Aria Above Seattle<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">I.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->WHAT IS AT STAKE?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Decades ago I confessed to a priest that I did not love God, though I wanted to do so. He tried to assure me that “All any of us can do is want to love God.” But I wasn’t convinced. This seemed important. After all, when Jesus was asked, <i>What is the greatest commandment? </i>he answered, <i>Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b>[i]</b></span></span></a> </i>It is the core of Christianity. But what is riding on whether we love God or how much or how well? St. John’s community was anxious about it, as I was. That’s why John devoted considerable ink to the mystery of love in his first Epistle and Paul returned to the subject again and again, as in his famous hymn to love in First Corinthians.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ii]</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The common, albeit vague, assumption is that God’s acceptance of us depends on such love. If we love God we are welcomed into paradise. If not, we are cast out, perhaps even to eternal torment. God is a celestial King Lear desperate for reassurance of his status in our eyes, conditioning us with carrots and sticks to compel the desired response. I start by rejecting that notion as portraying a God we might fear or pity but not worship. Christianity is a way of life, not a penal code. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what to make of this? We are commanded in Holy Scripture to love God.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[iii]</span></span></a> In the two Hebrew Scripture iterations, the love is linked to behaviors, following God’s ways and keeping the covenant. In the synoptic Gospels, loving God is linked to love of neighbors. The love commandment is never linked to an <i>or else </i>threat. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what is the point of love? Buddhism describes the core human problem as the ego-illusion. We are trapped in our self-importance, which may be proud or ashamed or anxious or all of the above. Our life project is to secure the self. But the self is inherently insubstantial, <i>a puff of wind,</i> the Psalmist says.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[iv]</span></span></a> We keep changing, the circumstances around us are ever shifting. Donald Revell writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> But how hotly change limits<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> happiness; the small happiness of possession<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and the even smaller of self-possession.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Imagine yourself transient among these houses<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and the uncontrolled reflection of hotel hours<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> when no one in the hallway or next room<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> depends on you.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b>[v]</b></span></span></a></i> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, after we navigate the vicissitudes of life, we are mortal. Anxious striving only greased the skids toward futility.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[vi]</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is, in fact, happening all around us all the time, but we miss it, miss the beauty and the wonder, the joy and the sorrow alike, because we are wearing blinders of self-concern. The abundance of life eludes us while we polish our resumes and manage our investments. Meanwhile, self-interest distorts our behavior so that we are unkind, unjust, inauthentic in our actions. Buddhists call the problem “ego illusion.” Classical Christianity called it “original sin.”<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[vii]</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having named ego as the problem, religions propose various exercises to escape it. But the contradiction is that intentional efforts to transcend ego tend to be egotistic. Who is enlightened? <i>I am enlightened. Yay me! I have achieved the greatest good. Beat that!</i> The Christian alternative is love. To love another is to lose the self, not for the sake of the self but forgetting the self and finding the self at the same time in the other. Jean Luc Marion argues beautifully in <i>The Erotic Phenomenon </i>that we have no being in the metaphysical sense – hence our experience of insecurity, illusoriness, insignificance, ephemerality, transience – but rather we are constituted by Love. We love therefore we are. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And what shall we love? Popular music of our time says, <i>Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all</i>.”<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[viii]</span></span></a>Since we have said along with Ecclesiastes, Socrates, Seneca, Paul, Augustine, and most every serious thinker since Antiquity that <i>yourself</i> is <i>a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more,</i><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ix]</span></span></a> love of self may not be enough. We would be playing an existentially weak hand. For millennia, Christians have held that <i>the greatest love of all</i> is to love God as God is the Source, Destiny, and Meaning of Reality, the ultimate Beauty, Truth, and Good. To love God would be to love not just everything but that which is beyond everything. Our love would not only be immanent in all things but would transcend them, carrying us beyond this plane of existence. It would be to fall into a bottomless pit of devotion and fly into a ceiling-less sky of adoration, to become, as John Wesley put it, <i>lost in wonder, love, and praise. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">II.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->PRELIMINARY POINTS: WHAT DOES THE QUESTION EVEN MEAN?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loving God is a tangled question. What does it mean to <i>love? </i>What do we mean by <i>God? </i>Is loving God akin to loving another person, a lover, a parent, a child, a friend? Or is it like loving a place, dancing, a sport, a poem, or a symphony? What is <i>love</i>? What is <i>God</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ll look at several perspectives on both those words before we are done. But let’s offer a little clarification at the beginning. <i>Love </i>is not precisely a feeling. If it were, it could hardly be commanded since the best way to shut down an emotion is to demand that it be conjured. You cannot command it without destroying its authenticity as in <i>King Lear. </i>But love is not less than a feeling. It is like a feeling but deeper, a fundamental desire, as we shall see in Augustine. It may also include compassion (Unamuno), gratitude (Bernard), delight, wishing-well, valuing, admiring, and letting be. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for our love of God was <i>hesed</i> connoting covenant love or faithfulness. Covenant love is behavior as distinguished from affection. The corresponding Greek word for love in the New Testament, <i>agape, </i>was rarely used outside the New Testament so the definition is uncertain; but it is traditionally understood as a spiritual love chiefly characterized by unconditionality. We do not love God because God is x or y or z, but simply because God is. Likewise we love others for their simple being rather than their loving us back or possessing attributes that please us.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[x]</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We will not reduce love to a neat definition. My point at the beginning is to open the meaning of love to something more than a sentiment, either spontaneous or contrived. Pietism, revivalism, Pentecostalism, and other spiritual traditions have made feelings the core of religion but have differed as to which is the requisite feeling to have. I do not mean to denigrate any of these paths or the feelings they prescribe. But I do insist that these particular emotions are not what the Great Commandment is getting at. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And what do we mean by <i>God</i>? Certainly we will not purport to define <i>God</i>. If God is that in which <i>we live, and move, and have our being,</i><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn11" name="_ednref11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xi]</span></span></a> God does not fit inside our skulls, certainly not inside our language. <i>The dharma which can be spoken is not the dharma. </i>Just so, as Soren Kierkegaard famously said, <i>If you think you understand it, it is not God. </i>To speak of <i>a god</i> is to speak of a superbeing, a higher power, or perhaps a metaphysical principle. But to speak of <i>God</i> is to say the largest possible word. To call God the All is the smallest possible definition, heretically small for Christians. As Anselm called God the Highest Good, God is also the truest Truth and the ultimate Beauty. As a measure of the enormity of God’s worth, I turn to Marilyn McCord Adams who said, in <i>Horrendous Evils And The Goodness Of God, </i>that God has to be enough to bestow a joy sufficient to make all the horrors of human experience worth it. Of course, the question cannot avoid the bold claim in John’s first Epistle, <i>God is love</i><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xii]</span></span></a> meaning love is not something God does, it is not a quality or a characteristic, but it is God’s very essence. Love constitutes God as God.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn13" name="_ednref13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xiii]</span></span></a> So we will be asking what it might mean to love Love itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A final question runs through our reflections. <i>No one has seen God</i>, St. John the Evangelist tells us. <i>No one may see me and live</i>, God says in Exodus.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn14" name="_ednref14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xiv]</span></span></a> But God says to the Psalmist, <i>Seek my face.</i><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn15" name="_ednref15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xv]</span></span></a> And in Jeremiah, God says, <i>You will seek me and find me</i>.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn16" name="_ednref16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xvi]</span></span></a> Jesus says in Matthew that the pure in heart will see God (but he does not say when).<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn17" name="_ednref17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xvii]</span></span></a> In what sense can we <i>find </i>or <i>see</i> God, but first, where do we look for God? Where we look may have everything to do with what we find. And must we in some sense find God in order to love God? But what if loving is the only way of looking that will reveal God? Is the seeking itself perhaps an act of love?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is crucial here to distinguish loving God from loving an image of God. Modern psychology does not claim special expertise in the nature of God; but it does have a few helpful things to say about our images of God, the way we see God in our mind’s eye. In <i>The Future Of An Illusion, </i>Sigmund Freud postulated that we all have an image of God embedded in our psyches. We might love, hate, or ignore it, believe in its reality or deny its objective existence – but subjectively, it’s there. He went on to say that we create our God in the image of our father. God is our introjected father figure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">Decades later, in <i>The Birth Of The Living God</i>, Anna Maria Rizzuto reported on actual clinical studies of people’s God images. She agreed with Freud that we all have God images; but she found that they were more complex than an introjected father. God images are composites of important people in our lives – known and unknown, real and imagined, dreaded or longed for.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn18" name="_ednref18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xviii]</span></span></span></a> These people are the raw materials from which we construct our God image, which – being that we have constructed it – is an idol.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #272727;"> We have all seen our God image in our mind’s eye. We have <i>imag</i>ined it. But what does it have to do with God? It depends. Our God image may be utterly different from the true God. Then it becomes a barrier to relationship with God. </span>Some people who think they love God may not; while others who think they do not love God may love God after all To love our God image may be a step away from loving God but it can also be a step toward such love. <span style="color: #272727;">A God image may be a shadow of the divine, not revealing God’s fullness but giving us what T. S. Eliot called <i>hints and guesses.</i><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn19" name="_ednref19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xix]</span></span></span></a> Paul said, <i>Now we see as in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face</i>.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn20" name="_ednref20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xx]</span></span></span></a> </span>If we hold our God image humbly, without too much certainty, we may look <b>through </b>our God image, not just <b>at </b>it. Then it becomes an icon instead of an idol. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Jesuit psychoanalyst, W. W. Meissner, said in <i>Psychoanalysis And The Religious Experience </i>that each of us has a unique personal God image which he calls <i>subjective</i>. Over against that subjective God image, there is an <i>objective</i> God image – objective in the sense that we do not individually make it up; rather it is sculpted by religion, art, literature, and cultural assumptions. These two God images, the subjective and the objective, are not the same. Their difference is apt to cause the believer some discomfort. But Meissner says that the tension between the two God images sparks creativity and growth. Perhaps, to find God it is helpful to pit these God images against each other and give some thought, perhaps even feeling, to where we put our trust. This is a way of seeking God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> We will look at several great voices of the faith as examples of different approaches to the love of God. But to make them examples, we will be over-simplifying them. They are all complex, no slaves to consistency. So whatever view I attribute to them, they have also written things quite inconsistent. The views I attribute to them will be their primary emphasis, not their exclusive position. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">III.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->VOICES FROM THE PAST<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">A.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->LOOKING INWARD: AUGUSTINE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 6pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-size: large;">Late have I loved you, Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you. Lo,<b> you were within, but I outside, seeking there for you</b>, and upon the shapely things you have made. I rushed headlong – I, misshapen. You were with me, but I was not with you. <b>They held me back far from you, those things which would have no being, were they not in you.</b> You called, shouted, broke through my deafness; you flared, blazed, banished my blindness; you lavished your fragrance, I gasped; and now I pant for you; I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst; you touched me, and I burned for your peace.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn21" name="_ednref21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #353535;">[xxi]</span></b></span></span></a> (emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #353535;"> </span></i><span style="color: #353535;">Augustine was a thinker of Late Antiquity. In a sense he breaks the mold, but not entirely. In another sense, he is decidedly a man of his time. Greco-Roman philosophy was profoundly introspective and world-denying. As much as Buddhists, the Stoics, Platonists, Neo-Platonists, even the Epicureans saw the world and its carnal delights as temptations leading us away from lasting truth and meaning. So, they turned away from the world to seek something more lasting, more trustworthy, and where did they look? They looked inside themselves. Pierre Hadot demonstrates this in some depth in <i>The Inner Citadel </i>and <i>What Is Ancient Philosophy. </i> Paul followed them saying repeatedly we find God’s Spirit and Christ inside ourselves. He wrote <i>It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn22" name="_ednref22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #353535;">[xxii]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>St. John the Evangelist, even more influenced by Greek philosophy, attributed these words to Jesus in the 4<sup>th</sup>Gospel, </span><i><span style="background-color: white;">I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn23" name="_ednref23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xxiii]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="background-color: white;">Augustine’s introspection is in line with the thinking of late Antiquity including the New Testament.</span><span style="color: #353535;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16.5pt; margin-top: 6pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #353535;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Augustine said in the previous quotation that looking at the Creation drew him away from God. Later in the <i>Confessions, </i>he was more explicit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">But <b>what do I love when I love my God? . . . Not material beauty or beauty of a temporal order;</b> not the brilliance of earthly light; not the sweet melody of harmony and song; not the fragrance of flowers, perfumes, and spices; not manna or honey; not limbs such as the body delights to embrace. It is not these that I love when I love my God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.25in; margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #272727;">And yet, when I love him, it is true that I love a light of a certain kind, a voice, a perfume, a food, an embrace; but they are of <b>the kind that I love in my inner self</b>,<b> when my soul is bathed in light that is not bound by space</b>; when it listens to sound that never dies away; when it breathes fragrance that is not borne away on the wind; when it tastes food that is never consumed by the eating; when it clings to an embrace from which it is not severed by fulfillment of desire. This is what I love when I love my God. </span></i><span style="color: #272727;">(emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">Augustine sought God introspectively, deep inside himself. He looked deeper than the <i>persona</i> with which he was identified to what we might call a Core Self or Soul. Augustine called it <i>Beauty</i>. Lady Julian of Norwich said that the Soul is inextricably one with Christ. Roberto Assagioli said that each of us has a Core Self or Soul and so does the Cosmos, and he went on to say that the two are one.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn24" name="_ednref24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxiv]</span></span></span></a> This Core Self or Soul of the individual and of the Cosmos is invariable serene and compassionate, understanding and accepting. That is why Augustine says, <i>I yearned for your peace</i>. But the God-within isn’t just a super sedative. It is <i>Beauty</i> to be desired for its own sake, not for how it makes us feel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In this sense, Augustine was a philosopher of Late Antiquity, distancing from the outer world,<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn25" name="_ednref25" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxv]</span></span></span></a> in order to seek the Truth inside himself. What is different in Augustine is that his love is not apathy, so valued by the Stoics. It is in fact a passion. There is feeling in it. But it is not feeling for an image so much as a longing for a personal mystery. Augustine’s God is a missing person, but one who sends love letters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The God Augustine loves is shaped by the God Augustine seeks. He says, <i>Thou hast made us for thyself, and our heart is restless until it rests in thee. </i>Augustine is restless. He looks within himself and finds something missing. God is the missing piece and therefore mysterious, the <i>deus absconditus, the hidden God</i>. Paradoxically, Augustine’s love of God has a quality of longing for someone far away even though he is looking for God within himself. At the same time, he senses that God is longing for him, that God is not the one who has left. It is Augustine who has left God. His love is a kind of homesickness and a restlessness. His love is not a self-satisfied <i>I’ve found it</i> as evangelical bumper stickers used to proclaim. It is more of an <i>I’ve lost it</i> <i>and yearn to find it again. </i>It is love as a discontent and aspiration. This inner search for God, not as an answer but a question, not a Presence but a Poignant Absence, will live on in the Christian Tradition. In the 17<sup>th</sup> Century, Blaise Pascal would say, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #272727;"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;">What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn26" name="_ednref26" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #535a60;">[xxvi]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #535a60;">And in the 20<sup>th</sup> Century, Rilke would write to a young poet<i>, </i></span><i><span style="color: #141823;">Nobody can counsel and help you, nobody. There is only one single way. Go into yourself. Search for the reason that bids you to write . . . .<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn27" name="_ednref27" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #141823;">[xxvii]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="color: #141823;">In our own time, the endeavor called <i>spirituality </i>has largely returned to introspection in contrast to the active life of social engagement.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">So where does Augustine seek God? Deep within himself, deeper than any <i>persona</i> or subpersonality. What does Augustine find? A mystery and an absence, a voice calling him but not someone he can embrace. How does Augustine love this God? By longing for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #272727; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">B.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #272727;">LOOKING UPWARD -- THE SHIFT TO TRANSCENDENCE: BOETHIUS, THOMAS, AND BERNARD<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Life is always a challenge, but it is one thing in a period of societal stability and another in a time of societal disintegration. Things were falling apart as Augustine was dying. He had become a conservative defender of the faith by then. He’d spent decades defending Catholic Christianity not so much from pagans as from his day’s version of fundamentalists.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn28" name="_ednref28" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxviii]</span></span></span></a> But, at the time of <i>The Confessions</i> and his earlier writings on the nature of God, things were more stable than at the end. To the extent there was trouble, the Empire had Augustine’s back. It was in that context that he practiced a rather Neo-Platonic Christianity, turning away from the world outside, looking inward for the Truth and the object of his devotion -- not himself as we might mean self, but what lay beneath himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> While it is certainly questionable to generalize about centuries of diverse Christian thinkers, Hans Urs Von Balthasar sees a shift of emphasis in the Middle Ages. I submit that it starts with Boethius. Augustine died in 430 as the Western Empire was crumbling. By 523, that Empire was a faded memory and Theodoric the Great, an Ostogoth, held sway in Rome. The philosopher Boethius spent that year in prison awaiting trial and eventual execution on trumped up charges of treason. He spent his days on death row writing <i>The Consolations of Philosophy, </i>not specifically Christian but establishing a premise that would shape Medieval theology. Boethius, in line with Aristotle, argued that the goal of life is <i>eudaimonia, </i>happiness. But happiness is not attainable, at least not reliably so, on Earth because of the teachery of people and the fickleness of fate. Boethius then takes two decisive steps. First, he argues that happiness is available above, essentially turning his eyes upward. Second, he looks upward by using the rational arguments of Classical Greco-Roman philosophy. We find in Boethius no <i>hungering, thirsting, burning </i>for God as in Augustine. Rather we find a steady reason of the intellect that lifts Boethius up from his hopeless incarceration. This is a faith less of the heart and more of the frontal lobes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Medieval theology, of which St. Thomas Aquinas is the apex, sees God rather abstractly. God becomes the first mover of all motion, the non-contingent basis of all contingent things, the <i>telos </i>or destiny of reality, the Being of all beings. All Blessed Thomas said of God was quite “up there,” “lofty” – emphasizing Transcendence as is expressed in Medieval religious art.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn29" name="_ednref29" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxix]</span></span></span></a> Yet, Aquinas divorced theology from poetry, because, as Ann Carpenter summarizes him, <i>Poetry lives by its use of images. </i>Aquinas reasoned that <i>Sense and imagination know only the external accidents, but the intellect alone penetrates to the interior and knows the essence of a thing.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn30" name="_ednref30" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #272727;">[xxx]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>Aquinas may have sometimes overestimated the capacity of the intellect to <i>know the essence of things, </i>but he did not entirely overplay his hand. He believed that Reason merely set a trajectory, the arc of which had to be completed by Faith. But none of this makes God very intimately lovable. Medieval spirituality<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn31" name="_ednref31" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxi]</span></span></span></a> ran a parallel track in finding God up there, not all around us or within us, but because God had become so abstract, spirituality all the more earnestly engaged the question of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The greatest spiritual writer of that era was St. Bernard of Clairvaux, author of <i>On Loving God. </i>The problem, Bernard says, is that we love ourselves, pure and simple, for the sake of ourselves. What Whitney Houston sings is <i>the greatest love of all, </i>Bernard equates with a prison, akin to the one in which Boethius languished as mortality loomed. The goal, Bernard said, is to progress step by step up the ladder of love. (We deal here with Bernard as the Western voice. In the East, St. John Climacus wrote <i>The Ladder Of Divine Ascent. </i>But he spoke less of love and more of detachment from the world and the perfecting of virtues. Both wrote principally for monks). Bernard counsels us to shift from loving self alone to make room for loving God a little for the things God has done for us rather as a child might love a benevolent grandparent for the gift of an ice cream cone. That is a long way from spiritual perfection in Bernard’s eyes, but it is a step in the right direction. Eventually, over time, Bernard says, our self-absorption fades and we come to love God for God’s own sake. The final stage is when we love ourselves again, but now we love ourselves for the sake of God, because we are God’s beloved children and we love whoever God loves because God loves them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So what is to love about God? It starts as simple gratitude, loving God for blessing us. Then it takes a subtle but vital shift to loving God for being who God is, the kind of deity who wants to bless us. But that shift is not simple. Bernard prescribes three sub-stages in our growth from loving God for our own sake to loving God for God’s sake.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn32" name="_ednref32" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxii]</span></span></span></a>First, is contrition and penitence. For lay people, the sufferings of daily life were considered part and parcel, indeed the greater part, of that process. Monks fasted and undertook ordeals as their more intentional penance. The point here is to know how low we are in contrast to how high God is. Second came praise and devotion to God. This is not an emotional pietism. It is rather the disciplined liturgies of the Church. For monks, it meant the Daily Office, the Eucharist, and contemplative reading of holy text. Laity had less time for liturgy and were mostly illiterate, so they spent more of their lives in the first stage of the journey. Monks were believed to be called to more advanced spiritual practice. This discipline may sound to us more like duty than love, but it is closer to Old Testament <i>hesed, </i>covenant faithfulness, than our more emotional notions of love. The point of Bernard’s discipline is to know the loftiness of God in contrast to our lowliness. The third and final stage is an outpouring of the healing mercy which we have received in compassion for others, both friends and enemies. Loving God through liturgy and holy reading eventually bears fruit as compassion for others.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn33" name="_ednref33" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxiii]</span></span></span></a> Note that for Bernard, compassion for others is a fruit of prior love for God. That will change in the next stage of Christian history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Augustine saw the problem as our addiction to the carnal world, so we should withdraw from that world into the self and love God as our own mysterious core. Bernard saw the problem as love of self which must be overcome by turning our eyes gradually away from self and upward to God. We can understand Bernard better by looking at him through the lens of those who reject him. Albrecht Durer’s self-impressed self-portrait is a visual expression of <i>I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul. <a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn34" name="_ednref34" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxiv]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>Bernard does not believe in self-made people. Our very being is a gift for which the proper response isn’t <i>look at me</i> but <i>thank you</i>. Bernard does invite us to look outward to our lives and nature, but only to find blessings as a transitional step -- not as revelations of God <i>per se</i> but as signs of God’s beneficence toward us. By and large, Medieval thought was not so inclined to find God in nature or earthly life. Understandably not. It was often a hard time. Governments were unstable and fought wars. Each Lord’s vassals were his standing army to fight the vassals of the Lord next door. There was famine, economic upheaval, poverty, plague, filth, subjugation to those higher up the feudal chain who could exploit their underlings outrageously, and little defense against lawlessness. Is it any wonder people who longed for happiness looked upward to God above and hoped for peace in the sweet by and by?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So where does Bernard (influenced by Boethius and the medieval theological tradition that will eventually produce Thomas Aquinas) look for God? Upward to the Transcendent. Above ourselves and this sometimes sordid, at best unreliable, world. What does he find? A beneficent fountain of blessing (who blesses us not just with specific gifts but fundamentally, as Aquinas would later argue, by being the first mover, the noncontingent base of our contingent being, the destiny of our spiritual journey, the eternal Being of our brief and fragile being)<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn35" name="_ednref35" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxv]</span></span></span></a>. And how do we love God? Not emotionally, but by gratefully acknowledging the gifts we have received and striving to grow ritually and through holy reading. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #272727; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #272727;">LOOKING OUTWARD --THE SHIFT TO IMMANENCE: ROMANTICISM AND UNAMUNO<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">The lovely shapes and sounds intelligible<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of that eternal language, which thy God <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">Utters, who from eternity doth teach <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">Himself in all, and all things in himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"> </span></i><span style="color: #272727;">Samuel Taylor Coleridge, <i>Frost At Midnight<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Love is what is most terrible and tragic in all the world . . . . (I)t is necessary to love something in order to know it, and this means to know something it is necessary to have compassion towards it. It is necessary, in some way or other, to suffer with it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Miguel de Unamuno, <i>Treatise on Love of God</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #272727;"> </span></i><span style="color: #272727;">Another shift of emphasis happened beginning in the Renaissance, picking up speed in the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> Century, then taking off like a rocket in the bloody 20th. Perhaps it had to do with science, politics of empire, economics. For whatever reason, religious thinkers lowered their gaze from the heavenly Transcendent to the earthly Immanent embodiment and expression of God. For contrast, consider that in the Middle Ages, ordinary life in the world and outside the cloister was regarded as punishment for sin. Satan did not have a visual image before that era. But Medieval artists began to portray Satan as the pagan God Pan, who had not been evil in paganism, just a lusty gadabout, the god particularly of nature, but that is nature broadly speaking. <i>Pan</i> means <i>All</i>. Pan was the god of the ordinary and the earthly. Augustine was the first to loosely associate Satan with Pan, but it was in the Middle Ages that Pan became the personification of Evil. <i>Pan</i>theism, the idea of Pan as God or God as Pan was clearly highly problematic. </span></span><span style="color: #272727; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> But by the early 19<sup>th</sup> Century, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, not just a father of Romantic poetry but a leading theologian of his day, would speak of God <i>in all, and all things in (God)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;">How the shift happened had to do with Newton’s discovery of laws of physics, Deism elevating nature over revelation, and Christians responding by claiming nature for themselves as a companion and support for Scripture; but that is a tangent. What matters for our purpose is that we shifted from seeing nature, not just birds and brooks but all of ordinary life, not as evil or as a punishment for sin but as a manifestation of God -- not a gift <i>from </i>God as in Bernard, but a gift <i>of </i>God’s own Self immanent in all things. <i>Pan</i>theism or <i>Pan</i>entheism ceased to be bad words. Pan was no longer equated with Satan but with Christ. We sought God in the ordinary and aspired to love God for the goodness, beauty, and mystery we meet in life. Eventually, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hans Werner Schroeder, Fritzjof Capra, and Rudolf Steiner would speak of <i>the Cosmic Christ. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Certainly theologians such as Coleridge and Bishop Joseph Butler argued for natural revelation.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn36" name="_ednref36" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #272727;">[xxxvi]</span></span></span></a> But as monks like Bernard were the best voice of Medieval faith, poets were the best voice of Modern faith. In <i>Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey </i>(note that nature is now <i>a few miles above </i>the ruins of a monastery, and we are reading the words of a poet instead of a monk), Wordsworth wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="color: #272727;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="adobe-garamond-pro, serif"> </span><i>For I have learned<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> To look on nature . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> —And I have felt<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>A presence that disturbs me with the joy<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> Of elevated thoughts</i></b><i>; a sense sublime<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Of something far more deeply interfused,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And the round ocean and the living air,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> A motion and a spirit, that impels<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> All thinking things, all objects of all thought,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <b>And rolls through all things</b>. </i>(emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>For the Romantics loving God meant primarily <i>the joy of elevated thoughts</i> sparked by attention to <i>all things. </i>Such thoughts might be sparked by nature or by the simplicity of pastoral life. The squalor of industrial urban life had not yet become a factor. When ordinary life became less attractive for so many people in coming years, Victorians like Dickens would change love again, this time from <i>the joy of elevated thoughts </i>to compassion for oppressed humans, especially poor children who represented the Christ child. Christianity took a humanistic turn made explicit in a short transparent poem by Leigh Hunt, <i> Abou Ben Adhem.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #252525;">Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)</span></i><i><span style="color: #252525;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> And saw, within the moonlight in his room,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> An angel writing in a book of gold:— </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> And to the Presence in the room he said</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> "What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> And with a look made of all sweet accord,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Write me as one that loves his fellow men."</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #252525;"><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> It came again with a great wakening light,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #252525;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We sought God horizontally, not vertically as we had in the Middle Ages. But such a horizontal religiosity was not as satisfying as it had been at first with its <i>joy of elevated thoughts. </i>Even at the height of Romanticism, it wasn’t all joy. Over a century before Darwin’s <i>Origin of the Species, </i>Bishop Butler’s <i>Analogy Of Religion </i>pointed out the harshness of nature. Thomas Gray named the regret of nature’s random failures. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Full many a gem of purest ray serene, <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> And waste its sweetness on the desert air.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn37" name="_ednref37" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xxxvii]</span></b></span></span></a></i> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Even then, nature, botanic and human, could be unfair and a source of sorrow. As history proceeded, we were sliding toward the cultural cataclysm of World War I -- a catastrophe that would lead to World War II, the holocaust, and Hiroshima -- but shortly before we went over that cliff, the Spanish theologian Miguel de Unamuno proposed a religious embrace of tragedy. Even before he wrote his classic, <i>The Tragic Sense of Life, </i>he was the bridge from Victorian faith to existentialism and gave us a serious new way to think of what it means to love God in his <i>Treatise On Love Of God </i>(usually called <i>The Tracta)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Unamuno dismissed the Transcendent abstract God of Medieval Christianity precisely because one cannot love -- as he understood love -- such an abstraction. It is too removed from us, too alien to our experience. We have nothing in common. Like the Romantics and Victorians, Unamuno looked for God out there in the world. He described God as <i>the personalization of the All. He is the eternal and infinite Consciousness of the Universe, Consciousness imprisoned in matter and struggling to disengage himself from it.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn38" name="_ednref38" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xxxviii]</span></b></span></span></a></i> A thread of Classical contempt for matter yet remains, but still the material world is, for now, the dwelling place of God, albeit not so much a Temple as a holding cell. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> How then does Unamuno believe we can know and love God? He reverses Bernard’s assumptions about the sequence, saying we can truly know only what we have first loved. For Unamuno, love is compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have said it is necessary to love in order to know,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and this means in order to love something, it is necessary </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">to feel compassion for it, to suffer along with it.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn39" name="_ednref39" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xxxix]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Is there an echo here of the line that recurred in most of the plays of Aeschylus and Sophocles: <i>I have suffered into truth? </i>Yes and, more interestingly, no. The classic tragic hero discovers the truth of the insubstantiality of worldly values through his own disaster. Unamuno agrees that disaster is ubiquitous, but we cannot discover the truth of its ubiquity until we love, feel compassion for, all who suffer, not just ourselves. But how far does compassion extend? Only as far as suffering.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Neither the Classical nor the Medieval God suffered and so could never evoke or receive compassion. When some of the early Christians had argued that the Father suffered empathetically with the Son on the cross, they were condemned for the heresy of patripassionism. Divine <i>apatheia</i> was a core doctrine of the faith. Remember apathy, which we moderns would regard as sociopathic vice, was in Antiquity a virtue, the equivalent of enlightenment or at least wisdom. While much modern theology recognizes some value in the Patristic view of divine apathy, it has given way to a prevailing sense of divine passibility.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn40" name="_ednref40" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[xl]</span></span></span></a> The chief contemporary voice proclaiming a suffering God is Jurgen Moltmann in <i>The Trinity And The Kingdom Of God </i>and <i>The Crucified God. </i>But it all goes back to 1906 and Unamuno’s <i>Tracta. </i>If Durer’s self-portrait was a repudiation of Bernard’s spirituality of love leading us past self-absorption, Pablo Picasso’s <i>Guernica </i>would be the artistic amen to Unamuno’s love as compassion. Since the Immanent God suffers all that the world suffers, we feel compassion for God’s pain which is greater than the pain of any individual. We feel compassion for God as God feels compassion for us. We meet God in Jesus at Calvary. Unamuno reverses Bernard’s sequence of compassion. For Bernard, love of God flowered in compassion for our fellow humans; for Unamuno, compassion for our fellow humans flowers in love for God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>In fairness to the Middle Ages, Unamuno did have a medieval precursor. Peter Abelard had offered a subjective or moral influence theory of atonement, in which Christ on the Cross expressed God’s suffering love for us and evoked our love (perhaps a mix of Bernard’s gratitude and Unamuno’s compassion) in return. Abelard’s atonement doctrine was set over against his contemporary St. Anselm’s doctrine of satisfaction for the debt of sin which was an afront to the Transcendent God’s honor. Anselm was decidedly the voice of his era while Abelard prophesied from outside the gate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>For Unamuno, life is essentially tragic, and God suffers it with us. God’s compassion for us and our compassion for God suffering in and with all creation, redeems us even from death because compassion is endless. He rejects Boethius’s and Aristotle’s premise that the goal of life is happiness as he holds that happiness anesthetizes us. Our life’s project is consciousness and the way into consciousness is our own suffering, extended to care for others, and finally exalted beyond death by our compassion for divine suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> So where does Unamuno look for God? Outward, in the world. What does he find? A <i>fellow sufferer who understands,<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn41" name="_ednref41" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xli]</span></b></span></span></a></i>someone who is as afflicted as we are and who cares for our pain. What is it to love such a God? It is a matter of compassion. The ultimate experience of compassion is to hurt with and for God qua God, but it is authentic and salvific to be compassionate for anyone and anything in creation that suffers, as God is suffering in it. <i>Abou Ben Adhem. </i>But there is also in Modernity the sense of God as order and beauty in nature; so that to enjoy the world is to enjoy God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">D.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->LOOKING THROUGH: MARION, KEATS, AND VON BALTHASAR’S DANTE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And we are put on earth a little space,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> That we may learn to bear the beams of love . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>William Blake<span face="adobe-garamond-pro, serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 1in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Swiss theologian, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, looking at theology more broadly than our question of love, has said there are three stages of Christian teaching: Patristic (Classical), Medieval, and Modern. He argues most vehemently against the failings of Modernism because it is the strongest voice today, his most stubborn interlocutor; but he holds that all three stages have something to offer and all three are missing something. The failure of Modernism is, in capsule summary, the collapse of the Transcendent, a loss of the vision of a higher, holier state to which we are called and for which we are destined. The failure of the Medieval is the collapse of the personal, the human. It was, as the saying goes, <i>too heavenly minded to be much good on earth</i>. He finds in Dante the best synthesis of the two. But, though Von Balthasar might not be pleased,<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn42" name="_ednref42" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[xlii]</span></span></span></a> I want to include the voice of contemporary phenomenological philosopher Jean-Luc Marion to round out his read on Dante. Together Marion and Dante may help us learn something of the possibility of loving God whom we have not seen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The problem with phenomenologists from the beginning, Husserl, Heidegger, even Stein, is that they speak oddly. They use an intimidating and inaccessible vocabulary. But the basic point is simply stated by Joni Mitchel in <i>Both Sides Now. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> From up and down and still somehow<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s clouds’ illusions I recall<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I really don’t know clouds at all.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Phenomenologists recognize that we cannot know things as they are in themselves (<i>noumena</i>). We know only our perceptions of them <i>(phenomena). </i>This makes the way we look at things all important. We are not so much perceiving as creating. Buddhism holds that our perception of reality is <i>illusory </i>and so prescribes dismissing it. Phenomenology says our reality is subjective and invites us to shape it creatively. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Jean-Luc Marion, in his classic, <i>The Erotic Phenomenon, </i>denies that we and our world are constituted by a metaphysical principle of Being. Rather all things arise from Love. The Lover loves them and so they come to exist as beloved. In Rilke’s poem <i>The Gods Loved An Animal That Did Not Exist</i>, the unicorn comes into being by virtue of having first been loved in the divine imagination. Or one may think of Lady Julian’s vision of the hazelnut in which she asked God what the nut was. God replied that it was the entire cosmos. Noting its frailty, its insubstantiality, she said, <i>it is so frail</i>, and asked, what holds it in existence, what keeps it from falling into nothing. God answered, <i>It exists because I love it.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn43" name="_ednref43" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xliii]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>Or we may think of Blake’s <i>The Little Black Boy.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Look on the rising sun: there God does live <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And gives his light, and gives his heat away. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And flowers and trees and beasts and men receive<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Comfort in morning joy in the noonday.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> And we are put on earth a little space,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> That we may learn to bear the beams of love . . . .</i><i><span face="adobe-garamond-pro, serif"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> But what about the Lover? Where did the Lover come from? The Lover arises, not from a prior metaphysical Being, but from the act of loving. It is the decision to love that constitutes the Lover at the same moment it constitutes the beloved. No prior Being decides to love. Love comes first. This strains the mind because we think in sentences with nouns as subjects and verbs as predicates. But when it comes to God, the subject of our sentence is a gerund, <i>Loving. </i>Without saying the word <i>God, </i>Marion presents the most radical interpretation of <i>God is love </i>of any Christian thinker – though Augustine’s explanation of the Trinity as Lover, Beloved, and Love is a close second. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Despite his use of the world <i>erotic, </i>which connotes romantic desire, what Marion means by <i>love </i>is decidedly <i>agape. </i>Marion insists that the Love which generates everything is unconditional. It does not depend on the beloved having pleasing traits – the beloved does not even exist yet; it has no traits before it is loved; and – here’s the main point – this procreative love does not depend on the beloved reciprocating. That would reduce the Lover to a Needer or a Deal Offeror.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> In <i>The Erotic Phenomenon, </i>the philosopher, Marion, does not spell out the theological implications. But I will make bold to draw a couple of points. First, if God is Love, then God’s love and acceptance of us does not depend on our traits. <i>He causes the rain to fall and the sun to shine on the good and the evil alike.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn44" name="_ednref44" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xliv]</span></b></span></span></a> </i> Second, because love is unconditional, the commandment to love God is not a condition for our acceptance. The Great Commandment is not a grading rubric and life is not a pass/fail test. The Great Commandment is an invitation to the fullness of life. It invites us, the beloved, to become the Lover, which is to become like God, to know the fullness of joy and consciousness that comes only through loving. The Old Testament Hebrew for <i>know, </i>particularly to know God, is <i>yadah</i>, not a term of intellectual comprehension, but of personal intimacy – it is not to know that God exists or to know something about God – it is to know God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> But what are we to love? We cannot love things in themselves, certainly not God, for their intrinsic qualities because they are unknowable. We know only phenomena, the images of others in our minds. But Marion goes on to say that phenomena, at least the most important phenomena, are <i>saturated –</i> by which he means they contain more meaning, more value, more truth, more beauty, more goodness than we can comprehend. We love the person, for example, to the extent we have grasped them, understood them, formed an image of them in our hearts and minds, but we might also love the mystery of the person that always eludes us. They are like a poem, a painting, a piece of music that we appreciate but we know we are not getting all that is there and we want to appreciate more, we are drawn toward it, long for it, but we know we’ll never get it all. Love is falling into a well of mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="adobe-garamond-pro, serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> In this sense that there is more to what we love than what we can comprehend or even apprehend, Marion has a Romantic forebear in John Keats. Though Keats admired Wordsworth and Coleridge, he wanted to reach beyond their appreciation of the sensible world to something invisible, inaudible, incomprehensible. In his <i>Ode On A Grecian Urn, </i>a hymn to unconsummated love,<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn45" name="_ednref45" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[xlv]</span></span></span></a> he said,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Is the mystery, the <i>unheard music,</i> beyond the phenomenon simply the noumenon, the thing itself? Marion is suggesting that there is more. The phenomenon which is immanent and sensible is our doorway to the Eternal which is Love. Entering that doorway requires a particular way of seeing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> There is a paradox between phenomenological imagination and Zen seeing. On one hand, we cannot know things in themselves (<i>noumena</i>) but only our perceptions of them <i>(phenomena). </i>But there is a mysterious reality out there being perceived from our limited perspective. Phenomenology is not a license for subjectivity, thinking we can believe in whatever suits us. Reality is quite resistant to our attempts to dominate it. Things are stubbornly as they are even though -- and especially when -- we try to perceive them out of our own ego needs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Zen seeing in science, art, poetry, or as a spiritual discipline sits back and looks – letting things be as they are, willingly submitting to their independent reality. This is the humility of saying <i>Thou</i> as Martin Buber described it in <i>I And Thou, </i>by which he meant to honor the other as other, not as an <i>It, </i>something that is there for my purposes. Buber said the I came into itself as <i>I </i>through the humility and generosity of saying <i>Thou. </i>By way of contrast, Von Balthasar’s chief criticism of Rilke is that Rilke <i>desires an intransitive love without a Thou.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn46" name="_ednref46" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xlvi]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>Applied to Marion’s phenomenology of love, I suggest this means that loving begins with looking, paying attention, humble attention, just looking at the other without an ego agenda.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn47" name="_ednref47" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[xlvii]</span></span></span></a> We perceive the other with the humility of knowing that we do not know the other, and with an appreciative awareness that there is a penumbra of mystery beyond our perception. Looking in this way liberates us to exist as Lover instead of User.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> God’s first act of love in Scripture is the creation of the cosmos. Theologians have taught us that God was love before the cosmos began and Marion affirms that truth. But our perception of divine love begins with God’s act of creation. Notice how Genesis describes each act of creation. God does not command, <i>Light shine. </i>God says, <b><i>Let there be</i></b><i>light. </i>God speaks permissively, allowing something to be rather than compelling it. This is what Simone Weill means by calling creation an act of abdication. God makes room for that which is not God. For each part of creation, God says, <i>Let there be . . . . </i>Then whatever comes to be comes to be itself, and God says, <i>It is good. </i>God blesses it for being what it is. To love as God loves is first to let the other be itself, including being other than ourselves, other than we might have it to be; and second, to bless it, to affirm its being what it is. How can we do that when its characteristics do not please us? I will turn to an odd authority, Epicurus, who taught us to appreciate the being of things, the simple being. If God can make room for that which is not God, we may practice the humility of allowing others to be other than ourselves, other than we would have them be; and, in that allowing, find the blessing of living in a diverse and fascinating world occupied by real beings, even people, instead of puppets. Goethe wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>In being, let yourself be blessed!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Being is eternal: for laws<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> perpetuate the treasures of living things<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> in which the All adorned itself.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn48" name="_ednref48" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xlviii]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This loving act is a kind of <i>xenia</i>, a hospitable seeing. Still we perceive a phenomenon, but we see it generously, appreciatively, curiously without an ego agenda. We see the protagonist of its own play, not a supporting character in our story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"> What does this have to do with loving God? The Incarnation is not a pantheism in which we deify the world. But it is a faith that God as Christ is present in all we encounter, in the <i>noumena </i>beyond the phenomena. For Gerard Manley Hopkins that meant, as Carpenter puts it, <i>(A)ll things ontically possess sympathy for one another: things are expressive and responsive to expression . . . . What Hopkins loves about the wildness of the world in its beautiful uniqueness becomes a way of admiring the wildness and uniqueness of God.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn49" name="_ednref49" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[xlix]</span></b></span></span></a></i> There is in our every encounter with the world an encounter with God revealed and concealed and happening in us to the extent we let the world be itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> And this brings us to Dante – at least as Von Balthasar understands him – <i>the synthesis of scholasticism (</i>medieval metaphysical theology) <i>and mysticism; of Antiquity and Christianity.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn50" name="_ednref50" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[l]</span></b></span></span></a></i> In contrast to Rilke’s sense of love as tragic and terrifying, Von Balthasar says, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>For Rilke’s every doubt that love is possible without destroying the lover</i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> and the beloved, Dante bears the unwavering conviction that love redeems </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">what is personal as well as what is universal.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn51" name="_ednref51" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[li]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In <i>The Divine Comedy, </i>Dante, <i>lost in a dark wood, </i>was not Augustine consciously longing for God. Dante traversed Hell and Purgatory, implicitly looking for something, perhaps trying to learn right from wrong, but he was not consciously in love with God. He was decidedly in love with his love object from <i>La Vita Nuova, </i>Beatrice Portinari, who had died at the age of 25 after having been loved by Dante <i>pure and chaste from afar</i> for years. Upon traversing Hell and Purgatory, at the threshold of Paradise, it is Beatrice whom Dante meets and who demands his confession of having abandoned hope. It is then Beatrice who guides Dante into Heaven where he receives <i>the beatific vision. </i>Von Balthasar sees the message here as personal love being the path to loving God. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><i><span style="font-size: large;">(T)he principle is established for the first time . . . for the sake of infinite love </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">it is not necessary to renounce finite love. On the contrary, in a positive spirit,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"> he can incorporate his finite love into that which is infinite but at the cost of terrible suffering . . . .<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn52" name="_ednref52" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[lii]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">When Dante meets Beatrice, she is veiled. After he confesses his sin of despair, the angels plead with Beatrice to unveil her face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>By your grace do us the grace of unveiling<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> your mouth, (that) he may behold in you<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> the further beauty that you hide.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn53" name="_ednref53" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[liii]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Dante loves the woman Beatrice, but she is more than herself, more than Beatrice, more than a woman. She is Marion’s <i>saturated phenomenon. </i>Likewise Dante is more than a man. Carpenter says, <i>Dante and Beatrice are themselves and yet more than themselves . . . .<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn54" name="_ednref54" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: black;">[liv]</span></b></span></span></a></i> That’s why their encounter is so charged. Each individual is indeed a unique individual, but each exudes or rather resides within a penumbra of the universal. Each is the image of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Despite Von Balthasar’s profound admiration for Dante, he does find a central point missing, the Cross. In <i>The Divine Comedy, </i>Dante suffers Hell and Purgatory to reach Paradise where Christ dwells, transcendently beautiful. Dante’s Hell is the absence of God’s Love. He has forgotten Jesus’ descent into hell to harrow it with his love. Von Balthasar insists, I would say with Unamuno, that God’s love descends to the depths of suffering with us.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn55" name="_ednref55" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[lv]</span></span></span></a> For Dante, we suffer into the truth of Transcendent Beauty; but Unamuno and Von Balthasar insist God suffers with us, meets us on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> So where do Keats, Marion, and Dante look for God? Out there, but they do not look <b>at</b> what they see, they look <b>through </b>it. What kind of God do they find? A God who is at once revealed and concealed by the world and people. We see, a God who is as personal as a friend, a lover, a parent, a child, a brother, a sister – as sensible as a stone, a flower, a symphony. One thinks of Thomas Wolfe’s immortal word from <i>Look Homeward Angel</i>, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;">a </span></i><i><span style="color: #111111;">stone<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, a leaf, an unfound door; a </span>ston<b>e</b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, a leaf, a door. And of all the forgotten faces. Naked and alone we came into exile. In her dark womb we did not know our mother's face; from the prison of her flesh have we come into the unspeakable and incommunicable prison of this earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;">We encounter the stone, the leaf, but the door is unfound and the faces are forgotten. We love the stone and the leaf which we can sense and enjoy, but our love extends beyond them to the door which is unfound and so we long for it as the way through our exile, out of our exile, to an encounter with the forgotten face of our Beatrice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How do Keats, Marion, and Dante love God? Through savoring things we sensibly experience, but with an awareness that they are a transitory foretaste<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn56" name="_ednref56" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #111111;">[lvi]</span></span></span></a> of an eternal Beauty. We long for that Beauty, desire it, need it as Augustine did. But for Marion particularly (and implicitly for Keats and Dante), it is to want that Beauty to exist and to wish it well as we want our foretastes to exist and we wish them well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #111111;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">IV.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->A PERSONAL NOTE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As much as I am loath to show Freud right about this, and as much as it surprises this old man who for decades has borne the guilt of having failed to respect his father enough, I may be admitting to have introjected a bit of Jewell Sumpter Edwards into my God image. At a minimum, he showed me something about love and do we not say <i>God is love</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> My father was not a demonstrative man. Such was not the way of our family. I do not recall him saying he loved me or showing anything recognizable as affection in my youth and childhood. But from the time I was a pre-teen until I left for college, every Sunday morning, he shined my shoes. Then whenever I came home for visits, even as a middle aged man with my own children, my father shined my shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Perhaps it was his sense of impending death. Perhaps it was a stroke that disabled just slightly the brakes on his emotional expression; but toward the end of his life, my father said he loved me. I am as constrained in my ability to express affection as he was. So I wasn’t at all capable of dealing with his declaration. I said I knew and that I loved him too. That’s what you say. But I really couldn’t take it in and I didn’t really know how to respond from my heart. When I remember it today, I am still not at ease with his words, though I do not doubt for a moment their sincerity. But when I remember him shining my shoes, that brings the tears. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Stepping back to the safer place of intellectual interpretation, what does all that say? I don’t know. Perhaps our emotional restraint had something of the hiddenness of God in it. Perhaps it preserved something of the Beauty kept behind the veil. But the shining of the shoes means a world more than shiny shoes and hands smeared with shoe polish. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">V.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->HOW THEN MIGHT WE LOVE GOD?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> How then shall we undertake to love God? We have seen that God has been loved in different ways at different times by different people. From Scripture we have seen love as faithfulness, as keeping one’s vows, chiefly by dealing justly with others. And we have seen love as an unconditional hospitality to the world our Creator sets at the threshold of our perception. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Sometimes the world leaves us lonely, lost, fragile. We feel like the Psalmist in Psalm 39, <i>everyone is but a puff of wind. </i>Then like Augustine and Pascal, we turn within and find an open space in which something longs for us as we long for it. We do not know so much as wish and wonder. This is a kind of loving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Or we may experience a flash of gratitude. It may be a little gratitude for a sunny day, a good meal, fellowship over a drink with a friend. Or it may occur to us to be grateful that we exist, that anything exists, that there is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Then like Bernard, we take half a step outside ourselves to thank the Being of all beings, our Source, our Destiny, our Meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Or we may engage the world around us, perhaps as the awesome Iguazu Falls in Brazil and see God’s glory suggested in Creation and lose ourselves in a kind of adoration. Or we may look about us and find genocide, famine, wildfires, disease, poverty, domestic abuse, and socio-political oppression. And our hearts may be stirred to compassion for those who suffer. If, as Unamuno and Moltmann argue, God is present in those suffering, then that is already a compassion for God. If we accept their teaching, then we know God’s suffering in the entire cosmos is beyond the reach of our imaginations, and we may feel compassion for the Suffering God we see on the Cross each day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Or we may love another person not only for himself or herself as we see and understand them, but also for the mystery that surrounds them, for the greater part of them we cannot know. Suppose we cannot find God but we love our child or spouse or the one that got away as Dante loved Beatrice and Keats loved Fanny. If we limit our love to the person as we know them, we have curtailed our love and diminished our beloved. But if we preserve a sense of wonder at the unknown in them, then is that not a way of loving God?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> There is a kind of love so fundamental that we are apt not to recognize it as love, but everything depends on it. One might call it <i>agape </i>looking or Zen seeing. Donald Revell calls it “the poet’s eye.”<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn57" name="_ednref57" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lvii]</span></span></a> We look at the other without an agenda, without asking how the other suits our needs, without evaluating them according to culturally prescribed criteria. We just see them as they are – except we know from both phenomenology and Buddhism that we can’t see them as they are. But we can only look <i>toward</i> them in seeking mode. We seek them as they are – not as we would prefer. That <i>letting be</i>, as God lets the cosmos be, is an act of fundamental respect and well-wishing. It is Love 101. And if we accept Christian teaching that each person is made in the <i>image of God, </i>then whenever we let another just be who they are, we are seeking God’s face. We seek God’s face humbly, knowing we are apt to be surprised again and again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> We all have a God image in our minds and we will react to that image in various ways. That image may help us love God, especially if we hold it in tension with the objective God images offered us by the teachings of the faith tradition. A God image is a <i>saturated phenomenon</i> suggesting God but not containing God. It is what the Zen adage would call <i>a finger pointing to the moon </i>– not the moon itself. To struggle with, even against, our God image is a seeking and that act of seeking is a loving. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Ours is a skeptical age. We might rebel against that skepticism with an intentionally and unabashedly naïve belief. That is not all bad. It has sparks of both courage and humility in it. What if we were rebels like Camus, except instead of rebelling against the meaninglessness of everything, we rebelled against the cultural conviction that everything is meaningless. Suppose we rebelled by taking Soren Kierkegaard’s <i>leap of faith</i>. Might such a rebellion be a kind of love?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> In lieu of skepticism or reducing love to the sensible, we might adopt a posture of humility and wonder, hoping, desiring the Loving Beauty, the Beautiful Love, implicit in the world but infinitely beyond it. And in our humility, we might shine someone’s shoes, each in our own way, perhaps by performing surgery, fixing brakes, writing a brief, mowing a lawn, or cooking a meal, or just listening as they tell us a joke or a story or a memory. Karl Rahner said <i>Each of us is a unique, irreplaceable word of God.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn58" name="_ednref58" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b>[lviii]</b></span></span></a></i> It behooves us to listen to one another. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><h1><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1f1f1f; font-weight: normal;">I don't say he's a great man. Willie Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn59" name="_ednref59" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">[lix]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #1f1f1f; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> To shine anyone’s shoes, to befriend them in any way, is to respond lovingly to a word of God. Christians see such a gesture as an engagement with Jesus who taught wisdom, employed non-violence to resist oppression, told jokes, wept and suffered as we all suffer. Our responses to the world are our responses to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> And what of our love of self? The danger of a twisted Medieval Christianity is self-loathing, which does not liberate us from self. It ties us all the more tightly to self, only with negative chords of judgment. Augustine and Lady Julian show us the opportunity of Christianity is to love a deeper self, the Core Self, the Soul, and to love of all of our self from out of that Core, the Soul, which Lady Julian said is inextricably bound to Christ, and Roberto Assagioli said is inextricably linked to the Soul of the Cosmos. Like Hermann Hesse’s <i>Steppenwolf</i> we each contain many parts, subpersonalities, little selves. Usually we are aware only of them and they are often at odds with one another. But it is possible to look deeper to find the inner Christ, who loves and accepts the rest of us. That Core Self, that Soul, calms and reconciles the rest of us so that our scattered and conflicted personas become integrated into a coherent whole, to achieve what Goethe first called a <i>gestalt. </i>The word Jesus used for salvation was a medical term, not a judicial one. It did not mean pardoned for our crimes or to have one’s sentence commuted. It meant to be made whole. We can be made whole through the love of our Soul for all the random parts of ourselves. Love of our Core Self can be the key to love of God since our Core Self is in God’s image.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> But even if our Core Self crafts some wholeness out of our humanity, that humanity is still mortal, fallible, and unreliable, <i>a puff of wind</i>.<a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_edn60" name="_ednref60" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lx]</span></span></a> This brings us back to Augustine’s and Pascal’s sense of a hole in our hearts longing for what is beyond our kin; or perhaps to Schleiermacher’s feeling of dependency on God. This is not a sentimental affection. The vicissitudes of life are mostly beyond our control and throw our wellbeing into the hands of a God we cannot see. Such love is a trusting because <i>what else can we do?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Love can be compassion, delight, gratitude, longing, trusting, wonder. Do we not all experience these things? Some experience more of one than the other. But I do not believe God requires of us a love foreign to our own personal nature which God has formed or at least permitted. As we are each a <i>unique, irreplaceable word <b>of</b> God, </i>we are each a unique, irreplaceable word <b>to</b><i> </i>God. We each love in our own ways and that is part of the wonder of the Love that is in us, beneath us, above us, around us, and beyond us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I close with a word of assurance and a word of challenge. The assurance is this: Like Lady Julian’s hazelnut we exist because God loves us. We are already filled with God’s love, so loving God is not an option or a decision. It is our breath. We all love God, whether we know it or not, whether we even believe in God or not. The challenge is that our love, like Dante’s, is never consummated in this life, never complete. It is a foretaste of the Infinite. It is not only <i>our</i> love. It is a love letter from God.<i> </i><i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[i]</span></span></a> Matthew 22:38<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn2"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ii]</span></span></a> 1 Corinthians 13<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn3"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[iii]</span></span></a> Deuteronomy 10: 12; Joshua 22: 5; Matthew 22: 37; Mark 12: 30; Luke 10: 27. We will save the more complex treatment of love in John for its own section. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn4"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[iv]</span></span></a> Psalm 39 v. 12.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn5"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[v]</span></span></a> Donald Revell, “Plentitude” in <i>Beautiful Shirt, </i>p. 27.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn6"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[vi]</span></span></a> Christianity often places mortality at the heart of the problem. What we fear most, they say, is oblivion. See, e.g., Miguel de Unamuno, <i>Treatise On Love of God</i>, p 66. “Religion is the yearning not to die and is faith in immortality.” But a broader reading shows that death is the capstone atop a pillar of futility poetically lamented in <i>Ecclesiastes. </i>Scripture refers repeatedly to the problem of futility. Job 7 3; Psalm 78: 3; Psalm 89: 47; Ephesians 4: 17; Romans 8: 20; Isaiah 49: 4, etc. Salvation is not from death alone but from futility. That salvation comes from dying to the futile self in order to live in Christ. Galatians 2: 20; Ephesians 4: 22-24; Philippians 3:8. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn7"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[vii]</span></span></a> The common assumption that original sin has to do with sex is not without foundation. The first Christian theologians wrote in a Greco-Roman philosophical milieu that regarded the material world as fallen and inferior to spirit. But if one reads Augustine carefully, his notion of original sin, though mixed up with carnality, is fundamentally about pride, self-absorption. In St. Bernard of Clairvaux we will see that is even more clearly the case. The human predicament is imprisonment in an unsatisfactory self. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn8"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[viii]</span></span></a> <a href="https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/whitneyhouston/greatestloveofall.html">https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/whitneyhouston/greatestloveofall.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn9"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ix]</span></span></a> William Shakespeare, <i>Macbeth, </i>Act 5 Scene 5 ll 17-28.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn10"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[x]</span></span></a> This notion of <i>agape </i>is notably similar to the Epicurean notion of pleasure in simple being. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn11"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref11" name="_edn11" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xi]</span></span></a> Acts 17: 28<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn12"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref12" name="_edn12" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xii]</span></span></a> I John 4: 8<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn13"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref13" name="_edn13" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xiii]</span></span></a> To this must be added the seven “I Am” statements of John’s Gospel, since “I Am” is the name of God, so all the “I am statements” in the 4<sup>th</sup> Gospel tell us critical truths about God. ‘I am the bread of life.” “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” “I am the way and the truth and the life.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the gate.” “I am the vine.” Our seven metaphors from the Gospel are brought to clarity in the direct “God is Love” statement in the Epistle. So these seven metaphors tell us things about Love. “Love is the bread of life, the resurrection and the life, the good shepherd, the gate, etc.” So this tells us something about the object of our love but also something about our own love. Interestingly, since the 16<sup>th</sup>Century, God has most commonly been understood as having his Godness constituted by Power. The New Testament speaks of God investing power in us, but certainly does not make his divinity rest on Power.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn14"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref14" name="_edn14" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xiv]</span></span></a> Exodus 33: 20<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn15"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref15" name="_edn15" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xv]</span></span></a> Psalm 27: 11<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn16"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref16" name="_edn16" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xvi]</span></span></a> Jeremiah 29: 13<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn17"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref17" name="_edn17" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xvii]</span></span></a> Matthew 5: 8<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn18"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref18" name="_edn18" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xviii]</span></span></a> Belief in such god images may be the result of certain capacities for interpreting complex patterns in situations. This is called implicit pattern learning. <a href="https://neurosciencenews.com/unconscious-learning-god-16994/">https://neurosciencenews.com/unconscious-learning-god-16994/</a> Belief in God is also thought to be hardwired into us neurologically. <a href="http://www.brainblogger.com/2017/11/19/god-in-the-brain-the-science-of-neurotheology/">http://www.brainblogger.com/2017/11/19/god-in-the-brain-the-science-of-neurotheology/</a> These explanations paint belief in a favorable light in terms of it being healthy but say nothing about whether the beliefs are true.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn19"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref19" name="_edn19" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xix]</span></span></a> <i>The Four Quartets<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn20"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref20" name="_edn20" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xx]</span></span></a> 1 Corinthians 13: 12<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn21"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref21" name="_edn21" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxi]</span></span></a> Augustine of Hippo, <i>Confessions</i>, Book 1<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn22"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref22" name="_edn22" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxii]</span></span></a> Galatians 2: 20. <i>See also</i> Romans 8: 9-11; <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn23"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref23" name="_edn23" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxiii]</span></span></a> John 14: 20.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn24"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref24" name="_edn24" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxiv]</span></span></a> Roberto Assagioli, <i>Psychosynthesis.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn25"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref25" name="_edn25" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxv]</span></span></a> But Augustine does insist with Jesus and I John that love of God includes love of the neighbor. It is as if the spirituality of detachment from the world produced a morality of service to it. Odd as that may seem, Stoicism followed the same pattern – detach from the world because nothing matters but morality which consists of serving the common good (world).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn26"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref26" name="_edn26" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxvi]</span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #535a60;">Blaise Pascal, </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #535a60; padding: 0in;">Pensées</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #535a60;"> VII (425)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn27"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref27" name="_edn27" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxvii]</span></span></a> Rene Maria Rilke, <i>Letters To A Young Poet</i><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn28"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref28" name="_edn28" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxviii]</span></span></a> Domitians who insisted on a perfect purity of the clergy and their lineage as essential to the efficacy of the sacraments; then Pelagians who held that free will made human perfection possible, and since it was possible, it was required for salvation. Augustine’s North Africa has been called <i>the Bible belt of the Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn29"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref29" name="_edn29" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxix]</span></span></a> I am of course generalizing. There were exceptions. Meister John Eckhart thought of himself as a Thomist but also looked for God within as Augustine did, saying <i>God is nearer to you than you are to yourself. </i>But then Eckhart was also condemned posthumously as a heretic. We will see that Peter Abelard was also an exception to the Medieval norms, but he too was pushed to the margins.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn30"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref30" name="_edn30" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxx]</span></span></a> Anne M. Carpenter, <i>Theo-Poetics: Hans Urs Von Balthasar And The Risk Of Art And Being, p. 143.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn31"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref31" name="_edn31" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxi]</span></span></a> I am using the common terms for convenience. We might speak more accurately of systematic theology (which was metaphysical then) and ascetic theology (which was monastic, liturgical, and intellectual).<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn32"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref32" name="_edn32" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxii]</span></span></a> The stages correspond to the holy fragrances from the beath of the bride and the bridegroom in the Song of Solomon read allegorically. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn33"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref33" name="_edn33" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxiii]</span></span></a> That did not extend to the Muslim “infidels” who ruled Jerusalem. Bernard was the chief drum beater for the first Crusade. Nor did it extend to Professor Peter Abelard who disagreed with Bernard on some theological points. Bernard was rather obsessed with silencing Abelard. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn34"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref34" name="_edn34" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxiv]</span></span></a> William Ernest Henley, <i>Invictus<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn35"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref35" name="_edn35" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxv]</span></span></a> I am using language here that would be from Aquinas, not Bernard. Bernard was dead in his grave before Aquinas was born. But I am suggesting the Lofty Benefactor of Bernard’s prayers becomes the Metaphysical Foundation in Aquinas’s theological tomes. They are of a piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn36"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref36" name="_edn36" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxvi]</span></span></a> Samuel Taylor Coleridge, <i>Confessions Of An Inquiring Spirit; </i>Joseph Butler, <i>Analogy Of Religion, Natural And Revealed.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn37"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref37" name="_edn37" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxvii]</span></span></a> Thomas Gray, <i>Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn38"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref38" name="_edn38" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxviii]</span></span></a> Unamuno, <i>Treatise On Love Of God</i>, p. 11.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn39"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref39" name="_edn39" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xxxix]</span></span></a> Ibid<i>, </i>p. 10. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn40"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref40" name="_edn40" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xl]</span></span></a> <a href="https://theologicalstudies.org.uk/article_god_bauckham.html">https://theologicalstudies.org.uk/article_god_bauckham.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn41"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref41" name="_edn41" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xli]</span></span></a> Alfred North Whitehead, <i>Process And Reality<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn42"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref42" name="_edn42" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlii]</span></span></a> Von Balthasar’s project is to restore medieval metaphysics of Being and Phenomenology is decidedly not in favor of that part of his project. Still I think there is a harmony between them neither side has acknowledged.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn43"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref43" name="_edn43" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xliii]</span></span></a> Julian of Norwich, <i>Shewings.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn44"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref44" name="_edn44" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xliv]</span></span></a> Matthew 5: 45<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn45"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref45" name="_edn45" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlv]</span></span></a> One cannot help but compare Keats unconsummated love for Fanny Brawne (see <i>Endymion) </i>with Dante’s love for Beatrice Portinari.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn46"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref46" name="_edn46" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlvi]</span></span></a> Carpenter, 80.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn47"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref47" name="_edn47" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlvii]</span></span></a> See Donald Revell, <i>The Art Of Attention: A Poet’s Eye<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn48"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref48" name="_edn48" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlviii]</span></span></a> Carpenter, 75,quoting Goethe in <i>Vermachtnis.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn49"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref49" name="_edn49" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[xlix]</span></span></a> Carpenter, pp. 177, 180.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn50"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref50" name="_edn50" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[l]</span></span></a> Carpenter, p. 61. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn51"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref51" name="_edn51" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[li]</span></span></a> Carpenter, p. 80.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn52"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref52" name="_edn52" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lii]</span></span></a> Carpenter, p. 63 quoting Von Balthasar, <i>Glory Of The Lord, </i>III p. 32.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn53"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref53" name="_edn53" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[liii]</span></span></a> <i>Purgatorio, </i>Canto XXXI<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn54"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref54" name="_edn54" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[liv]</span></span></a> Carpenter, p. 67<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn55"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref55" name="_edn55" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lv]</span></span></a> Carpenter, p. 72.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn56"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref56" name="_edn56" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lvi]</span></span></a> Romans 8: 23; Ephesians 1: 14; 2 Corinthians 1: 22: 2 Corinthians 5: 5<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="edn57"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref57" name="_edn57" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lvii]</span></span></a> Donald Revell, <i>The Art Of Attention: The Poet’s Eye.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn58"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref58" name="_edn58" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lviii]</span></span></a> Karl Rahner, <i>Foundations Of Christian Faith: An Introduction To The Idea Of Christianity<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn59"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref59" name="_edn59" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lix]</span></span></a> Arthur Miller, <i>The Death Of A Salesman<o:p></o:p></i></span></p></div><div id="edn60"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://1F18578A-7304-4D47-BE44-7FA3BEA23CDF#_ednref60" name="_edn60" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[lx]</span></span></a> Psalm 27: 11.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-71025302539511832812020-08-18T18:43:00.002-07:002020-08-18T18:43:53.406-07:002020 POLITICAL RHETORIC: THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am not going to address the merits of any politicians, political ideologies, or policies. My question goes to the kind of lens through which we look at all of them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Democratic National Convention began online last night. Its intent was explicitly to make a case for Biden/Harris against Trump/Pence. President Trump’s response was “it was a snooze.” In the face of a cascade of challenges to his leadership, he critiqued the Convention according to its quality as entertainment. This follows last week’s meeting of Jarrod Kushner with Kanye West to discuss his campaign. My concern is not that the President and his team think of politics as entertainment, but that they assume (rightly I suspect) that the electorate is primarily looking to be entertained. We have shown a growing tendency to choose our leaders from the entertainment industry. In a newspaper interview, one Bernie Sanders supporter last year said he liked Sanders because he was “loud and angry.” Quite a few Sanders supporters in the 2016 primaries voted for Trump in the general election. Hypothesis: they wanted “loud and angry” without caring overmuch about public policy. The journalistic response to last night’s convention has been more positive than the President’s but also somewhat similar, reviewing it as entertainment. <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-hits-and-misses-from-monday-at-the-democratic-national-convention/ar-BB1857ov?li=BB141NW3" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-hits-and-misses-from-monday-at-the-democratic-national-convention/ar-BB1857ov?li=BB141NW3</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Statecraft is serious business. It’s as serious as a pandemic, serous as war and peace, serious as racial justice, gun violence, and hunger. But we are choosing our leaders based on how well they entertain us. I read somewhere a theory that people are fundamentally bored nowadays. Our desperate quest for diversion is a measure of our basic boredom with reality. If you will permit me a brief theological interpretation: Hans Urs von Balthasar, Swiss Jesuit theologian, argued that modern (post-Renaissance) Western civilization had lost a sense of the Transcendent, the height and depth of the human adventure that Dante portrayed in The Divine Comedy. Modern people have done well, he said, to discover the poignancy of personal experience; but we have reduced it to a flat road from birth to death, losing our sense that something of eternal significance is at play here. “If that’s all there is to a fire, then let’s keep dancing; let’s break out the booze.” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFe4nak-oM" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFe4nak-oM</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There may be more mundane reasons politics has become shallow – I am not talking about our leaders. I am talking about us. Our leaders shape us a little, but they reflect us more. The mundane reasons include: Society is more complex, and we don’t want to make the greater effort now required to understand issues – better to have a passionate opinion than a thoughtful one because it takes less work. Another is that we are in a time of rapid change; change triggers anxiety; anxiety makes us regress out of our frontal lobes into our lower brain functions; so we feel more and think less. Another is that our current technology moves directly to triggering dopamine, etc., bypassing thought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I suspect there’s truth to all of that, but I want to hold onto the larger issue of whether our decisions, our morality, whether we are just or unjust, kind or unkind to each other now has real significance. Are our souls at stake? As a Christian, I believe they are. The political process is not a Constitutionally protected religion-free zone. (The Constitution to the contrary protects the right of Churches to speak and petition the state for “redress of grievance”. What it forbids is the State establishing and thereby controlling a Church.) Politics is an all too human process whereby we may be degraded but may also be sanctified. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What then are the consequences for political rhetoric? Rhetoric, the art of persuasion, arose with the birth of democracy in Athens. Absent democracy, there was no real need for persuasion, only the power to command. But democracy, even a limited democracy like Athens, led to people needing to persuade people. It upped the ante of human communication. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ancient philosophy took rhetoric seriously because it was the means and method of something of deep importance, Justice. Aristotle wrote<a href="applewebdata://299DFC54-CFAF-438E-A540-338B2FCD7D67#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[i]</span></span></a> Antiquity’s most famous study of rhetoric, cleverly titled, <i>Rhetoric. </i>Aristotle was interested in good rhetoric, which was not just effective persuasion, but rhetoric that contributed to justice. He gave us three simple elements of good rhetoric: <i>Logos, Pathos, </i>and <i>Ethos</i>. As we enter the campaign season, those elements bear a little attention. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Logos</i></b> of course is the source of “logic.” But it isn’t just cold reasoning. <i>Logos </i>was a heavy and holy word for Ancient Greece. Remember the Prologue to John, <i>In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God and the Logos was God.</i> So <i>Logos </i>is first and foremost the Truth! As we see and hear messages about politics this Fall, paying close attention to Snopes and other fact checkers would be a good idea. We know foreign powers plan to sway our views with false reports. We recently had a meme about Portland protestors burning a stack of Bibles with an American flag on top. Entertaining. Outrageous. <i>To the barricades</i>, we feel. But actually one Portland protestor burned one Bible, no flag. It appears to be one of those interferences from beyond our borders. We should check the facts before getting overly excited. <i>Logos </i>is about Truth and Reason. As Anglicans, we believe in Scripture, Tradition, and <b>Reason. </b>This isn’t just cold logic, but it does involve some thinking. Thinking is more sanctifying than fear and loathing. Good rhetoric thinks. Are the people speaking to us just entertaining or are they thinking? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now here’s a lesson I’ve learned all too well over the years. There’s the speech you give and there’s the speech they hear. Sometimes those speeches resemble each other. But here’s my point: one side of rhetoric is speaking but the other side is listening. So just as we’d like our leaders to think, not just entertain, we need to think too. Whether the speech or the meme is thoughtful or not, it is always an opportunity for us to be thoughtful and that is sanctifying. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Pathos</i></b> means feeling. It is the root of empathy. So it isn’t just any feeling. It’s caring. <i>Pathos </i>isn’t just emotional titillation like a reality tv show. It’s about the feeling level of being a community, a <i>polis</i> Aristotle called it. Too much political rhetoric today appeals to our baser emotions, our fear and loathing. Aristotle would not call that good rhetoric because it makes us worse instead of better. Good rhetoric is about caring for others. Again, we hope our leaders will speak out of caring hearts. But whether they do or not, whatever they say, it is an opportunity for us to care and that is sanctifying. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Ethos, </i></b>the root of “ethics,” means the character of the speaker. Aristotle’s definition of good rhetoric has been summed up as “a good person speaking well.” No matter who eloquent the speaker may be, it is phony and false unless it comes from a good character. Not only should the speaker be convincing because we trust his or her character, the speaker should be calling us to grow better characters, to become more prudent, strong, just, and temperate (the classical virtues). So, as we listen to our candidates, it is good to keep an eye on who they are inviting us to become. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the various responses to the Democratic Convention, positive and negative alike, I have heard little about <i>Logos, Pathos, </i>and <i>Ethos. </i>It’s been more of a question of how entertaining was it. If the test is entertainment, then let’s replace the debate with a singing, standup comedy, and tapdancing competition. But if we want to be community instead of an audience, we should attend to the <i>Logos, Pathos, </i>and <i>Ethos</i> of whatever we see and hear in a campaign season. My hope is not so much for who wins as for who we become. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br clear="all" /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="applewebdata://299DFC54-CFAF-438E-A540-338B2FCD7D67#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;">[i]</span></span></a> Actually he gave a series of lectures. Aristotle’s Rhetoric is actually the notes taken by his students. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-68042498469401585352020-08-07T12:30:00.000-07:002020-08-07T12:30:38.515-07:00Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus<p> <i style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am the bread of life. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and they died . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Whoever eats this bread will live forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">John is more of a mystical poem than a biography. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">John skips the story of Jesus instituting the Eucharist<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> at the Last Supper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Instead he gives us this poetic account <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of what the Eucharist means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It comes right after the feeding of the 5,000.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus had spent a long, hot day in a loud, dirty crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They were needy, demanding, and desperate for miracles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">By 3 o’clock, Jesus was like an exhausted ER nurse,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">so he slipped away for a break.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No sooner had he reached his hideaway <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> than they were there again – 5,000 of them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He rolled up his sleeves and went back to teaching and healing <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> until dusk; then they were hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Philip said to send them away, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but Jesus worked another miracle to feed the hungry masses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then he slipped away again and took a boat across the lake<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to the little fishing village of Capernaum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Next morning, the crowd was at the Capernaum synagogue<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> trying to manipulate Jesus into doing </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> his food multiplication trick again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But instead, he answered the hungry miracle-mongers <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> with this discourse on bread. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The healings and the feedings, Jesus said, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">are signs of something deeper and more lasting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He could feed them breakfast alright <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but by noon they’d be hungry again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He could heal their sick, but they’d get sick again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He could raise their dead, but they’d die again. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s the second law of thermodynamics:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> things fall apart. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The miracles are just band aids unless we go deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The crowd is like someone who gets flowers from a lover, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and enjoys the flowers but doesn’t read the card.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All life’s blessings are just cards <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> inviting us to something vastly better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The healings, the miracles, and everyday blessings <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> are signs that Jesus is giving us himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus offers us his heart, his soul, his life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s the gift that endures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It doesn’t take away our hunger and thirst,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but it satisfies us in the midst of hunger and thirst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s the opposite of the story of the manna in the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The people complained of hunger,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> so Moses called on God to rain down bread from heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s what the crowd wanted Jesus to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But Jesus had read the story in Psalm 78.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It says, “but they did not stop their craving, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> though the food was still in their mouths.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you ever seen someone at the dinner table<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> fork up more food when they haven’t finished chewing the last bite?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s like that with all our projects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">While we are in the midst of receiving what we want,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> our minds race ahead to what we want next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s what Jesus means by <i>food that perishes,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">not that it goes bad in the pantry,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but that it vanishes in the fire of our craving nature. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Isaiah asked,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>Why do you spend your money <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> for that which is not bread,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and you labor for that which does not satisfy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We squander our lives on <i>if only’s.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If only I had this job, or that lover, or this house,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> or that friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the instant we get what we want,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> our minds race on to the next <i>if only.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It isn’t just possible – it’s normal – <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to be hungry in the midst of plenty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But it is also possible – in Christ – to be satisfied<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> without getting our <i>if only’s. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You have made us for yourself, O Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">St Augustine prayed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.//</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Instead of whipping up breakfast for the crowd,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Jesus offered them himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He offers us himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, how do we accept the gift of Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ritually, we accept him when we eat and drink<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> his sacramental presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Spiritually, Jesus says, we accept him by <i>believing in </i>him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the original Greek verb translated as <i>believe<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span></i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">does not mean intellectual assent to an idea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Big deal. So do the demons of Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This isn’t about <i>believing that</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s about <i>believing in.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s placing our faith in him, trusting in him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As the old song says, <i>Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Job said, “Even though he slay me, I will trust in him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Back in my little church in Georgia,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> we had a World War II veteran in the pews.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He said, one day he was pinned down in a battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mortar shells were landing closer and closer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Needless to say, he was praying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As he prayed, he received a deep assurance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Not that the mortar shells wouldn’t blow him away<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> but that whatever happened would be alright.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He accepted that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Whatever happened would be alright.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Only take him at his word</span></i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That’s what it means to <i>feed on him in our hearts by faith. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When we receive Jesus through the blessed sacrament,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> we eat the bread that does not perish. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We lay aside the perishing bread for the living bread.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We were made for this, made to have Christ in us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If we try to fill our emptiness with anything less than Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> it leaves us still craving.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why do you spend your labor for that which does not satisfy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But with Christ in us, we can face anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">St. Paul said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <i>I know what it is to have little,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and I know what it is to have much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> of having plenty and of being in need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I can do all things through him who strengthens me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Paul had learned the secret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the end, nothing else matters,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> because to have Christ is everything.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p>Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-54040326022504994522020-05-29T16:17:00.000-07:002020-05-29T16:17:28.674-07:00A FORE & AFT EPISCOPALIAN<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">When the day of Pentecost had come, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">the disciples were all together in one place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And suddenly from heaven there came a sound <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">like the rush of a violent wind </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">.<span class="apple-converted-space"> . . </span>."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Holy Comforter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is your parish birthday and the birthday </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of the Church Universal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bad news is that I am going to speak </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- not just about the Pentecost lesson --<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">but about the entire Book of Acts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that I have only two simple points<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">-- Church change and life change. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">They both happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story of Pentecost is from </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Acts of the Apostles, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">but it’s better known </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> as The Acts of the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every important thing that happens in Acts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> is done through people by God’s Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To get the point, you have to know <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">when and why this book was written.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the first generation, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Apostles led the Christian Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They were the rock stars of our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then they began to die off. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, people were anxious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without Peter, Paul, Barnabas, James, and the rest, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">could the Church go on?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luke’s point is that it wasn’t really about the Apostles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was about God. Whatever they did,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> they did by the power of God’s Spirit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leaders come and leaders go; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but the Holy Spirit is still here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A young priest was called to his first rectorate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">His first Sunday, in the receiving line,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an old church member named Joe said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Glad to meet you. I’m a fore and aft Episcopalian.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What’s that?” the priest asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joe replied, “I was here before and I’ll be here after you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well the Holy Spirit is a fore and aft Episcopalian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Truth be told the Holy Spirit will outlast even Joe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holy Comforter has seen a lot of turnover.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Father Bill left to become rector of St. Alban’s;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deacon Linda was redeployed;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mother Kim became Director of Cathedral Ridge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have changed leadership in Youth Ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our parish administrator, Jackson, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> has begun a new career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And beloved lay leaders have moved to other cities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">None of these people – not one – left </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because of anything wrong at Holy Comforter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They all moved on in the ordinary course of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A 9-year rectorate is a good run.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A 3-year assistant rectorate is a good run.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one left because of anything wrong here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was just the way things go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Impermanence is part of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 500 BC, Heraclitus said, “Change is the only constant in life.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rate of change has not slowed down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have ups and downs. People come and go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as Frank Sinatra said, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “This fine old world </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -24pt;">just keeps turning around.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Acts simple point is that </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Holy Spirit works through us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when we aren’t here,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Holy Spirit keeps working through new people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We don’t place our faith in the people,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> however noble and gifted they may be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We place our faith in the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luke wrote Acts as the sequel to his Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Luke’s Gospel, just what makes Jesus the Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You might say “the Virgin Birth,”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but how did that happen?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The angel said to Mary, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “the Holy Spirit will come upon you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus was born by the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">At Jesus’ baptism, Luke says, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> he was “full of the Holy Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When he began his ministry, Jesus said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because he has anointed me </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to proclaim Good news to the poor.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is the Holy Spirit that makes Jesus the Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">just as it was the Holy Spirit </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that made the Apostles apostles,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> just as it is the Holy Spirit that makes priests priests<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> in ordination <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and makes all of us Christians in Baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, each of you is </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “sealed by the Holy Spirit </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -24pt;">in Baptism </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -24pt;"> and marked as Christ’s own</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -24pt;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -24pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">forever</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -24pt;">”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- not until there’s a clergy transition, <b>forever</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Change is hard. Change is just a lot of trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Zorba the Greeks said, “Trouble? Life is trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only in death is there no trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is change and change is unsettling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Life is unsettling. We were not made to be settled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are made to be on the move </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> like Abraham, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">like Jesus, and like the Apostles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Change is a sign of the Holy Spirit moving among us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit is always changing things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Thessalonica, they prosecuted the Apostles<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for “turning the world upside down.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s just what they were doing -- guilty! --<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> because they were acting from the Holy Spirit</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> and that’s what the Holy Spirit does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She turns the world upside down; </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> then she turns it downside up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">She blows the status quo open </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to new and unforeseen life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So where do we place our faith?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In each other, yes, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but only because the Holy Spirit lives in us,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> inspires us, and guides us toward wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Apostles came and went. Clergy come and go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the Holy Spirit is still here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This isn’t just about Church. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s about all of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pandemic, for example, has disrupted our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the old ways will come back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But not all of them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there will be new ways we cannot yet foresee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s unsettling. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are apt to miss the past<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and feel anxious about the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s natural. But hold onto this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God never changes but God changes everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Henry Ward Beecher said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> Our days are a kaleidoscope. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every instant a change takes place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">New harmonies, new contrasts, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">new combinations of every sort.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The most familiar people stand each moment <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">in some new relation to each other, to their work, . . ..”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Every instant a change takes place. . . </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> New harmonies, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">new contrasts, new combinations . . ..”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is foolish and futile to place our faith <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">in the familiarity of the status quo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We place our faith on the solid rock of God’s love for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can take that to the bank.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God’s love is the constant that lies behind and beneath<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> all the change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trusting God gives us the courage to live<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> knowing that life is change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We know where the change is headed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> deeper and deeper into the Source, the Destiny, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the Meaning, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and the infinite Beauty of everything.</span></div>
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Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-82970135252785840762020-05-28T15:12:00.001-07:002020-05-28T15:12:19.378-07:00YES TO LIFE<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear People of Holy Comforter, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you for the opportunity to serve the congregation in some small ways during this time of transition. One way I have tried to serve is by sending you these weekly letters. Originally, I hoped the letters would establish a wide and consistent pastoral contact to help lower anxiety during the transition. However, the pandemic shifted our focus. In recent weeks, the letters have emphasized theology because the traditional Christian faith has much to offer for hard times – not just to get us through them but to make us better because of them. It is spiritual alchemy turning the lead of social distancing into the gold of compassion. So I’ve been teaching the practice of Christian virtues, how God meets us in times of trouble, and how God just being God gives us hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many of you have responded graciously to these letters and others have sent kind notes of appreciation and good wishes. I was touched by all your messages and am deeply grateful. I will remember you and your words warmly for years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As I write, your new interim has been chosen but the necessary formalities have to be completed before your wardens can make the announcement. But I can say your new interim is a well-respected, experienced, and capable clergy person who I have no doubt will serve you better than I ever could have. You are in good hands. I hope you will greet your new interim with Christian hospitality and prepare your hearts to follow a new leader. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are different approaches to interim ministry. I took an approach that was authentic for me and that seemed best crafted to serve you at that time. In retrospect, I would do some things differently; so, if your new interim has a different approach, I have every reason to believe the new way is better. An interim prepares the congregation for the new rector who will lead you into a new day. I am confident your new interim will do that beautifully and that you will work with your new interim to that end. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In her wisdom born of experience, the Church has a protocol that when clergy leave a congregation, we keep our distance until the new rector has had at least a year to get established. So you will not be seeing or hearing from me after this Sunday for some months. A number of you are my friends on social media. While I must temporarily suspend that tie, please know that I am just adhering to Church protocol for your benefit. There is no one at Holy Comforter I would not be delighted to reconnect with when the time is right. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before I go, I want to say two more things about the current challenge. The first is that it is hard not being able to gather with each other at the Church building. No way around that. The online gatherings are good, but not the same. Cognitive science was already telling us the downside of doing our social connections cybernetically. So, the Church is doing the best she can with what she’s got to work with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> But we have been through something like this before. During the British Protectorate (think Oliver Cromwell), Anglican worship was prohibited for 40 years. <b>40 years! </b>It was a crime even to possess a Book of Common Prayer. But the people had Prayer Books anyway and they used them to worship at home. They were together with other Church members, not in person, but by saying the same prayers. That’s what “common prayer” means. Many of you have Prayer Books. If you don’t, you can order one. </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Common-Prayer-Administration-Sacraments-Ceremonies/dp/0898690803/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=book+of+common+prayer+episcopal+church&qid=1590527836&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">https://www.amazon.com/Common-Prayer-Administration-Sacraments-Ceremonies/dp/0898690803/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=book+of+common+prayer+episcopal+church&qid=1590527836&sr=8-1</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Or you can find it online. </span><a href="https://www.bcponline.org/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">https://www.bcponline.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> I encourage you to print off the prayers you want to use rather than praying them from the computer screen. Pay particular attention to the Daily Office. Click it on the side bar “Daily Office.” For those using the real Book, it’s pp. 37-135. For a short and simple set of prayers, check the Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families, pp.137-140. And you may find other prayers you want to add in to suit your own spirit. See pp. 810 - 841. Of course, you may draw prayers from other resources as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Our forebears survived 40 years without joining each other for fellowship and worship because they still had the Book -- the Book of Common Prayer. You have it too. When the Church reopens, you may come together in a new way after having immersed yourselves in the prayers of Anglican Spirituality. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The second thing I want to share before I go is about the general mood of our time. Being separated from our Church community is only part of it. There is the separation from friends and family, the disruption of lifestyles, the economic burden, the anxiety for our own health and the health of those we love. There is no ignoring or pretending away our thoughts and feelings. Now is the time to be compassionate with each other as we are all going through a hard time, and that compassion starts with ourselves. So, be gentle with the parts of yourselves that feel all the things this ordeal makes us feel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> But if we practice faith, we don’t let those thoughts and feelings carry us away. We have our feelings, but our feelings don’t have us. Rumi wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">“If you are seeking, seek us with joy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">For we live in the kingdom of joy.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Do not give your heart to anything else</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">But to the love of those who are clear joy,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Do not stray into the neighborhood of despair.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">For there are hopes: they are real, they exist --</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Do not go in the direction of darkness --</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I tell you: suns exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do not deny our grief and anxiety. But we remember that “suns exist.” There is beauty out there, and humor, peace, simplicity, and love. Hold space for grace in your lives. 1st Peter said in last Sunday’s lesson, “Keep alert.” Alert for what? Alert for joy. Alert for delightful things happening right now in our lives. Pay attention to God who is present with us in this. God is present as the incongruous joy in the nighttime of our fears. “For there are hopes: they are real. They exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I’ve spoken before of the psychoanalyst Victor Frankl, how he was imprisoned at Auschwitz and Dachau, how he lost his parents and his pregnant wife in the Holocaust. Dr. Frankl observed that the people most likely to survive the death camps were those who found or made meaning from the experience. That led him to write the classic, <u>Man’s Search For Meaning</u>. After his release, Dr. Frankl gave a series of lectures in 1946. His notes were lost for decades but have recently been published as <u>Say Yes To Life In Spite Of Everything</u>.</span><a href="applewebdata://39CDA318-3420-4E23-91C6-3526E9A07AC0#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The title comes in a telling roundabout way. One of the first commanders at Buchenwald ordered that a “camp song” be written and sung every day. Understandably, most sang it with anger and resentment. But others wrote in a verse that had to be sung quietly so the guards could not hear. The verse went:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Whatever our future may hold<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We want to say ‘yes’ to life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because one day the time will come –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Then we will be free!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">This is Jewish strength and wisdom. Greek and Roman Stoics, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, said the same thing, calling it the “discipline of desire” – saying “yes” to life whatever comes our way. Saying “yes” keeps us in the game. St. Paul, no stranger to hardship, said, “Rejoice in the Lord <b>always</b>.<b> </b>Again, I say rejoice!”</span><a href="applewebdata://39CDA318-3420-4E23-91C6-3526E9A07AC0#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[ii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Always? Yes, always. Because God is good even when life is hard. God cares and will bring us through. That’s worth rejoicing. Even the secular sage Frank Sinatra taught us that “this fine old world just keeps turning around.” We stay to see what happens next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So, brothers and sisters, hang in there. Keep alert for joy. Say “yes” to life. Seek the Lord. Be kind – to others and to yourselves. This too shall pass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blessings always,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bishop Dan <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://39CDA318-3420-4E23-91C6-3526E9A07AC0#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[i]</span></span></span></a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Life-Spite-Everything/dp/B082DPJPZQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XHC3ZB8VE68%20J&dchild=1&keywords=say+yes+to+life+viktor+frankl&qid=1590525384&sprefix=Frankl+say+y%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Life-Spite-Everything/dp/B082DPJPZQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XHC3ZB8VE68 J&dchild=1&keywords=say+yes+to+life+viktor+frankl&qid=1590525384&sprefix=Frankl+say+y%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://39CDA318-3420-4E23-91C6-3526E9A07AC0#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[ii]</span></span></span></a> Philippians 4: 4.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-39135687191324954732020-05-23T16:18:00.003-07:002020-05-23T16:18:50.255-07:00JOSEF MENGELE IS NOT GOD<br />
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are all having a hard time these days<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – medically, economically, emotionally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One way or another, this is rough for everybody.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have all heard so-called Biblical explanations </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> of hard times </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">--</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">punishment for sin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> -- part of God’s secret plan </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">--</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">test of faith; etc.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We may or may not buy those explanations,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but they keep echoing in our minds. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today’s Epistle lesson sounds </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> like one of the bad explanations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1<sup>st</sup> Peter says: “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that is taking place . . . <b>to test you</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That makes God sound like a cosmic Josef Mengele<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[i]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> dousing us with disease and death <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> just to see how we’ll take it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, let’s be clear. The Bible does <b>not</b> have </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> one overarching answer <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">for why life gets so dreadfully hard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has lots of ideas by people struggling </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> to make sense of things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">They don’t agree.<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[ii]</span></span></span></a> They are just doing the best they can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the things they say include a thread of truth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they are at best partial answers.<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[iii]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Philosopher Marilyn McCord Adams says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Bible is fairly short on explanations of suffering, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">but long on” (how God preserves</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"> and redeems us through it).</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take today’s lesson. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we can push the mute button on those echoes </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> ringing in our heads,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> we’ll notice the text never says God sent </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “the fiery ordeal.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The return address on that package was Rome </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> – not Heaven.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="color: #954f72; vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="color: #954f72;" title="">[iv]</a></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peter says the ordeal functions as a “trial”.<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[v]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s truth in that. Hardship exposes our characters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, we see some people behaving </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> with remarkable kindness, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">exemplary compassion, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> bravery, generosity, and patience.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We see others hoarding, price-gouging, profiteering,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> gunning up, and acting in selfish disregard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">for the safety of others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peter isn’t explaining away ordeals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">He’s counseling us how to practice our faith in hard times. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peter says: “Discipline yourselves. Keep alert . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Know that your brothers and sisters in the world<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> are undergoing the <b>same</b> kinds of suffering. . . .<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[vi]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Above all, love each other . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Use whatever gifts you have to serve others.”<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[vii]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just as hardship shows what we are made of,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> it can be an opportunity to become better, </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> more fully human.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">-- an opportunity to become more caring,</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> compassionate, generous, kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The meaning in hardship isn’t any explanation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">we can read in a book or hear from a preacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The meaning depends on <b>what we do</b> with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can shrink into fear, bitterness, and blaming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or we can grow toward a new unity in our struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have had larger catastrophes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The current death toll from Covid-19 is around 6 million.<a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">[viii]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Spanish Flu killed 50 million;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">New World Smallpox, 56 million;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Black Death, 200 million.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 2004 tsunami killed 225,000 people in a day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and countless more in the ensuing famine and civil war.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But those disasters were localized in particular regions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This pandemic is global. It touches the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, might this be the time to extend <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> our circle of compassion to include <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">refugee camps in Bangladesh and Lesbos<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- think Episcopal Relief & Development </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or migrant detention centers in Texas </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and next door in Aurora<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- think Episcopal Migration Ministries,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or United Nations planning to rebuild the economy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">better for the environment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> -- think Episcopal Creation Care.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is much we could do, so much we could become . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Might this be the time to extend our compassion<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-size: large;">around the world to all the people Jesus loves?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[i]</span></span></span></a> Nazi scientist who performed horrific experiments on Jews during the Holocaust. <a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/josef-mengele" style="color: #954f72;">https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/josef-mengele</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[ii]</span></span></span></a> The idea that God sends hardship as punishment for sin is problematic to be sure, first off because good people sometimes suffer disasters while bad people often fare quite well. In Antiquity, people believed that hardships were the work of the gods. Virgil called them “the merciless gods.” The pagan gods meted out blessings and curses randomly according to their whims. The best way to win a god’s favor was sacrifices. It was a system of cosmic graft. The Deuteronomic tradition in the Hebrew Scriptures agreed YHWH sent blessings and curses, but he did it according to his concern for morality. It was a carrot and stick spirituality, but it was a step forward in religion. Still, it didn’t ring true to experience. Later the Wisdom writers taught that if one lives wisely, he will flourish. But that didn’t always prove true either. Job’s “comforters” tried to advise him how to get back on his feet by quoting the Book of Proverbs (part of the Wisdom literature) to him. Job replied, “Quote to me no more these proverbs of dust.” God shows up at the end of the book and agrees with Job. These are examples of how different ideas were expressed trying to make meaning out of suffering. But none of them carried the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[iii]</span></span></span></a> In <u>Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God</u>, Marilyn McCord Adams says that the various theories of why the world is a mess if God is good generally have some value, but she calls them “partial answers” and says that the danger of treating a partial answer as a general theory is that it ends up “attributing perverse motives to God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[iv]</span></span></span></a> Depending on the actual date, it might have been Ephesus instead. Either way, it was persecution from the state religion of the Empire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[v]</span></span></span></a> We translate Biblical words as “trial,” “test,” and “temptation” but they all come down to occasions that invite or pressure us to fall away from our faith, become less than our true selves. The primal occasion of a “trial/ test/ temptation” is the serpent inviting Eve to eat the fruit in the Garden, Genesis 3. There is no indication God sent the serpent to administer a moral exam. God already knows our hearts. Jeremiah 7: 10; Romans 8: 27. Trials and temptations in Scripture are, generally speaking, not from God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[vi]</span></span></span></a> I Peter 5: 8-10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[vii]</span></span></span></a> I Peter 4: 7, 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="applewebdata://7476EB74-DD2C-4CE4-8376-93A01015BF28#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[viii]</span></span></span></a> I am by no means saying a death toll of 6 million is “not so bad” and of course the numbers are still rising. It is horrifically tragic. The point here is that although there have been larger disasters, the difference in this one is that it not regionally limited. It is global. HIV/AIDS was also global, and it killed 25 million just between 1981 and 2012 when the number of deaths per year began to decline. But major segments of the population still felt they were not at risk. In this case, we all fee7,10l at risk and are more directly impacted by social distancing. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115232433248014570.post-67078344103666247162020-05-21T14:41:00.002-07:002020-05-21T14:48:53.634-07:00O BEAUTY SO ANCIENT AND SO FRESH<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear People of Holy Comforter, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week we considered the three ways God connects with us, especially in times of trouble (Serenity, Compassion, Life Force). This week we turn our attention to who God<b> is</b> (as opposed to just what God does for us) – and what difference does it make – especially in hard times? Might God just being God help us? That depends on who we believe God is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Rabbi Richard Eliot Friedman in <u>The Hidden Face of God</u></span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[i]</span></u></span></span></u></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> followed by Jack Miles in <u>God: A Biography</u></span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[ii]</span></u></span></span></u></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> showed how the literary character of God evolves and shifts in the Hebrew Scriptures. Miles treated the Hebrew Scriptures as if they were one book, a novel. He asked who was the main character. It’s an axiom of literature that the main character is the one who changes most. Miles concluded God must be the main character in the Bible since he changes so much. In his Pulitzer Prize winning book, Miles recounts all the stages the literary character God went through on his way from being the Creator of Heaven and Earth to becoming the Ancient of Days. Rabbi Friedman’s more compelling account shows God evolving from an omnipotent know-nothing to an omniscient do-nothing, handing the Creation over to our care. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> For our present purposes, we just need to remember that the Biblical writers had different views of God. Then along came Jesus, the ultimate flesh and blood revelation of God – but that didn’t make the differences go away. The views of Jesus vary considerably in the four gospels.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[iii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Bottom line: the Bible doesn’t define God for us. It gives us a wealth of stories and images to use as we imagine our way into the infinite mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Psychanalysts say that we all have an image of God in our heads. We are neurologically wired that way.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[iv]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> We may believe in that image or not. But it’s there. As for what that image is, Freud said our God always looks like our father. But based on clinical research, contemporary psychoanalyst, Ana-Maria Rizzuto, says it’s more complicated. We compile God images from many sources, including parents but also other people we’ve met, people we wished for, things we’ve read or heard. We each form our own personal image of God.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[v]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> When I talk with atheists, I find I generally do not believe in the God they don’t believe in either. The God in their head is just a different character from the one in my head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> Those individually constructed God images can be a source of solace, strength, and wisdom. If so, they are blessings to be treasured. But they can also be threatening, shaming, restrictive, and destructive. That’s why we need to measure them up against the teachings of a world religion. Those teachings can support our helpful positive God images. They can heal and liberate us from not-so-helpful God images. Jesuit psychoanalyst W. W. Meissner says that the dialogue between our individual sense of God and the Church’s teachings is a holy thing and grows our souls through a lifetime.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[vi]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> It helps us to connect our God to somebody else’s God. It gives us a common language. And it is possible for our personal God image, even if it is already helpful, to grow or be enriched by a faith tradition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> But what difference does a God image make? Theologian Nicholas Lasch said, “There is no word that is more difficult to use appropriately than ‘God’.”</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn7" name="_ednref7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[vii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> When Christians say “God,” we do not mean the big guy in the sky, a being like other beings, only bigger and stronger – a being that might or might not exist. We mean the Source, Destiny, and Meaning of Reality. We mean the greatest Beauty, which is the ground of all beauties, the truest Truth which is the ground of all truths, and the greatest Good which is the ground of all goods – that which ultimately matters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Theologian Karl Rahner said that the word “God” is so basic to meaning that there could be no language without it. Elsewhere I said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “’God’ is a rich word, the richest word . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> God is our moral azimuth – the North Star<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that orients all our values – and our values <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> orient our actions, indeed our whole life.”</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn8" name="_ednref8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[viii]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">What depends on what we mean by “God”? Everything. It is basic to our relationship with God. In his classic, <u>Your God Is Too Small</u>, J. B. Philips said most people’s main sense of God is their nagging conscience, and that does not make for a good relationship with our Savior.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn9" name="_ednref9" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[ix]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, over time, we become more like the God we believe in. I once summarized the views of a wide array of theologians:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> “What makes God ‘God’ in our eyes defines what we </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> believe life is about. If God is God by virtue of </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> absolute </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">power, we worship power. If God is God by </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> virtue of knowing everything, we worship knowledge.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">If God is God by virtue of being the judge of all, we </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> worship judgment. We become like the God we</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> believe in. Our image of God determines what we </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> esteem, what we do, and ultimately who we</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> become</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn10" name="_ednref10" style="color: #954f72; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[x]</span></span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Finally, a positive God image can help us through hard times, while an inadequate God image lurking in our minds is not helpful and can even make us feel worse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">So what do Christians mean by “God”? Most modern people assume the first and most defining quality of God is power. But the Church Father (one of the shapers of the Nicene Creed), St. Gregory of Nyssa, American Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards, contemporary leading Eastern Orthodox theologian, David Bentley Hart, Episcopal theologian, John Westerhoff, and history of ancient theology scholar, Natalie Carnes, agree that the chief attribute of God is Beauty.</span><a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn11" name="_ednref11" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[xi]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> God is the ultimate Beauty and all that is beautiful derives its beauty from God. Whenever we see something beautiful, we are catching a glimpse of God. Encountering God’s beauty in the world can give us a much needed jolt of joy especially in hard times. The best, as in most beautiful, expression of this I know is Jack Gilbert’s poem, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oAERfd4Y7A" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oAERfd4Y7A</a> (If you watch this video twice, I give you my blessing to skip the rest of this letter. </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; line-height: 20px;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“There is laughter every day <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">in the terrible streets of Calcutta . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We must risk delight. . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We must admit that there will be the music <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">in spite of everything.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we savor Beauty, and look for it even in the “terrible streets of Calcutta,” if we dare “to risk delight,” we are connecting with God as our greatest theologians have understood God through the centuries. And what might it do for us, in hard times, to look for beauty?<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> But where does the Beauty come from? What is God’s Beauty? The Trinity is our image of God’s Beauty. It is an image of relationality. It’s our way of saying with 1<sup>st</sup> John, “God is Love.”<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn12" name="_ednref12" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[xii]</span></span></span></a> Each person of the Trinity is constituted as God by their Love. Augustine could be fairly paraphrased as saying the Trinity is the Lover, the Beloved, and the Love flowing between them. That is the God Augustine was addressing when he said in <u>The Confessions</u>, “How late I came to Thee . . . . O Beauty so ancient and so fresh!” Divine Love overflows to procreate the whole Creation. A spiral nebula is a picture of Love spinning out Creation in the form of stars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not a bad picture of God. God’s very nature is relationality. God’s core self is Love for the Other – that which is not God. This is a serious over-simplification but on the path of truth: God has to allow the Creation – not just people, the whole creation – the freedom to stand apart, to reject God, to be ungodly so that the Creation is truly Other than God so God can love it as Other. God’s Love lures the Creation toward Beauty, toward Godself, while loving the Creation even when it is ungodly. God does not dominate, but woos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My concern for our ideas about God is how they affect our attitude toward everything. My hope is that if we believe God is Love (as opposed to power, knowledge, judgment, etc. – God may have those attributes, but they are not what constitutes God as God – I can grow a beard or shave it off but I’m still Dan – the Godness of God is Love) we will be on the lookout for Beauty. Jack Gilbert writes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> “To hear the faint sound of oars in the silence </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> as a rowboat </span><span style="font-size: large;">comes slowly out and goes back</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> is truly worth </span><span style="font-size: large;">all the years of sorrow </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> that are to come.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what beauty have you seen, heard, touched, tasted, read, thought, or imagined today? When you encountered that beauty, you were brushing shoulders with God. Have you loved anyone or anything today? “Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God . . . . When we love one another,” St. John says, “God abides in us and we abide in God.”<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_edn13" name="_ednref13" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">[xiii]</span></span></span></a> So notice the beauty. Love the beauty wherever you find it. In times of trouble, keep on the lookout for God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Blessings always,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bishop Dan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[i]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Face-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/006062258X" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Face-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/006062258X</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[ii]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Biography-Jack-Miles/dp/0679743685" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/God-Biography-Jack-Miles/dp/0679743685</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[iii]</span></span></span></a> Richard Burridge, <u>Four Gospels, One Jesus?</u>; Robin Griffiths-Jones, <u>The Four Witnesses</u>, or for a shorter intro, Minka Sprague, <u>One To Watch, One To Pray: Introducing the Gospels</u> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Watch-Pray-IntroducingGospels/dp/1596280050/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=one+to+watch+one+to+pray&qid=1590091600&sr=8-3" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/One-Watch-Pray-IntroducingGospels/dp/1596280050/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=one+to+watch+one+to+pray&qid=1590091600&sr=8-3</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[iv]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Spot-Dean-Briggs/dp/0849937345" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/God-Spot-Dean-Briggs/dp/0849937345</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[v]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Living-God-Ana-Maria-Rizzuto/dp/0226721027" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Living-God-Ana-Maria-Rizzuto/dp/0226721027</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[vi]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Psychoanalysis-Religious-Experience-W-Meissner/dp/0300037511/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=w+w+meissner&qid=1590087747&s=books&sr=1-4" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Psychoanalysis-Religious-Experience-W-Meissner/dp/0300037511/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=w+w+meissner&qid=1590087747&s=books&sr=1-4</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref7" name="_edn7" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[vii]</span></span></span></a> Nicholas Lasch, <u>The Beginning and End of Religion <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-End-Religion-Nicholas-Lash/dp/0521562325/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+beginning+and+end+of+religion&qid=1590091789&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-End-Religion-Nicholas-Lash/dp/0521562325/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+beginning+and+end+of+religion&qid=1590091789&sr=8-1</a><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref8" name="_edn8" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[viii]</span></span></span></a> Dan Edwards, <u>God of Our Silent Tears</u>, pp. 85-86. (Do not buy from Amazon. The price is too high.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref9" name="_edn9" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[ix]</span></span></span></a> J. B. Phillips, <u>Your God Is Too Small.</u> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Your-God-Too-Small-Believers-ebook/dp/B006YDG196/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jb+phillips+your+god+is+too+small&qid=1590088256&s=books&sr=1-1" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Your-God-Too-Small-Believers-ebook/dp/B006YDG196/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jb+phillips+your+god+is+too+small&qid=1590088256&s=books&sr=1-1</a>; For all the virtues of <u>Mere Christianity</u> by C. S. Lewis, his view of God at that point was identified with the moral order. His later books take a better view of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref10" name="_edn10" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[x]</span></span></span></a> Edwards, p. 86. But this is by no means an original idea. Constructive theologian, Gordon Kaufman, feminist theologian, Sally Macfague, Roman Catholic transcendental theologian, Karl Rahner, and German liberation theologian, Dorothee Soelle all agree who we become is shaped by our image of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref11" name="_edn11" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[xi]</span></span></span></a> David <u>Bentley</u> Hart, <u>The Beauty of the Infinite</u>; Natalie Carnes, <u>Beauty: A Theological Engagement With Gregory Of Nyssa</u>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Theological-Engagement-Gregory-Nyssa-ebook/dp/B00QHRBMJI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Carnes+beauty&qid=1590011802&s=books&sr=1-1" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Theological-Engagement-Gregory-Nyssa-ebook/dp/B00QHRBMJI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Carnes+beauty&qid=1590011802&s=books&sr=1-1</a>; Dykstra and Westerhoff, <u>Sensing Beauty</u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sensing-Beauty-Aesthetics-Spirit-Church/dp/0829812423" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.amazon.com/Sensing-Beauty-Aesthetics-Spirit-Church/dp/0829812423</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref12" name="_edn12" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[xii]</span></span></span></a> I John 4: 7<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://011D67AF-05CF-49E8-9F73-6288C36C9F1E#_ednref13" name="_edn13" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;">[xiii]</span></span></span></a> I John 4: 7, 16.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dan Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625308018695458333noreply@blogger.com