Sunday, October 31, 2010

Spiritual Discontent

As Christians, we are supposed to be satisfied and content.  Not only does God's presence satisfy us (See, for example, Psalm 17:14), but through his works he has given us everything we need - and so much more!  And yet...

I propose that on another level, at least at some times, it is a good thing for us to be discontent.  Many times in the bible we see  people expressing their discontent with the injustice and evil  and sin in our world.  Certainly this is in line with God's perspective.

But there is yet another kind of spiritual discontent.  This is when we are unsatisfied with our own spiritual state.  We begin to expect more of God and, as a result, we expect more of ourselves.  Discontent such as this drives us to vulnerability and to more earnest waiting on God.

In all of our spiritual discontent, I pray along with the apostle Paul in high expectation:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength...
Ephesians 1:17-19
How have you experienced spiritual discontent in your own life?

Monday, October 25, 2010

photoblog: Mount Hope

This week instead of finding time to blog, I took some pictures in Mt Hope cemetery.  I think the best way to view them is to go to my flickr photostream.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

"with the thanksgiving breath"

O cry created as the bow of sin
Is drawn across our trembling violin.
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain.
O law drummed out by hearts against the still
Long winter of our intellectual will.
That what has been may never be again.
O flute that throbs with the thanksgiving breath
Of convalescents on the shores of death.
O bless the freedom that you never chose.
O trumpets that unguarded children blow
About the fortress of their inner foe.
O wear your tribulation like a rose.

This was a verse I heard sung on Friday.  It is from a work by Benjamin Britten entitled Hymn to St. Cecilia, and the words are by British poet W. H. Auden.   It speaks of that which is beautiful, sorrowful, fragile and strong, intangible and yet resonate.  It is poignant in its understanding of fallen humanity.  This theme is one common in the arts, and one we would do well to grasp.  Or perhaps we all grasp as much of it as we can handle at a given time, and that is enough.  For do you not think that in understanding the sorrow of man we can better grasp the depths of the love of God?