Life continues to be a joy at the tip of the arrow. I was created to be someone who loves adventure and being on the edge of life… living with a bit of the unknown out ahead of me. One might call that “risk”… I like to refer to it as “calling”. Having good friends that help me fly straight and to continue on target are like the feathers on the arrow. “Fletcher” is the old-English name for the man who applies the feathers to the arrow. Fletching an arrow is a very important task for it is only the proper application of the feathers that keeps the arrow stable during flight. On an arrow, there are three feathers. Typically there are two hen feathers and the third is the “cock feather”. This is the one that helps you place the arrow on the bow-string properly – perpendicular to the string. This cock-feather is usually a brightly colored feather taken from the male bird, or perhaps an odd color, so it is easily seen. I had breakfast with a fletcher-friend this week. He was like the cock-feather and helped me see that I may be flying a bit off-course and lovingly nudged me. Considering that I am creative and uniquely made (I know…understatement!), his words to me and our time together, apart from the grind of life, were refreshing and hopeful. I look forward to our next flight…
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My head is full of images of beauty and wonder as I listen to John O’Donohue. I hold my friends dear to my side in life and friendship, and I want to share the following interview with you that we may talk about this approach to seeing life and beauty and God in each other. John O’Donohue was an Irish poet and philosopher beloved for his book Anam Cara — Gaelic for “soul friend” — and for his insistence on beauty as a human calling and a defining aspect of God. He was interviewed on Speaking of Faith. When you have an hour (make the time) to listen… go to http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/john_odonahue/ to hear this safari of beauty… or » Download (mp3, 53:05) Here is a quote from the interview…
Please make time to download this to your iPod and listen as you walk along the beach, or at the edge of a forest, or at dusk in your own backyard. When you do, let me know and let’s have a cup together to reflect on it. At the least… feel free to make a comment below. -Peace, Rich The stuff of Jesus’ sermon on the mount seems to be avoided by most of the church today. It is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth today that empowers us to love everyone. I do not see anywhere where Jesus tells us to “love those who come to church” or “love those who you TRY to come to church” he says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love your NEIGHBOR, not your CHRISTIAN neighbor. I think that it is only when the Kingdom of God invades our life, can we then see how to be empowered to do just that. With the Love of Christ in our hearts, as children of the King, can we openly, unconditionally love all others in His name. This helps me to see with different eyes – with eyes that have compassion on the crowds, not with eyes that only look for an opening to share the gospel. I try to love everyone and when the Father reveals something to me in the spirit, I can go to them in love and they are open to hear what I have to share. I guess what I am trying to say is that I see too many in the Church exist to share the gospel, but only do so in a way that no one wants to listen to. They share in ways that sometimes seem hateful and isolating. If we (the Church) would truly love on another, they would see through our love that there is a peace of mind that comes with that love. This is the kind of church I want to be part of… one that loves everybody – unconditionally – and in the power of the Kingdom of God, seeks out ways to live out our lives worshiping and serving the King. |
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