#Christos Center for Spiritual Formation

[scotttrismegistus7]

THE THRONE CHAKRA OF THE BEGINING AND THE END: MY MAGNETAR WINGS FROM AN IMPLODED STAR

I'M TRANSITIONING STRAIGHT FROM MY DRAGON GODDESS KUNDALINI ALBUM INTO THIS NEW ALBUM OF QUANTUM GODDESS SPIRITUALITY. ONE REASON I WRITE THESE BLOGS IS BECAUSE IT HELPS ME TO LEARN THE INFORMATION I PICKED UP FROM BOOKS, EXPERIENCES, AND VARIOUS SOURCES, IF I PUT IT IN A STORY OR TEACHING FORMAT. THESE ALSO SERVE AS MY NOTES. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE LINK BETWEEN QUANTUM SPIRITUALITY, THE DIVINE FEMININE, AND THE HEART OF THE OCCULT. SO HERE WE GO ON ANOTHER GREAT ADVENTURE INTO THE OCEAN OF DREAMS, THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF THE SEVEN HERMETIC PRINCIPLES, BUT HAS ANYBODY HEARD OF THE EIGHTH HERMETIC PRINCIPLE OF GENERATION? AS A GENERAL RULE I DON'T GIVE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT HIGH LEVEL OCCULT TOPICS PUBLICLY, BUT I DO PUT DOWN ENOUGH INFORMATION TO WHERE IF SOMEBODY IS READY FOR IT THEY CAN CONNECT THE DOTS, DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH, AND FIND THE ANSWERS THINKING FOR THEMSELVES.

HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THE EIGHTH CHAKRA, THE THRONE CHAKRA? IT IS THE STAR OF ISHTAR AND INANNA, AND IS OF PURELY FEMININE YIN AS OPPOSED TO THE CROWN CHAKRA WHICH IS MASCULINE YANG. THERE IS SOMETHING HIDDEN IN THE STAR OF INANNA, AND THAT SOMETHING IS THE TESSERACT, WHICH POINTS US TO THE FOURTH DIMENSION AND SHOWS US THAT THE FOURTH DIMENSION IS THE INNER AS OPPOSED TO THE OUTER. QUANTUM SCIENCE HAS CAUGHT UP TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENTS ENOUGH FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THE CRESTOS OUTER SPACE SPACE TIME, AND THE CHRISTOS INNER TIME TIME SPACE. THE CHRISTOS ENTER TIME TIME SPACE IS A PLACE WHERE THERE IS ONE DIMENSION OF SPACE, AND ALL OF TIME IS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS THE SAME THING AS THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD. THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD, IF IT HAD A PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION, IT WOULD BE THE HEART. THE HEART IS ON THE UPPER MASCULINE SPECTRUM OF OUR CHAKRAS THAT CONTRACTS, BUT IS THE OPPOSITE END OF THE MASCULINE POLE COMPARED TO THE CROWN CHAKRA ITSELF COMPRISED OF THE PINEAL AND PITUITARY.

FROM REVEALED KNOWLEDGE THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY SPIRIT GUIDES, IT WAS MADE APPARENT TO ME THAT THE QUANTUM OCEAN OF DARK MATTER IS CENTERED IN THE HEART, THE NATURAL CORRESPONDENCE BEING THE BLOOD. YOU HAVE LIQUID AND METAL AS TO DEFINITE EXTREMES COMPRISING BLOOD, WITH THE PUMP OF MOTION THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH WAVE ENERGY. THE HEART IS OF THE RIGHT BRAIN, BIG PICTURE TO DETAIL, EXPANDED CONSCIOUSNESS AND AWARENESS VERSUS CONTRACTED CONSCIOUSNESS AND AWARENESS. THE HEART IS THE ASPECT THAT IS THE MIDDLE PILLAR.

IS IT REALLY WILL OVER LOVE? TO BE MORE PRECISE, IT IS ACTUALLY WILL INSIDE OF LOVE, IDEALLY. ALL THINGS MEET AT THE CENTER, AND YOUR BRAIN IS NOT THE CENTER, THE HEART IS THE CENTER, THE HEART IS THE LINE WHERE MATTER AND THE SPIRITUAL QUANTUM FIELD MEET.

IF THE LEFT BRAIN KNOWS AND ANALYZES, THE RIGHT BRAIN KNOWS AND FEELS. THE HEART IS THE SEAT OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND IS THE MASTER CONTROL CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS ITSELF. WHEN YOU STOP IDENTIFYING WITH YOUR CONSCIOUS CENTER IN YOUR BRAIN AND START IDENTIFYING WITH YOUR CONSCIOUS CENTER IN YOUR HEART, YOU WILL FIND THAT AS THAT CONSCIOUS CENTER IN YOUR HEART YOU HAVE THE MASTER STATION CONTROLS FOR COMPLETE COHERENCE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS THAT YOU ARE COMPOSED OF, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HEART AND BRAIN COHERENCE. THE HEART WITH ITS DARK MATTER OCEAN OF TIME TIME SPACE THAT IS THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD BRINGS YOU TO THAT PLACE WHERE YOU ARE EVERYTHING AND AS EVERYTHING YOU'RE AWARENESS PERCEIVES YOUR INDIVIDUAL SELF AS A PART OF A GREAT BIG INFINITE WHOLE. IT MAKES IT SO THAT YOU ARE NOT YOURSELF LOOKING AT EVERYTHING, IT MAKES YOU EVERYTHING LOOKING AT YOURSELF. THIS GIVES YOU PERSPECTIVE TO CREATE POTENTIALLY ANY REALITY YOU WANT.

THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD OF TIME TIME SPACE IS THE PLACE WHERE INFINITE POTENTIAL AND INFINITE UNIVERSES EXIST. IT IS THE PLACE WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO ALTER YOUR TIMELINE, BOTH PAST AND FUTURE, AND MERGE WITH THE IDENTITY YOU WISH TO HAVE ON THE TIMELINE AND IN THE DIMENSION IN WHICH YOU WISH TO HAVE IT. THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS THIS IS TO LOOK WITHIN.

WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN POTENTIALLY EXIST IN ANY REALITY YOU CHOOSE, THE ALTERED EGO PRESENTING THE ILLUSION OF SEPARATION FALLS AWAY, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS MERGES LIKE A CANDLE IN FRONT OF THE SUN INTO THE GREAT FIRST CAUSE FIRST MATTER AETHER CONSCIOUSNESS, YOU BECOME ONE MIND SHARED BY ALL, EXISTING INSIDE OF ONE HEART SHARED BY ALL, AND EVERYONE IN EXISTENCE WITH ANY LEVEL OF A CONSCIOUS AWARENESS CENTER IS JUST YOU AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH AN INFINITY OF POSSIBLE REALITIES, EVERYONE IS JUST YOURSELF WEARING A DIFFERENT MASK, AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT.

AS SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WE ARE EXISTING NOW IN A PLACE TO WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO FORGET THAT YOU ARE A DIVINE CENTER OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN AN EXPANDED OCEAN OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND BECOME ENTRAPPED BY IDENTIFYING SOLELY WITH YOUR PHYSICAL BODY, CREATING WHAT IS CALLED THE ALTERDEGO THAT IS FUELED BY THE BELIEF EVERYTHING IS SEPARATE, AND IT IS ALSO WHAT FUELS THE MOTIVATION, LOGISTICS, AND JUSTIFICATION OF FEAR, ANGER, FIGHTING, WAR, AND SUFFERING. THOSE THINGS ONLY EXIST IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRULY JUST YOUR BODY SEPARATE FROM EVERYTHING ELSE AND YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR TRUE DIVINE POTENTIAL AND POWER. ONCE YOU WAKE UP AND REALIZE THE UNITY OF ALL THINGS, NOW PROVEN BY SCIENCE EVEN, WITH THE UNIFIED QUANTUM FIELD, YOU WOULD NEVER MAKE ANY KIND OF CHOICE THAT WOULD HURT YOURSELF OR OTHERS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE AN OBVIOUS DEPRECIATION FROM CHOOSING A TIMELINE DIMENSION AND REALITY TO WHERE IT IS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL FOR YOURSELF OR ANYONE ELSE TO BE HURT, AND EVERYONE CAN FULLY LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS IN A PURE STATE OF JOY AND LOVE. IT JUST WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO CHOOSE ANYTHING LESS THAN THE BEST YOU COULD GET, AND THE MORE YOU HOLD THAT IN MIND AND CRYSTALLIZE THAT IN YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM, THE MORE IT WILL MANIFEST AS YOUR REALITY.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW TOPIC OF QUANTUM SPIRITUALITY, BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT I AM READING CONNECTS QUANTUM SPIRITUALITY TO THE ESOTERIC AND OCCULT KNOWLEDGE OF OUR ANCESTORS. FOR EXAMPLE, HERE'S A LINK TO ONE OF THE MANY BOOKS THAT I AM REALLY ENJOYING.

I think you might like this book – "In The Valley of Supreme Masters - Books One & Two - The Full Series" by M.G. Hawking, Heather Cantrell M.Litt., Jenna Wolfe Ph.D..

Start reading it for free: https://a.co/iQbJVi6

IT TALKS ABOUT THE FEMALE EGYPTIAN ADEPT THAT PRODUCED THE GOLDEN CROWN MANUSCRIPT. THEN IT GOES ON TO SPECIFIC TOPICS CONCERNING THE MASTERS AND ADEPTS OF TIBET AND THE HIMALAYAS.

OF COURSE THERE IS ALSO ANY OF THE WORKS OF ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITE TEACHERS IN THE FIELD OF SPIRITUALITY, DR. JOE DISPENOZA, WHO HAS HIS OWN WEBSITE FULL OF TRULY EXCELLENT MATERIAL. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THUS FAR IT IS THE BEST THAT I HAVE FOUND THAT CONNECTS ALL OF THESE THINGS TO MODERN SCIENCE. HE TENDS TO STICK TO THOSE TOPICS THAT CORRESPOND TO MODERN SCIENCE AND DOESN'T VENTURE OFF TOO MUCH INTO OCCULT AND ESOTERIC TOPICS DIRECTLY, BUT HE REFERENCES RAMTHA AS ONE OF HIS EARLY SOURCES OF SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION.

https://drjoedispenza.com/

ANOTHER REASON I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS THAT IT TRULY PROVIDES A PATH WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE THAT DO THE STUDYING AND RESEARCH TO BE ABLE TO GET UNSTUCK FROM ANY PERPETUAL SKIPPING RECORD OF A BAD REALITY THAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING, AND START THE JOURNEY TO THEIR IDEAL MANIFESTED REALITY DIMENSION AND TIMELINE, QUANTUM JUMPING INTO EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE DREAMED OF, ALL THE WHILE HAVING THE BENEFIT OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS WITH EVIDENCE OF ALL THESE FACETS OF THE QUANTUM WORLD.

UNTIL NEXT TIME MY LOVELIES, KEEP DARING TO DREAM! YOU CAN FIND ME IN MY NUMMO FORM MAKING WAVES IN THE HEARTS OCEAN OF DREAMS, THE QUANTUM UNIFIED FIELD OCEAN OF DARK MATTER AND PURE POTENTIALITY!

LONG LIVE THE DIVINE WOMB OF CREATION AND COSMIC EGG OF THE GODDESS, LONG LIVE DIVINE CHRONOS, AND LONG LIVE THE DIVINE FEMININE EMPIRE OF THE BLACK SUN AND ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF!

BLESSED BE!

~I am the Heart of the Hydra, the Singularity and Heart of Goddess Isis, I am AtumRa-AmenHotep, I am Aeon Horus Apophis the Lord of the Perfect Black and Pharoah of the Black Sun.

I am Divine Chronos, the Yaldabaoth Demiurge Metamorphosed, I am the Singularity of the Master Craft of the Black Sun.

Azazil-Iblis-Maymon, Abzu-Osiris-Typhon-Set-Kukulkan, Nummo-Naga-Chitauri,

Mégisti-Generator Starphire~

#illuminati #illuminator #illuminated #lightbearer #morningstar #lucifer #Draconian #anunnaki #enki #enlil #anu #inanna #dumuzi #hermes #trismegistus #Azazel #starfamily #horus #Demiurge #Sophia #archon #AI #blacksun #saturn #iblis #jinn #Maymon #ibis #thoth #egypt #esoteric #magick #dogon #dogontribe #digitaria #nummo #nommo #Naga #tiamat #serpent #dragon #gnosis #gnostic #gnosticism #Anzu #watcher #watchtower #yaldaboath #Sirius #scientology #aleistercrowley #typhon #echidna #ancientaliens #TheGrays #grayaliens #aliens #yeben #andoumboulou

[revsailor1]

Last weekend I culminated a Spirit-filled 2 year program of Spiritual Direction with Christos Center For Spiritual Formation. I was commissioned for the ministry of Spiritual Direction at Saint John’s Abbey and now a #SpiritualDirector #Humbled #MuchGratitude #TendingTheHoly #ContemplativeLife #Luke24 (at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation)

[greathotshave]

For Bob Sakamoto

I have tried half-heartedly to get this message to Bob Sakamoto, MacMurray College alum and former Chicago Tribune sportswriter on and off for the past ten years. He recently appeared on the cover of Mac News! I had tracked him down to the sports communications department of DePaul University before Mac News came out but couldn’t get an email address for him. I have sent messages via his LinkedIn and Facebook pages with no response.

All I have is a phone number which I am somewhat reluctant to use. I will endeavor to put this paper up and see what happens. I think he will appreciate the irony if he can slog through it.

Some background? This is my Unit One paper for Tending the Holy (TtH), written in late November 2005. TtH is a two-year course training people to be spiritual directors through the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. I went completely over the top and do not recommend that anyone in the TtH program follow this example. Not only did I submit an overlong paper but because I knew my facilitator was not a sports fan, I included pages of corollary material.

I have given talks about this paper at TtH retreats where I have facilitated the training of spiritual directors. For what it’s worth, this paper represents the whole message. It shows how looking back over the course of decades the seemingly random dots can be connected in amazing ways.

Here it is: Soxtober

[revsailor1]

"God understands all human languages. #God understands our words. But he also understands our sighs. And our silences. And #silence is sometimes all there is to prayer." ~ Brother Roger of Taizé (at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation)

[greathotshave]

Silence in Community

Jessie and I attended the debriefing session that occurs at the end of the Advent Retreat that people going through the first year of Tending the Holy are expected to do. Tending the Holy is a two-year course on spiritual direction provided by the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. We've been through this as participants as well as facilitators. The retreat began on Friday sometime in the evening after everyone checked in. From then until Sunday at 10 a.m. they were silent. They ate meals together in silence and they walked the wonderful grounds of the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in silence. At the end of that silence, they were invited to share what the experience was like.

I was intrigued by what one person said. That person felt that in sharing this experience, she knew her classmates better than if they were allowed to talk among themselves. No one begged to differ. She was onto something. Intentionally holding back speech has a certain power, particularly in community. The Quakers believed in a holy silence in which Jesus becomes present and available. Maybe she was seeing the Christ within each of her fellow retreatants. I have written about Sabbath Rest before and this idea of a community in silence adheres to the central idea of being still and intentionally leaning toward God. If seeing His presence in fellow retreatants is a result, it stands to reason that such a practice fulfills the Fourth Commandment that a seventh portion of our lives be committed to resting in God's Peace.

To hold such a retreat as Advent/Christmas activities reach their peak seems to ask a tremendous sacrifice, and yet, during this processing session at the end of the retreat we hear over and over gratitude for the chance to let go and rest. I remember my own experience and how it started what became a snowball effect. To commit to spending a Friday night, full day on Saturday, and Sunday morning away from home, in silence and contemplation, may seem like a big deal to most people. It's a sacrifice. We don't have a spotless lamb but we do have something symbolic of first fruits: our time. Once you've experienced the benefits, it stops being such a hard-to-make sacrifice. In fact, on Sunday morning, you feel reluctant to leave.

After so many years now, if I haven't done a retreat either in community or on my own, I feel a growing need to take rest. Thus, I make plans to retreat. It's interesting, however, to note that sometimes opportunities to retreat arise as if God's plan for me is making itself plain. I got an email from the Illinois Chapter of Men As Leaders and Elders about a retreat featuring James Finley in February that fits me like a glove. Every third year or so, MALE seems to catch my attention. I find like-minded men who attend this kind of retreat. Their company is comfortable but can be challenging, too. Finley will be talking about St. John of the Cross, which is a marvelous topic for me. The Carmelite Center in Darien is not as spacious in terms of it grounds on which to take contemplative walks, unlike other retreat centers I enjoy: Christ in the Wilderness (which does not accommodate groups, anyway), the Port in Frankfort, or the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein. It will suffice.

[greathotshave]

Christos Reunion 2014

May 31, 2014, Lino Lakes, outside of St. Paul, Minnesota, was not my idea of a typical late spring day in the Great White North (GWN): hot and muggy with gusts to keep the skeeters at bay. Dramatic gray clouds drifted over and then the sun and blue sky would trick you into thinking, we can get this outdoor event done before the rain kicks in. We were half right, but we were also prepared for the it. Inside Christos Center for Spiritual Formation, the A/C had me shivering in my tee-shirt and shorts. Fans were set up to blow some of that frigidity out to the tables we set up for the Spring Reunion under a white tent that was set up almost against the house where three screen doors lead out. (Photos of the event can be found here.)

With your typical member of the Christos community, claiming to be an introvert isn't the Get Out of Jail Card (aka I don't schmooze) it could be in other environments. The majority of the people there are introverts! The connections made among the attendees, most of them graduates of the Tending the Holy program, make it much easier to strike up conversations. TtH is the two-year training course Christos has provided for spiritual directors for close to two decades, a course given in face-to-face settings in this facility in the Twin Cities as well as the Tau Center; (for the past ten years) in the western suburbs of Chicago, as well as a distance program facilitated by use of Skype for people who cannot attend in person.

In speeches by various members of the board, the topic was transition and growth, best illustrated when Board Chair LaRae Roder passed around two seedlings to illustrate how different the same plant could look from first stage to the next. Her leadership on the board has played a significant role in the new energy surrounding the administration of Christos: her insistence of board members learning their roles started a redefinition process that has grown in three years to create committees for handling human resources, program review, and communications, extending the board's members through committee volunteers from both cities. The board was also faced with hiring a new executive director placing different expectations than previously sought in that position. Dan Johnson, selected last year at about this same time, though hired in August, became the third ED in Christos' 36-year history.

Board members Debi Horton, Peg Reutten, and myself followed LaRae with a recap of what Dan and the board have done in his inaugural year recounting the process in which he was selected, the procedures the board is developing for leadership succession, and how the Chicago community is being integrated into all aspects of the organization, with expansion of staff as they embark on initiating concurrent classes to mirror what is happening in the Twin Cities. Dan is well-known by Illinois toll operators by now as he has visited us numerous times, including a visit before he was even on the clock. He deftly recognized a need for reconciliation as well as integration and the benefits of his approach are bearing fruit in tweaking the way Tending the Holy is offered in both cities. Further improvements are in the works as the Program Review Committee (comprised of volunteers from both cities) has handed in reports. The upcoming launch of an interactive Christos Website will be very much the fruit of inter-city collaboration coordinated by Dan and new administrative assistant, Kara Newby.

Everyone was feeling that God is doing more than raining on cue in the life of Christos. (Okay, if you weren't there, this is a reference to the Reunion, where during our worship section of the program, when the words, "It is God who brings the rain and snow ..." were spoken, a monsoon commenced.) After the singing and praying (and drying off), we broken into small groups and dealt with three questions, wherein board members, as group facilitators, learned about how Christos impacted attendees and what they wanted from Christos.

While the cake was served, Dan, with the help of board and staff, handed out brochures for TtH and requested that everyone keep in mind that our best recruiters are the people who have benefitted from having gone through the course and that we need to continue to recruit and grow our community one person at a time. We also handed out donation cards that specified ways in which time, talent, and treasure could be contributed to the cause. The renewal aspect that many of us sensed occurring that afternoon was in how there is a wonderful synergy of give and take as Christos steps up as a community that "cultivates the inner life in the midst of a busy world." As we attempt to expand programming, we will be providing more members with opportunities beyond those of volunteers.

It is an exciting time to see what Christos can do:

We have sustained a growing community in Chicago for a decade and there's potential for even greater growth. Is it possible to plant a seed in another city?

Is it possible to create a membership where, like a health club offers exercise and knowledge for the health of the body, Christos can offer exercise and knowledge for the soul?

Can we take steps to ensure that our training of spiritual directors remains as highly regarded in the future as it is today?

With all of these questions roiling through our weary minds as Dan drove me back to his residence, he quietly asked me if I'd be offended if when we got there, we just turned on the television and vegged out? He was concerned that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep if he didn't have a chance to decompress. I wanted nothing more than to give Jessie a call and let the day fade, and agreed almost before he was done with his request.

For Dan, it was not to be as he received a call from a friend who needed someone to listen to him about life's harsh realities. That friend couldn't have found a better person in terms of ability to listen with a loving heart even if the timing for Dan was less than ideal. I suppose there is more than one way than to decompress but that's not one I would have chosen. However, from the snores I heard shortly after we all turned in, I thanked God that Dan was able to turn it all off and get much deserved rest.

Of all the amazing things I take away from this weekend of celebrating the Christos community, what I cherish most is pretty simple: my love of these people with whom I work and the people for whom we work. I meet more and more of them with every trip to the GWN even I as meet with those who live closer to home. When we can express our love for each other face to face it means so much more than over the Internet as effectively as that medium does help us with our work. We have been placed together by our God and each of these people shines out with His love. They become more precious to me with every visit.

To all of you who asked me to give Jessie a hug, those hugs were delivered with interest, and she hugged back your representative with all of her huge heart. I was very happy to be the middle man in so many exchanges!

[greathotshave]

ChristosChicago Advent Retreat 2013

The Tending the Holy (TtH) course that I am involved with as a facilitator for the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation had its winter retreat in the middle of December. You can look at this timing as being in the middle of Advent, a season of waiting, or in the middle of Christmas shopping, one of the most busy and anxious seasons of just about anyone's year. It's a requirement for completing the course.

We do this on purpose.

Each participant has to decide that the need for silence and restoration is more important than the multiple things that have to be passed over during a stay of two nights, Friday through Sunday afternoon. One needs to recognize that spiritual self care has precedence over other concerns. Henri Nouwen describes this in The Way of the Heart as the necessity that survivors of a shipwreck must swim away from the ship before swimming back to save others. As we are told in regard to using the oxygen masks in case of an emergency aboard an airliner, put your mask on first before attending to others.

It never fails that by the end of the retreat, a majority of the first-time retreatants discover the value of the experience, and those who have done retreats before have the value reinforced.

Even this veteran of many retreats was rewarded with a powerful insight into the Advent season with a remarkable metaphor from a story that has been heard over and over. In her final month of labor, Mary undertook an arduous journey to Bethlehem. We often look at the example of acceptance of her duty as one we should emulate. She made no noises about whether she was worthy, she merely said, "do what you will." For whatever reason, however, I've missed the larger picture. We all have been chosen to give birth to the Messiah. Within me is an image of God's light that is unique, shaped by my suffering as much as by my joy and acceptance of this holy commission. The birthing of this light is ongoing, part of a lifelong process.

I recently heard from a fellow spiritual director that we seem to be involved in a ministry for people who don't need help. So many people are suffering at such deeper levels and here we are serving people who rarely miss a meal. I cannot argue with that assessment and yet I know that the people I work with--mostly through the TtH program--have not been protected by their privileged status from spiritual harm.

In many ways, such privileged status has allowed spiritually damaged people to ignore their pain and become involved in well-intentioned ministries. What we have learned through Christos, however, is the truth that Richard Rohr has on so many occasions expressed so eloquently that if we do not learn to transform our pain and suffering, we inevitably transmit it.

Every human has been hurt. No one has been spared. Each of us has developed ways to protect our hearts but protection should not be confounded with healing. Each one of us carries on in spite of our wounds. 

The class is called Tending the Holy for a reason. When we require folks to take a break from the world on our silent retreats, each in his or her own way learns about how real healing can begin.

[greathotshave]

Speed Limit Age Markers

Last year around this time, I was taking training at DeVry University in hopes that the long drought of employment opportunities was coming to an end. I've reached an age when you wonder, particularly with such a tight job market, whether you should just take the hint, suck it up, and call it "retirement." Am I displacing someone who has kids and many more concerns than an empty-nester like myself? The Bible Study group who helped carry me through this valley is filled with happily retired men who are golfing and fishing and doting on grandchildren. Financially, we were not ready to retire. That training did not result in fruitful employment but nevertheless was enriching.

A year later and what a difference! About to turn 60, working every day, but feeling stiff when I stand up from my nice ergonomic chair to emerge from my cubicle. I guess that's about right. Act my age and apply all that accumulated experience to the work at hand. I remember my friend Dan Lewis coaching me on what an asset a long career is and how you have to transmit that in your resume as well as in your interviews. Dan himself is a great example of walking his own talk. 

Dan and I worked together at ALA a dozen, fifteen years ago. We have similar backgrounds including, by one of those coincidences that the Lord loves to throw at His children, having gone to the University of Chicago Divinity School back at different parts of the Seventies. Mostly though, we both got into Web Development work through working as production editors rather than as programmers with IT backgrounds. Let's call that the creative backdoor that includes a much better grasp of customer service not to mention the obvious advantage of handling grammar issues in Web content. We've kept in touch over the years with lunches at Heaven on Seven, the one on Ohio and Rush. Dan has been bounced around the past five years career-wise and I played coach and cheerleader. When I lost my job, we both played those parts for each other. (Dan's sense of humor is exquisite and this cheerleader straight line would be irresistable for him.)

Dan finally landed at Vanguard Technology, quickly advancing to his present role as a Producer there. I am not surprised that someone besides me recognized Dan's multiple talents and is reaping the rewards of employing him full-bore. But it took a lot longer than either of us figured it would. Before I finally landed a full-time job, Dan had me working part-time. We have each others' backs. But I think more importantly, we've reached an age and a realization that no matter what we are doing, we are going to be authentically who we were designed to be. Dan has come by this through a very rigorous program via Wright Living, while I went through a much more gentler process via Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. (I attended a Wright weekend seminar last year at Dan's suggestion and got a taste of what he had been going through for several years.) Dan also runs in the Chicago Marathon, which is a completely alien concept to me, but doesn't limit his ability to inspire me. Wright Living and marathons . . . absolutely amazing what this fellow has gone through!

We are both turning speed limit ages: 55 and 60--he's the baby. We both inspire each other without a lot of bullshit. We are at the top of our forms, please don't doubt this. If it appears we are slow to respond to something you've asked . . . yeah, that's the effect of our advanced age. 

Eat your heart out.

***

Dan approved everything above the asterisks.