Meditation give between Stations of The Cross and Benediction at The Episcopal Church of the Atonement on Friday, March 16 2012.
<><><>
We all have spiritual biographies. Where we’ve been and where we’re going.
If we’re honest with ourselves - we could say there are parts of our biographies where we’ve come to great enlightenment, and there are part of our biographies where we come to great doubts.
I am going to share briefly a couple slivers of my own spiritual biography. After my story I would ask that each of you not so much think about what I have to say (but if it resonates with you - all the better) - rather I would ask you to think about your own spiritual biographies of where you’ve been and where you’re going.
I grew up being quite “churched” My family regularly attended a Roman Catholic congregation in Northeast Minneapolis. Our family regularly attended holy day services in addition to Sunday services. I grew up in a tradition of observing Lent from Ash Wednesday, until the very long Easter Vigil Service. We would periodically participate in Stations of The Cross.
I grew up in a catholic tradition where observance and participation took precedence over any particular deep dive into scripture. Eventually my family moved around the United States, and then I myself moved around the United States. After leaving Minnesota - I became exposed to the idea of being “Saved” and having a particular personal relationship with JESUS. Up until then, somehow, even being churched - I had a rather abstract concept of God. The idea of proclaiming one’s faith in order to be “SAVED”. There were times when I tried to espouse this model of faith, but it has never felt right or true for me.
I left the Roman tradition for a myriad of reason. But as time went by I felt the need to be with other spiritual persons and I started church shopping. Where ever I went - I felt welcome by others - but then there was that talk about a personal relationship with JESUS.
About two decades ago, my mother was visiting me from Minnesota here in Chicago, and we happened to arrange to be on the Architecture Tour of Edgewater. The last stop on that tour back then was The Episcopal Church of the Atonement. I will never forget walking in and immediately feeling at home. One thing I remember most from that initial visit was the wood carved stations of the cross. Knowing there were Stations of the Cross, or in other words, walking the way of the cross, gave me a particular context that I understood and made me feel at home.
Years pass. A new Rector is installed at Atonement. One from The South. One from the land of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Recently, in a brief homily from Fr. John David vanDooren; Fr. vanDooren mentioned another via media or middle way that the Episcopal Church has, where one Firstly makes the effort to participate in liturgy as a way to better understand God and God’s will but Secondly where one can have a personal relationship with Jesus. I think, “Oh My God, what I am going to do with that?
I don’t know how or when the lightening bolt hit, but I realized that I may have had the makings of a personal relationship with Jesus all along. The form my “personal relationship with Jesus” has taken is: walking the way of the cross. I came to realize that for me, the tradition of the Stations of The Cross, something I’ve had since childhood - is where I best meet Jesus face to face. To me, this is where Jesus is most human. Aspects of all the characters of the way of the cross are things that resound with me and I find true.
I invite you to think about where you’ve been.
I invite you to think about where you’re going.
<><><>
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +
<><><>
We all have spiritual biographies. Where we’ve been and where we’re going.
If we’re honest with ourselves - we could say there are parts of our biographies where we’ve come to great enlightenment, and there are part of our biographies where we come to great doubts.
I am going to share briefly a couple slivers of my own spiritual biography. After my story I would ask that each of you not so much think about what I have to say (but if it resonates with you - all the better) - rather I would ask you to think about your own spiritual biographies of where you’ve been and where you’re going.
I grew up being quite “churched” My family regularly attended a Roman Catholic congregation in Northeast Minneapolis. Our family regularly attended holy day services in addition to Sunday services. I grew up in a tradition of observing Lent from Ash Wednesday, until the very long Easter Vigil Service. We would periodically participate in Stations of The Cross.
I grew up in a catholic tradition where observance and participation took precedence over any particular deep dive into scripture. Eventually my family moved around the United States, and then I myself moved around the United States. After leaving Minnesota - I became exposed to the idea of being “Saved” and having a particular personal relationship with JESUS. Up until then, somehow, even being churched - I had a rather abstract concept of God. The idea of proclaiming one’s faith in order to be “SAVED”. There were times when I tried to espouse this model of faith, but it has never felt right or true for me.
I left the Roman tradition for a myriad of reason. But as time went by I felt the need to be with other spiritual persons and I started church shopping. Where ever I went - I felt welcome by others - but then there was that talk about a personal relationship with JESUS.
About two decades ago, my mother was visiting me from Minnesota here in Chicago, and we happened to arrange to be on the Architecture Tour of Edgewater. The last stop on that tour back then was The Episcopal Church of the Atonement. I will never forget walking in and immediately feeling at home. One thing I remember most from that initial visit was the wood carved stations of the cross. Knowing there were Stations of the Cross, or in other words, walking the way of the cross, gave me a particular context that I understood and made me feel at home.
Years pass. A new Rector is installed at Atonement. One from The South. One from the land of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Recently, in a brief homily from Fr. John David vanDooren; Fr. vanDooren mentioned another via media or middle way that the Episcopal Church has, where one Firstly makes the effort to participate in liturgy as a way to better understand God and God’s will but Secondly where one can have a personal relationship with Jesus. I think, “Oh My God, what I am going to do with that?
I don’t know how or when the lightening bolt hit, but I realized that I may have had the makings of a personal relationship with Jesus all along. The form my “personal relationship with Jesus” has taken is: walking the way of the cross. I came to realize that for me, the tradition of the Stations of The Cross, something I’ve had since childhood - is where I best meet Jesus face to face. To me, this is where Jesus is most human. Aspects of all the characters of the way of the cross are things that resound with me and I find true.
I invite you to think about where you’ve been.
I invite you to think about where you’re going.
<><><>
+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +
