THE CAVE, THE TABLE, THE ROAD, THE FIRE: THE FIRE

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THE FIRE: DISCOVERING A PLACE OF REFINING TRANSFORMATION

"In the promise to be true to Christ (the cave), to be kind to people (the table), and to take the gospel to the nations (the road), we are ultimately transformed and changed (the Refiner's fire)...The fire is the Lordship space...the place of sanctification...where we become truer to Christ, kinder to people, and bolder in mission...We confess there is no truth in us that is true enough, no kindness in us that is kind enough, no witness in us that is Gospel enough" (p. 79).

Dynamin is the Greek word in Acts 1:8 for "power" and where we get the words dynamite and dynamic. This Holy Spirit power is what came down at Pentecost in the form of fire. We have been given that power. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRE:

Are there sinful thoughts, attitudes, words, or actions of which I need to confess?

The biggest one that I have been dealing with is fear. I have the sin of wanting to be wanted and loved by people. I know that this doesn't seem like a sin to many, but it is my compulsion, and at the heart of it is selfishness and idolatry. People's love has been more important than God's. I had a HUGE breakthrough yesterday as I walked the labyrinth though! I usually go IN RELEASING fear, sin, etc., and I realized that I was no longer afraid. I was no longer struggling with the approval of people. 

Have you been filled with the power of God recently?

I had an overwhelming sense of God's power working through me. Even the point of having to say, "No" to something it was assumed that I would do. It was not in my Circle of Influence. It would have been a nice thing to do, but I have another calling in my life that does not include this. So I said, "No," and I did not have that overwhelming SHAME that I usually feel when I think I might be disappointing people. George noticed it. I noticed it. It was powerful for me. Thank you, GOD!

THE CAVE, THE TABLE, THE ROAD, THE FIRE: THE ROAD

Me On the Road in Avebury, England, 2016

This is the third OMS vow: take the gospel to the nations. "The road calls me to 'set my heart on pilgrimage' (Psalm 84:5), to take the kind of risks which force me to rely upon God's provision and protection" (p. 78).

Photo Credit Bec Brown at www.quotefancy.com 

Martureo is the Greek word for "witness." It is where we get the English word "martyr." "When the Spirit fills the followers of Jesus we begin to embody (give our lives) as witnesses to his resurrection. The Road is both an invitation and a commitment to 'Go'" (p. 78).

Celtic Christian talked about "Christ's call to 'peregrinate' - a perpetual pilgrimage in search of another home" (p. 78). 

QUESTIONS FOR THE ROAD:

Might God be calling me to "go" some place new, either geographically, relationally, or culturally?

The OMS Guide describes this vow as "inherently adventurous." When I answer this question above, I think that he has. We thought we would raise our kids in Southeast Asia, but God had our "place" new to be here in Corvallis. Go figure! We packed up our whole lives here and went to a new place geographically. Then, we were called back home, and I left surrendered but not really having my preference.

Now that our kids are grown, we are looking at options to go back. We don't know how, when, or where but; we are so open. I pray every day for peoples around the world. I prayed this morning for the people in refugee camps in a remote part of South Sudan. 

Is my life predictable or am I allowing the Spirit to blow me in new directions in ways that are disruptive and surprising?

I am allowing the Spirit to blow me in new directions that have been disruptive, but at the same time, it is the vision that God gave me on November 3, 2018. I am in a "new" place relationally. I have met many wonderful people from around the world, and I am helping develop resources on Abiding in Christ. That is a "new" place for me and has caused me to go out of my comfort zone, but I have grown more and more into my role, and I rather like it now. 

I am so surprised at how God caused it all to come about too!

THE CAVE, THE TABLE, THE ROAD, THE FIRE: THE TABLE

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I am typing out my answers to the questions in the Order of the Mustard Seed Guide. This exercise is based on a talk by Karl Martin, Senior Pastor of Central Church, Edinburgh. 

The second OMS vow is to be 'kind to people.' This is not a solitary way of life. It is a relational, hospitable, generous, and inclusive one. My table therefore represents the space in which I welcome those individuals given by the Lord to love me and to be loved by me, to grow me and to be grown by me. We live this adventure together as family. I am called to make space at my table for the interruption of unexpected guests; those sent to give and receive blessing. Every life echoes with three great sermons: the family I have loved, the friendships I have nurtured, and the words I have spoken. Our words only carry weight if we have participated generously in community. (p. 76-77)

 Koinonia is a Greek word in Acts 2 "having all things in common." It is stewardship over ownership, inclusion over exclusion, and radical community that looks like family. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE TABLE: 

What people is God asking me to gather around my table? Do they know how important they are to me?

I think God is asking me to gather the people in the Seed Community around our table and friends we have known for years. But I also consider our "table" a virtual one as we mentor three young, married couples on a monthly basis. I also gather people in "soul hospitality" through my ministry of spiritual direction. I think most know how important they are. 

Do I need to make more space in my heart and my schedule for interruption and hospitality?

I am laughing at this question because I was SO excited about having a Friday and Saturday with absolutely NO commitments (a rare occurrence), and then a friend texted, "Hey, I am going to be in town. Can I come by and visit on Friday," and another text came in with an invitation to a birthday barbeque on Saturday. Oh well, there goes those two free days. We had my friend for dinner last night, and it was delightful. I always have to find the balance between space in my heart for interruptions and the need to say, "No," to get some special projects done (setting up my podcast interviews, developing abiding resources for my agency, etc.). So there is always a tricky balance for me, but I thought it important to make room for my friend of 43 years! I need to listen to God's will for me. He knows the right balance.

I do miss having more people physically around our table! We have had NINE visitors since January. That is because of COVID, but more and more people seem to be loosening up on this score. One year, I had everyone who came to our home sign our guest book: 300 people! I miss this. 

Have I extended an invitation to any more mature Christian to come sit at my table and challenge my life? Who am I discipling? 

We have been more intentional about having dinner with the Ws. They are more mature, and we are both involved with ministry to people younger than us. So that helps us. I do miss the more mature Christians in my life like Ginny and Lorraine. I also loved having some of the Perspectives speakers staying here overnight. That was wonderful. I want to pray for more mature people to sit here, but many have died. I do try to keep myself challenged through things like the Imago Christi Discovery Event that I am going through right now. I am with more mature peers in my small group (even though I am leading it). (Update: I totally forgot to include my spiritual director, Fran, as a mature believer I meet with monthly!)

Well, who am I discipling? I have a pink sticky on my computer that says, "Eternal Investment." This was an application from a Discovery Bible Study we did with our Seed Community last Sunday on Matthew 6:19-24 about laying up treasures in heaven. This was after (or was it before?) one of the women in the group making a prophetic word over George and me about how much we have poured into so many people, and I looked around the room, and people were nodding, and I realized most of the people in that room were people we have poured into, but I just think of them as just dear family. So I don't think about how much I have poured, but about God pouring into me, and then effortlessly pouring into others. But it has been a 40 year "second-order" calling to companion people in their journey. Now, the more popular thing to call it is spiritual direction, but my first training was in discipling. So, while there are differences between the two, there is also overlap. So I am using the question, "Who am I discipling?" interchangeably with "Who am I companioning?" 

With that sticky "eternal investment" staring me in the face all week, I realized that the list is long of who I am discipling/companioning. The question for me is one of discernment between who is good, better, and best to invest in at this stage. I said, "Yes" to someone last week, but George questioned this. I have a hard time discerning because so many people are in my "Circle of Concern," but fewer people are in my "Circle of Influence" (using Stephen Covey's language here). It is also that "Principle of Selection" that I learned in the Navigators, and a former mentor, Helene Ashker, emphasized to me. I think this person is a leader and in my Circle of Concern, and time will tell if that person should be in my Circle of Influence. I see potential. I do think I am at my limit for who I can meet with, especially while I am teaching Pilates during the school year. 

The whole "TABLE" discussion here is perfectly timed with the discussion in the Imago Christi Discovery Event about Spiritual Formation in community rather than alone. The homework was listening to a talk by Henri Nouwen on Communion, Community, Ministry (I am not sure if I am allowed to share our homework as it might be copyrighted by Imago Christi. So this is an article that summarizes it. There is also a YouTube video that encapsulates it: https://youtu.be/XLNaX7WeSnM ) that totally goes along with all of this. Not new concepts, but it is always great to have them reinforced. 

I love how God confirms things, even to the point of my meditation with the OMS Prayer Watch being in Psalm 133 about brothers dwelling together in unity right before we had our Imago Christi session. 

I think the main thing for me is finding a group that challenges me. E said something a couple of months ago that said as much. Praying about this. 

THE CAVE, THE TABLE, THE ROAD, THE FIRE: THE CAVE

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THE CAVE: DISCOVERING A PLACE OF PRAYER AND INTIMACY

 I realize it is easier for me to type things than write them these days. So I am answering questions in my Order of the Mustard Seed Guide. This exercise is based on a talk by Karl Martin, Senior Pastor of Central Church, Edinburgh.

"My cave is the place in which I am able to slow down and turn off the cacophonous noise of this life to hear the voice of God instead" (p. 75, The Order of the Mustard Seed Guide).

Proskartereo - The Greek word used in Acts 2:42 when the early church "devoted" themselves to prayer. It is a very strong word describing "steadfast strength," "intense effort" and the faithful disciplined pursuit of a particular goal.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CAVE:

What form does my cave take? is there a particular place or time in the day in which I particularly seek God?

I always tell people how much I love my CAVE!

Morning

I have the blessing of being a very early riser. So I go to my "kitchen cave" desk. I make my chai tea, light my candle at my desk and have prayer time. Lately, it has started with the Celtic Prayers of the Northumbrian Community. Sometimes that involves dancing to the music they created for this liturgy. I journal and pray through the Scripture meditations for the day. When I get to the "pray for others" part, I pray for my family, the people I am making eternal investments in, and the peoples all over the world through wonderful prayer APPS. Many weekdays I join the 6:30 Prayer Watch with the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS), and sometimes I go to the 3:30 Prayer Watch!

On Friday mornings I join the Jesuits in Scotland for an hour of contemplative prayer.

Then I go for a prayer walk. I listen to Pray as You Go or Lectio365, but many times I just walk and listen to God as I enjoy his wonderful creation.

On Sunday mornings, I love my Centering Prayer time with the Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA.

Midday

Mornings are my prime time, and I give it to him, but I often go into a short mid-day prayer time with the Northumbrian Community. Often it is while walking and going up to the hospital to walk the labyrinth there.  I release any fears as I go in. I receive God's word to me regarding those fears in the center. I walk out returning to the world. 

Midday Centering Prayer: I connect with several groups in the midday (East Mosely, UK; Jo with OMS, Presbyterians in town)  

Midday Examen: OMS (not every day but many days).

Midday Contemplation: Every other Wednesday with the Jesuits in Britain called Imagine. 

Evening

This is my weakest area. I have learned that I need to pray in the early evening because I get very sleepy after about 8:30! The newer Evening Prayer on the Lectio365 app and the musical version of the Evening and Compline prayers of the Northumbrian Community have been helpful. Sometimes I will go for a walk as the sun sets and listen to these. 

What practical steps might I take to "devote" myself more fully to prayer? 

I have wanted to grow in Centering Prayer for so long, and these groups that I have joined in the last year have been so helpful! I hope to grow in doing it on my own more often, but the accountability has been wonderful. 

I am also wanting to grow more in evening prayer. George and I are doing a "no electricity" evening once a week, and that tends to lend itself to more connection with God and each other in the evening. 

 Every Other Month 

I go to an extended CAVE time by myself, usually at a monastery. I have been going away since I was 19 years old. I am very thankful for my mentors who instilled this in me. This is a handout I give all people interested in having a Day in Prayer. There is a simpler one put out by the 24-7 people too.

I was going to write about all four, but I am breaking this up over the next four days! See you tomorrow for THE TABLE.