Humanity is the cradle of divinity

The second in a series of posts on companionship and the spiritual journey.   Please pass along to those you consider companions on your journey into the fullness of God.  This follows a post on "Companionship as part and parcel to the nature of God" . . .

Consider the Incarnation. In Christ, God isn’t merely thinking about humanity, God’s being humanity. In the person of Christ, divinity and humanity are woven together, and humanity’s made sacred in the weaving. The spiritual journey, then, is not a flight away from our humanity into divinity, an ascent onto the heights, leaving the stuff of earth behind. Rather, the Christian path is a downward path. Our journey follows Christ into the earth, into the body, into our full humanity—embracing ourselves and embracing others.

St. Irenaeus, one of Christianity’s earliest theologians said, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Against every escapist notion that might tempt us toward independence and isolation, Irenaeus’s words invite us to see humanity as the cradle of divinity.

To be continued . . .

Companionship's part and parcel of the nature of God and key to your own journey

I'm beginning a new series of posts on companionship and the spiritual journey.  Here's the first of a handful of coming posts.  Please share them with those you consider companions on your journey into the fullness of God.

No one can take this journey for you. The journey into the fullness of God is yours—start to finish. Setting out has energized you, and following the Light you’ve glimpsed is the one thing you know you must do. To some degree you may fear this journey into the unknown, but you fear more staying put, staying where you were, stuck in the rut that’s been your life up till now.

The journey toward God is yours to take, but that doesn’t mean you have to walk it alone, nor should you.

It’s true, some have made this journey into union with the Beloved by walking a solitary path. Monastics and hermits in every spiritual tradition are witnesses to the way of utter renunciation. By liberating themselves from just about everything, even human relationships, they’ve walked a long and grueling ascent into the bliss of the unmediated presence of the Divine.

But it’s equally true that the deserts and mountaintops also own the bones of so many more who’ve tried this lonely path and failed. Frankly, most of us need companions along the way—for this journey is not entirely safe, nor is it easy.

Companions aren’t a mere crutch for us who are made of lesser stuff than those spiritual elites.

No, companionship’s part and parcel of the very nature of God.

To be continued . . .

Reports on how minds and bodies are changing through prayer

Dr. Curt Thompson, author of The Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections Between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices that Can Transform Your Life and Relationships, on the relation between prayer, scripture, story, and neuroscience:

Prayer means plunging yourself fully into life . . .

. . . fully awake to the splendor of God's creation, united with the One whose glory fills the whole earth (Isaiah 6.3):

Will you let me love you?

Maundy Thursday is largely forgotten today. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his followers, and his command that we, his followers, are to love each other. Love is not only tough to give, it's sometimes tougher to receive. At the Last Supper Jesus washed his disciples' feet, an expression of deep love. The foot washing is a sign of the Cross, a symbol of its deep meaning. Here's a Maundy Thursday video meditation. It'll take a minute to let the video load...so don't give up too early. Sit for 4 minutes today and let this message invite your own deep response to love.