tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post787281341689141562..comments2024-02-08T10:33:22.915+13:00Comments on Available Light: DetachingKelvin Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16682322819567886400noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-13187114891339249112013-02-24T08:29:18.213+13:002013-02-24T08:29:18.213+13:00You and the Spirit will think of something, of cou...You and the Spirit will think of something, of course.Elaine Denthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277699063620071309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-1526718472989930962013-02-24T07:23:08.683+13:002013-02-24T07:23:08.683+13:00Elaine, this is such a helpful observation. In fac...Elaine, this is such a helpful observation. In fact, helpful is hardly the word. Congregations have attachments! It's forehead slapping, why on earth haven't I joined those particular dots before, YES! Of Course! time. <br /><br />And the concept of spiritual direction for congregations. It's an idea I have heard before, but why haven't I applied it? Especially when it promises to be such a fruitful model?<br /><br />So....<br /><br />What to do next.....?Kelvin Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682322819567886400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-41403973541257072942013-02-24T04:53:53.143+13:002013-02-24T04:53:53.143+13:00And detachment is a death. Letting go is a death,...And detachment is a death. Letting go is a death, but for the sake of new life, of course. Just as we struggle with attachments individually, so do our congregations. The second December issue of Christian Century had an article entitled "Dark Night of the Church" which talks about the spiritual growth that can be happening during this in between time when our programs and old ways of doing things aren't saving us anymore. The article goes on to say that the kind of pastoral leadership that may be needed during this time is more of a spiritual guide/director. Good spiritual guides are sensitive to listening for and naming attachments. Elaine Denthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277699063620071309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-2530228489967201982013-02-23T17:21:28.987+13:002013-02-23T17:21:28.987+13:00...and also, thanks for this particularly helpful ......and also, thanks for this particularly helpful and succinct example of what an attachment is.Kelvin Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682322819567886400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-29717481054457910912013-02-23T17:20:21.888+13:002013-02-23T17:20:21.888+13:00One of the things that I am noticing this lent par...One of the things that I am noticing this lent particularly, is the close coinherence of death and life; how the grace of God comes often as pain, that is a death, but one necessary for our growth into life. Thanks for this poignant and helpful comment.Kelvin Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682322819567886400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-6464296560228527292013-02-23T15:50:18.657+13:002013-02-23T15:50:18.657+13:00I remember that a strange thing happened to me whi...I remember that a strange thing happened to me while leading worship a year ago (I think it was Lent). I suddenly became excruciatingly aware throughout the one whole service (and only that one) how attentive I was to how people were reacting to me, what they might think of what I was saying in the sermon, or of how I was praying, etc., etc. It was absolutely revealing of how attached I was to what people thought. For one service God lifted the veil from my eyes. The revelation about myself was both humiliating and grace-filled. I now own my attachment, although the same agonizing clarity has not ever been revealed in quite so stark a way. (Thank God.) It continues, however, to be one of things I must pray and wrestle with. I notice how it blocks what God calls me to do (as in 'what will people think?'). But I am more aware. God managed that much! Elaine Denthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277699063620071309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-33250451849090528012013-02-23T10:14:31.267+13:002013-02-23T10:14:31.267+13:00Should be compulsory reading for all within the di...Should be compulsory reading for all within the diocese!Wynstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733362917057409386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170814845771372625.post-85678999253596376112013-02-22T21:32:58.930+13:002013-02-22T21:32:58.930+13:00YesYesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com