Those 8 "Passions"

I will be vigilant about my “passions or energies” (later named the ‘deadly sins’— “wrongly” I think, but that is for a blog). Those passions, energies or shall we name them “demons” or “gods” (note the lack of a capital letter) are (1) gluttony (wanting more than I need), (2) lust (desiring others for my pleasure or benefit), (3) greed (thinking about scarcity or I may not have enough), (4) sadness (focusing on what I did not get or have), (5) anger (frustration with not getting what I want), (6) acedia (boredom; restlessness; jumping to the newest, most exciting, things, etc.), (7) vainglory (thinking too highly of myself), and (8) pride (taking credit for what others and God have done). The purpose of these energies is (1st) to blind me to their presence and (2nd) to infect me in such a manner as to diminish and eventually destroy my joy, peace, and contentment. My desire is to be aware that these energies/demons are always nearby. They will never go away or be completely extinguished because they are a part of who I am; therefore, I want to be alert and sensitive to all of them. I will set strong and appropriate boundaries with all of them. (“Thanks”, Evagrius [345-399]. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) called these “sins of the spirit” which, he said, are more dangerous than sins of the flesh).

The Gates

Psalm 24:7-10 says “Lift up your gates and let the Lord come in.” I know this Psalm was meant for the city of Jerusalem. Open the gates of the city and let the Lord come in to reign. We do not have any gates around the city where I live. I do wonder as I meditate on this Psalm what are the “gates” that I have put down that keep the Lord out of my life? Pride is surely such a gate as is vain glory. I too often think too much of myself, my ideas, and plans, etc. Control is such a gate. Control begins in childhood, “I can do it myself so leave me alone!” I fear that has been my attitude about many things, “Lord, I will take over now.” Usually, this spirit can be diagnosed when I make my plans and then ask for the Lord’s blessing. That spirit is not a teaching in the scriptures. I have a friend who refers to the “911 God.” I will call on You, Lord, when there is trouble. I think there are many “gates” in our lives, attitudes, behaviors, etc. which keep the Lord outside. Psalm 24 is correct, we need to lift those gates and ask that the Lord come in.

A Cold Weather Response

The cold weather has blown into central Kentucky. It is hovering around zero degrees. During such fierce weather, I am concerned about those without adequate shelter, including the homeless. There may not be much that I can personally do for them, but I can send money to those organizations, such as Salvation Army, God’s Pantry, Catholic Action Center and many others, that do provide personal assistance. I can also pray and suggest that others will send money because these organizations will see an increase in their utilities and food costs. I also pray that churches would want to open their warm facilities to provide shelter, water, and food. Opening their facilities would require volunteers as well as increasing their utilities and food costs. Nevertheless, I think opening facilities, volunteering, and/or sending money is what Jesus would do.

Institutional Church

I have been a member of the staff of a Baptist Church for 52 years. I have been a student Pastor, Family Life Minister, Pastor, and Pastoral Counselor. As of January 2024, I am no longer on the staff of a Baptist Church and “No,” I have not retired, just altered how I am paid. I think I am ready to leave the institutional Church and its staff positions. I am having difficulty affirming the institution of Church with its denominational arguing, large buildings that are mainly empty during the week, programming primarily for its members, etc. I suspect the real church which Jesus described in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel meets in Alcohol Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings, in food pantry distribution places, where they are building homes for those without shelter, in homeless shelters, etc. I have experienced the presence of God’s Spirit in some conversations that happen in my consulting room as a therapist. I suspect God’s Spirit is alive, changing and redeeming lives in thousands of consulting rooms with therapists who may or may not think of their consulting rooms as places of worship. I believe that God’s Spirit is alive, well and redeeming in thousands of places that are not thought of as places where a person would expect God. God seems not to fit our expectations of a god.

I Think I May Be a Pacifist

I think I may be a pacifist. One of my favorite songs is “Bobby Darin - Simple Song of Freedom.” Check it out on YouTube. I want Netanyahu and the leader of Hamas to go somewhere and fight each other and leave the people alone. I want Putin and Zelensky to go there also and wrestle until one gives up. Leave the people alone. We would all be better people if our “politicians” would do the same among themselves. When Jesus was arrested, Peter pulled a sword and cut off someone’s ear. Jesus told him to put his sword away (Matthew 26:52). Jesus also added “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.” Jesus was prophetic. Nations that build up piles of armaments will surely find a way to use them or, in a feeble act of innocence, sell them to others who will use them. I wish and pray our politicians had courage so we could get military weapons off our streets as well as stop killing people we have locked up in our prisons with capital punishment. I really wish those in prison, who are not a danger to others or themselves, could be set free. I think I may be a pacifist.

Christmas and Wars

I still do not understand why or how a kid from Oklahoma was in Bethlehem on Christmas day. Nevertheless, I was there. I do understand why—I was leading a group from our Church. The how is also easily understood as we were touring the Holy Lands. I have fond memories of being in Bethlehem on several occasions, but especially that Christmas. Today’s news reports that Bethlehem is quiet, and the Church of the Nativity is closed due to the war. What a tragedy that the city and Church built over the cave where it is believed the Prince of Peace was born is now closed. Perhaps this is the Christmas message of 2023—the Price of Peace has been made unavailable and quiet because of wars happening in Israel, Ukraine, and other parts of our world. It would be a wonderful Christmas gift if the nations would study war no more. The Prince of Peace must be incredibly sad on this 2023 Christmas day.

Adapting to Change

Every transition or change is a mixture of joy, happiness, relief, peace, etc. and grief, sadness, anxiety, etc. These thoughts and feelings are just part of the reality of transition. Everyone will experience transition, especially as we age. It is sad when we attempt to deny and/or avoid transitions because we then become hoarders, often without realizing we have become hoarders. We must hang on to our things, ideas, public image, influence, etc. because we think they are evidence of our value. In educational psychology graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, I was introduced to the educational theories of Jean Piaget whose definition of intelligence was the ability to adjust and/or accommodate to change. The ability to hold lightly to one’s things, ideas, public image, influence, etc. seems the best measure of intelligence as well as mental and emotional health. I want to take care of my things; I want them to be simple. I am thankful for a good public image and whatever influence I may have. However, I want to hold all of this lightly because there will be changes and transitions and I want to enter those transitions without trying to hold onto them as if they are reflective of my value. My value is my relationship to the Divine and I do not need to worry about that changing, it is eternal. Nothing else is eternal; those other things, ideas, public images, influence, etc. will change and I will eventually lose them. This is a universal truth. The Buddhist’s know about being non-attached. Jesus’ invitation was “Follow me.” To obey Jesus’ invitation, I must be willing to let go of my things, ideas, public image, influence, etc. Things wear out and become obsolete; ideas develop into newer ideas; public image fades; influence will eventually become non-existent; etc. Faith has an element of insecurity because faith asks for a step into an unknown future. By faith, I want to be willing and able to adjust and/or accommodate all transitions and changes which will be part of my life’s journey.