2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17

Proper 6 (11) - Year B

O to be "swallowed up by life." This yearning for dissolution and completedness, for exile and homecoming, all at once, is a mystical approach to being that cuts across all religious singularities. It helpfully gets us out of the way of ourselves and others, but is next to useless as a manipulation technique as such issues fall away.

There is here plenty of opportunity for growth. There is a greater awareness of hearts behind behaviors. Our motivations become clearer to ourselves and more evident to others. Even G*D becomes present and alive to us and those encountering us. This is an energizer.

From being attuned with what lies ahead we find the same disinterested involvement that sets every creation loose. Whether encountering pillars on turtles, circles within circles, a Word calling forth, or the other side of black holes – creation is loosed again.

Past experience indicates we usually soon do our best to tighten creation up again, that we might be in charge. Remember this week the value of looseness. May you gracefully reach and stretch your way through and around the constraints and tightnesses that come up against you.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

 

 

One dies for all.

This is a parable.

Therefore all have died.

This is a private explanation.

As you pick up the paper or listen in on a newscast or blog, how do you view the deaths that are noted there? How are you seeing your own life as you are a day nearer your death? Does this particular/universal connection make sense to you?

Since you have died, what are you now willing to live for?

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/june2006.html

 

 

A Cartoon about being in a judgment seat. Enjoy!

It seems that when we talk judgment we are talking negatives. That is the viewpoint that holds power over us.

Imagine a cartoon where the person whose life is being shown is alert with anticipation to see how things were connected and where some editing would have helped. Instead of slinking down, one might sit up and pay attention.

Presumably the story being shown is not yet over. Why not look forward to what is going to happen next instead of shying away from what has already occurred?

Consider your own usual image of a judgment seat? Something to be avoided as long as possible or something to hustle along to to get a front row seat on what might yet be done? It is time to enjoy judgment, not fear it.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/june2006.html

 

 

How long will we grieve? Poor Samuel didn't have Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to lead him through any stages. It was get up and get on.

Ezekiel's image doesn't progress through any particular process. There is an intervention, a sprig is planted, a vision established, a journey given to participate in.

For the Psalmist G*D is present before any trouble is on the horizon, during such trouble as arises, and after any trouble has left its mark.

Paul reminds us of the importance of viewpoint. From some vantage points a new creation can be glimpsed that guide our interactions more strongly than the pain of the past.

Seeds have been planted that grow through their usual stages. They can also grow unbidden and unattended to surprise us with a harvest. These seeds do their work through time and beyond time to bring a new perspective from hardened ground. If watered only by tears, yet they flower and fruit.

Where are you in one of your griefs? Ready or not, a sprig has been planted on a dark crag of that mysterious mountain in your life.

- - -

molehills are real
our shape different
because of them

they loom when near
shrink with distance
perspective bound

mother-may-I baby steps
seven-league strides
both bring new views

one for me and one for you
both together
stretching togetherness

recovering from a trip
to grief
and beyond

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

 

 

What many take too literally (heaven), is an extended parable or thought experiment:

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [NRSV]
The certainty of heaven is no more so than the certainty of hell: both certainties are bound to disappoint (that’s the nature of certainty).



If you had to pick something on which to stake your behaviors, you could do worse than verses 16-20 from The Message
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
If one perspective is going to influence another, let it be looking at humans through non-utilitarian eyes will give us a better understanding of whatever a “heaven” might offer to a feed-back loop that keeps us moving along.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/06/pentecost-3-year-b-2-corinthians-5-6-10.html