"Everything Belongs, the Gift of Contemplative Prayer"
Spring 2003 Bible Study

Chapter 2

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

Good evening

This communication will be brief as I am scrambling to get things in order with work and at home before our Trek to the BWCA. David Barkmeier, Bruce Whelan, Bob Beutel and I are leaving this Thursday and coming back in time for Bruce to facilitate next Tuesday!

Chapter Two provided all the fireworks of Chapter One plus passion. The large group was stimulating to say the least and our facilitator did a fantastic job of getting us thinking and conversing. I am afraid we never really stopped. We finally got back to the overview of Chapter Two and some questions she had for small group discussion.

Some of the questions for small group included

  1. sharing with the group a time when you were like Jonah. Reflect on an experience of "liminean space," a time when you experienced God through a difficult situation.
  2. What is a situation that you see in your own community or in the world at large that seems to be "the belly of the whale." How have you been moved or how have you responded?
  3. How do you think our culture is affected by a lack of rights of passage?
Rohr's reflection about American recreation being diversionary really struck a chord with our facilitator. He talked about us needing so much recreation because the type we experience is neither entertaining nor refreshing!

Can we see the image of Christ in the least of our brothers or sisters?

We cannot enter the presence of God. We are already there. We are surrounded, we are immersed in God.

We were left with this gorgeous mantra

God's life is living Itself in me. I am aware of life living Itself in me.
God's life is living Itself in me. I am aware of life living Itself in me.
So let's tell about the treat corner tonight! There appeared to be a pan full of home-spun coffee cake or something similar. Not that there was coffee in it but the topping was a chunky, buttery, crumbly sugary and cinnamon-y dream-come-true with chopped nuts. Do you see what I'm saying? Are you following us? Comprende? Within we discovered the baker had slipped in just the right amount of garden fresh rhubarb to make sure our taste buds were firing on all cylinders! They are! Yum. So you put the top together with the body of the cake and it was nothing short of blissful. Many thanks.

Please teach me to see. Open my eyes. Open my heart. Shake my definitions. Rattle my certainties.

"When the eye sees properly the entire body is filled with light." - Jesus.

And just when you thought the book couldn't get any better(!) the assignment for next week is chapter three, Ego and Soul. Be there or be square. I believe we will be back in the Hall.

S'kan Taku s'kans'kan - Something-in-movement, spiritual vitality

For week three:


Rik Murray
(612) 872-8694
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