I lost my post yesterday and I'm late. Already read this week's post. For this post on Gazza, I say Thank You so much! We Christian Brothers run Bethlehem University in Bethlehem, Palestine. All our Brothers there are Pro-Palestinian. I visited and see why. Our journalists don't give us the full story. My friend, Brother Peter, who has ministered at BU for 20 years, constantly reminds me we don't get the right picture. I watch the news with another Brother, who ministered in Palestine. His remarks are filled with sadness and pain at the lies. I sent your post to Peter. He needs to know that the truth is starting to be told here. Meanwhile the pictures of Gaza tell the stark truth. The media warns the watchers that the images are difficult ... sorry to upset you! Indeed! Please keep your research and writing coming, and Thank you again!
Dear Brother John, thank you for writing! I hope the truth begins to break through in the U.S. about the horror that the government's arms aid has enabled for so long - although I watch the genocide and manufactured starvation unfolding and fear it is too late. My prayers are with you and your brothers in Bethlehem.
I so appreciate this very personal, transparent essay, Mark. It reminds me of RR’s statement, and I paraphrase, that the root of suffering is not being in control. And, yet, he also states that we are transformed through great suffering and great love.
Indeed - and RR's teaching on the spirituality of imperfection has been so important to me (as well as discovering Therese of Lisieux!). Thanks for reading, Vanessa.
Thank you. I have found myself so caught with straightening peoples view into the current ecological state of the world its had me in knot. Only through contemplative practices have I been able to let go and be of service. At least I hope so - I feel better anyway :). Thank you
Thanks for reading, Elizabeth! And I've been following CFP's work for a while (I so wish I could be involved on an action level but have more desire than time) - maybe I interview someone for this Substack sometime?
Thank you so much for this, your experience is so similar to my own except that I was raised Catholic. I ended up in 12 step recovery after marrying an alcoholic, which was the beginning of my transformation into wholeness. In my early years in recovery, I tried to figure out which was the right way to go …through rigid Catholic practices, then evangelicalism and rather legalistic beliefs in the Bible, then figuring out that none of that seemed to fit. Like you, I was always trying to get it right. Eventually, I began reading Richard Rohr, who made a lot of sense to me, and through his books was introduced to Cynthia Bourgeault, which led me to a centering prayer practice. Prior to that I found the embodied wisdom that you speak of in a yoga practice and running and today as a widow, I do a lot of walking of my dog in the woods, all of which seem to feel right and true for me. And I have continue to stay within my Catholic tradition, but with a much more open mind and heart.
Reading about your journey was so helpful because I still at times struggle if I am on the “right “road.
Coincidentally, this morning‘s Richard Rohr’s daily meditstion says “ we grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong then by doing it right.” What a relief🙏🏼
Yes, haunted by Gaza and all the genocides before, straight back to the Armenian Genocide of 1915/16-23. That is my family's history. Some days are soul-crushing.
Mark, I so appreciate your framing and articulation. I was not raised in the evangelical church, but still inherited a "liberal" amount of righteousness. As a highly sensitive person, I find myself going to great lengths to stay out of trouble. Oy. I am grateful to have the wisdom of confession, release, reassurance, and a slew of ensoulment practices that restore me to my humanity again and again. Bowing to my limits is a big part of my practice. By the way, I am hosting a course at Spiritual Directors International on Somatic Spiritual Companionship that might be of interest in our mutual quest for recovery. Thank you.
I so relate! So much of my reaction to Christian certainty in others comes down to fear more than anything. Rejection hurts, whether it’s overt or subtle. I go right back to elementary school and the other kids laughing or smirking at something clumsy or awkward I did or said. Later, I learned to cover up my sense of rejection with armor - angry armor, snarky armor. Before long, I couldn’t tell where the hurt feelings ended and the anger began. And you’d think knowing all that stuff about the whys and wherefores of my motives would teach me a thing or two, but it hasn’t. About as far as I’ve gotten is at least learning not to use hurtful words. But inside, I’m all walled up behind my armor, judging, judging, judging. It does not keep me safe from the hurt. But I know I’m growing, albeit way too slowly for my taste, and I keep reminding myself of something else Fr. Richard says. That maturity is the refusal to take offense. Someday.
I lost my post yesterday and I'm late. Already read this week's post. For this post on Gazza, I say Thank You so much! We Christian Brothers run Bethlehem University in Bethlehem, Palestine. All our Brothers there are Pro-Palestinian. I visited and see why. Our journalists don't give us the full story. My friend, Brother Peter, who has ministered at BU for 20 years, constantly reminds me we don't get the right picture. I watch the news with another Brother, who ministered in Palestine. His remarks are filled with sadness and pain at the lies. I sent your post to Peter. He needs to know that the truth is starting to be told here. Meanwhile the pictures of Gaza tell the stark truth. The media warns the watchers that the images are difficult ... sorry to upset you! Indeed! Please keep your research and writing coming, and Thank you again!
your brother, john mcmahon, fsc
Dear Brother John, thank you for writing! I hope the truth begins to break through in the U.S. about the horror that the government's arms aid has enabled for so long - although I watch the genocide and manufactured starvation unfolding and fear it is too late. My prayers are with you and your brothers in Bethlehem.
I so appreciate this very personal, transparent essay, Mark. It reminds me of RR’s statement, and I paraphrase, that the root of suffering is not being in control. And, yet, he also states that we are transformed through great suffering and great love.
Indeed - and RR's teaching on the spirituality of imperfection has been so important to me (as well as discovering Therese of Lisieux!). Thanks for reading, Vanessa.
Yes! Therese—whose work I studied with a Carmelite scholar at UNM—is one of my great mentors!
Thank you. I have found myself so caught with straightening peoples view into the current ecological state of the world its had me in knot. Only through contemplative practices have I been able to let go and be of service. At least I hope so - I feel better anyway :). Thank you
Grateful for your comment, EarthSalt, and blessings!
Grateful for your writing, Mark. You may be interested in friends’ work with Christians for a Free Palestine — https://christiansforafreepalestine.com
Thanks for reading, Elizabeth! And I've been following CFP's work for a while (I so wish I could be involved on an action level but have more desire than time) - maybe I interview someone for this Substack sometime?
That would be amazing! The PC(USA) also did a great series of webinars on confronting Christian Zionism, and these folks would be great interviewees. https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2024/9/5/final-christian-zionism-webinar-centers-christian-nationalism-and-its-political-ramifications
Thank you so much for this, your experience is so similar to my own except that I was raised Catholic. I ended up in 12 step recovery after marrying an alcoholic, which was the beginning of my transformation into wholeness. In my early years in recovery, I tried to figure out which was the right way to go …through rigid Catholic practices, then evangelicalism and rather legalistic beliefs in the Bible, then figuring out that none of that seemed to fit. Like you, I was always trying to get it right. Eventually, I began reading Richard Rohr, who made a lot of sense to me, and through his books was introduced to Cynthia Bourgeault, which led me to a centering prayer practice. Prior to that I found the embodied wisdom that you speak of in a yoga practice and running and today as a widow, I do a lot of walking of my dog in the woods, all of which seem to feel right and true for me. And I have continue to stay within my Catholic tradition, but with a much more open mind and heart.
Reading about your journey was so helpful because I still at times struggle if I am on the “right “road.
Coincidentally, this morning‘s Richard Rohr’s daily meditstion says “ we grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong then by doing it right.” What a relief🙏🏼
Yes, haunted by Gaza and all the genocides before, straight back to the Armenian Genocide of 1915/16-23. That is my family's history. Some days are soul-crushing.
Mark, I so appreciate your framing and articulation. I was not raised in the evangelical church, but still inherited a "liberal" amount of righteousness. As a highly sensitive person, I find myself going to great lengths to stay out of trouble. Oy. I am grateful to have the wisdom of confession, release, reassurance, and a slew of ensoulment practices that restore me to my humanity again and again. Bowing to my limits is a big part of my practice. By the way, I am hosting a course at Spiritual Directors International on Somatic Spiritual Companionship that might be of interest in our mutual quest for recovery. Thank you.
I so relate! So much of my reaction to Christian certainty in others comes down to fear more than anything. Rejection hurts, whether it’s overt or subtle. I go right back to elementary school and the other kids laughing or smirking at something clumsy or awkward I did or said. Later, I learned to cover up my sense of rejection with armor - angry armor, snarky armor. Before long, I couldn’t tell where the hurt feelings ended and the anger began. And you’d think knowing all that stuff about the whys and wherefores of my motives would teach me a thing or two, but it hasn’t. About as far as I’ve gotten is at least learning not to use hurtful words. But inside, I’m all walled up behind my armor, judging, judging, judging. It does not keep me safe from the hurt. But I know I’m growing, albeit way too slowly for my taste, and I keep reminding myself of something else Fr. Richard says. That maturity is the refusal to take offense. Someday.