Tag Archives: journey

Original sin or blessing?

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Since becoming a Christian at 17 I have always struggled with the concept of original sin which, I now know, came from Augustine and was adopted by the Roman/Latin church. I remember having long discussions with leaders of my church in Weymouth. In the confirmation group I asked awkward questions which people didn’t seem to have answers for. I could not understand how a new born baby could be ‘born in sin’ and be born containing ‘original sin’. To me then, and even more so now, the concept simply does not fit with the concept of a loving God who created us all in God’s image.

If we are created in God’s image, stated this arrogant loud teenager, then how on earth could we be born with Original Sin?
I remember tagging on the patience of my teachers as I proudly stated that, if anything, we must all be born in ‘original blessing’ as this is the only thing that makes any sense f we are created in God’s image.

In today’s thought from Celtic Lent we hear that this very concept was a distinguishing difference of theology between the Latin church and Celtic Christians. The catholics believed the core of us, our soul, was eveil and fallen and required transformation from Christ. The Celtic Christians believed our core was a divine image but tainted which needed fixing by Christ.
In the words of Genesis 1:31; ‘God saw everything that they had made, and behold, it was very good’

This makes a massive difference to how we view other people and creation itself. If we consider ourselves and others as being inhabited by that divine image then that surely significantly impacts upon our behaviour towards each other. Surely it means we see each other differently and we would want to cherish, uphold and applaud each other in our daily journeys. Surely this would mean Christian ‘spaces’ would be open, welcoming and loving to absolutely everyone!

Original sin, or original blessing ….. you decide?

making a stand

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One of the great stories of Saint Patrick was the focus for this morning’s Celtic Lent thought.

It was Easter Eve in 433 and the tradition was that all fires in homes and on hillsides were extinguished. The king had banned anyone from re-lighting those fires until he had lit his for all to see first. Patrick defied this law, climbed the hill of Slane and lit his Easter fire. The king was totally pissed off and commanded Patrick be put to death. That’s very brief and the full story can be read here.

The courage of Patrick is striking and that’s what I have been pondering on my travels today. Despite knowing this would annoy the kind and that he would be condemned to death, Patrick trusted in the power of God. Because he trusted that power he didn’t fear what the king might or might not do. In fact, Patrick’s stance of faith eventually resulted in the king, albeit reluctantly, becoming a Christian himself.

I’ve wondered today how I understand that power of Christ.
I’ve wondered how that power manifests in my life.
I’ve wondered is there stuff I do that stops that power flowing through me.
I hope, that like Patrick, I can make a stand for the gospel.

change your tune

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Today’s Celtic Lent thought was focussing on music.

It seems that as the Celtic monks travelled from place to place it is thought that they sung or chanted the psalms. Cole writes: ‘It was, perhaps, a natural extension for the Celtic monks from this external practice that their inner journey, another life journey, would also have been filled with the sound of psalms and spiritual songs. Or perhaps it was the other way around – perhaps the external expression was the natural result of the internal process of filling their inner life journey with spiritual songs of praise.The journey itself was filled with praise: the external journey as well as the internal one’.

We live in an age where many of us are plugged into music continually. I notice throughout the dat that I often have a tune reverberating around my head. I often wonder where that tune has come from and whether it is an indication of the soundtrack for my personal journey.

Today’s thought has left me with many questions such as ….
Is there a theme tune for my life?
If so, where has that come from?
If there isn’t why not?
Does the tune in my head reflect what’s in my heart?
Is my tune an indication of where I am with my Creator?
When I catch myself in the moment, what is singing from my soul?
Does the tune from outside of my life have an influence on me?
Where is God in the music?

It’s been really great stuff to think on today.

the divine is absolutely everywhere!

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Today in Celtic Lent we expand on the non dualistic approach of the Celtic Christians.
These Christians saw the divine in every aspect of life.
As they went on journeys they were aware that the divine presence of God was within them, was also with them journeying alongside, and was in every person they encountered and every experience they came across.
They simply saw the divine creator flowing through absolutely everything.

This mightily challenges me today.
As I approach every person at work today I am going to look for the divine presence.
As I chat with workmates I will be looking for signs of the divine presence.
As I journey through my day today, I will be on the look out fort for those divine appointments which I have regularly experienced in my life.
I’d like to share one divine appointment of my own.
On a previous visit to my home town of Weymouth I was sat in the Boot Inn. While sat at the bar a guy started talking to me. After a little while this man started to share deep stuff about the relationship between himself and his parents. He also shared that he was a Falklands veteran and wanted to talk about some of the horrors he’d experienced.
This divine appointment was a real privilege to be part of.

As we left the pub, I remember Sarah remarking that that always seemed to happen to me and asking why. I don’t have an answer other than I’m open and ready to hear.

So … as you journey through today, remember you walk on holy ground. Remember you carry the divine within you. Remember the divine walks alongside you. Remember the divine is in every situation you encounter. Remember the divine is within every person that you meet.

Maybe be on the lookout and consider how this knowledge impacts on your journey today.
I’d love to hear your stories


Inspired?

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Today’s reading asks us if we have been challenged or inspired by the Green/White actions of the saints we’ve considered over the last week?

I think I’ve been challenged to look at new ways of discipling and living out my faith in the spheres that are nw available to me. I don’t quite see what this looks like at the moment. Maybe that’s because the in Lent journey I often find myself surrounded by fog. As I keep moving forward the fog eventually clears and I get a great surprise when I find out where I am.

into the unknown

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Todays reading shares the story of Brendan’s voyage.

Brendan was amazing. After a time of prayer Brendan, and a few friends, decided God was calling them to literally go into the unknown. They took the words of Jesus in John 3:8 seriously and decided to simply put themselves in the way of God through the wind and sea and be taken wherever it was that God would have them go. This is classic Celtic spiritually of green and white martyrdom with a solid reality check of knowing this could so easily end up as an act of red martyrdom (see my previous post if you need a reminder).

Sometimes I have felt God calling me to do something, or rather to explore something, that seems impossible to do. These have been both exciting and scary times. Brendan and his friends had no idea where they were going and must have wondered if they were going to fall off the end of the sea. Sometimes that sea would be calm and they would be drifting while others they would have experienced massive waves and just clinging on for dear life as they waited for calm.

Today, are we able to take those kind of risks for the gospel?
Today are we willing to step out into the unknown, not really knowing where we will end up or what will happen?

This resonates quite strongly with me and my journey at the moment. My journey is in no way as scary or as brave as Brendan’s. I am, however, in a situation where I am simply placing myself in front of God on a daily basis. Each day I ask that question ‘where do you want me to be?’ I have not heard any answers yet … so I , as most of us do, will continue to drift and ride waves until I see where God wishes me to be present. Id love to hear from others your experiences of stepping out into the unknown.