Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Contemplation

Due to circumstances which couldn't be helped, I have been unable to go on retreat so far this year...and I feel it in my soul! Hopefully this is something that can be remedied in the near future...but until then, I am relying on Thomas Merton...

“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding. For every gain in deep certitude there is a corresponding growth of superficial "doubt." This doubt is by no means opposed to genuine faith, but it mercilessly examines and questions the spurious "faith" of everyday life, the human faith which is nothing but the passive acceptance of conventional opinion. This false "faith" which is what we often live by and which we even come to confuse with our "religion" is subjected to inexorable questioning… Hence, is it clear that genuine contemplation is incompatible with complacency and with smug acceptance of prejudiced opinions. It is not mere passive acquiescence in the status quo, as some would like to believe – for this would reduce it to the level of spiritual anesthesia.” 


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Beauty

This was filmed over a period of 7 days from the highest mountain in Spain, El Teide. 



Make sure your sound is on....the music is called "Nuvole Bianche" by Ludovico Einaudi (my absolute favorite modern day composer).

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Newsletter...

Sparta FUMC Members,
If you're looking for the article from my Newsletter post this week, just click (Nadia Bolz-Weber), and it will take you there! Enjoy!
amanda