Daily pages of reflection...for knowledge, understanding, to wisdom
Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

Life Walk

March 31, 2018
Year 3, Day 90 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

Long ago, I heard a professor talk at length about the peripatetic philosopher.  Of course he meant Socrates – as I found out through a range of readings that this was his identity from history.  Socrates tended to philosophize and teach as he walked along with his listeners and followers.  He was not attached to a university; he felt himself to be free; he argued for the examined life; and, he dressed something like a hippie for his time.  His personal hygiene and marriage may have sometimes been poor, but he was great company for those who were inquisitive about life and meaning.  His methodology is somewhat retained in the business world with a practice known as management by walking… Read more

Jealousy

March 30, 2018
Year 3, Day 89 | No Comments
Section of The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio, 1602

We know that jealousy can cause rage that may be misdirected.  It may cause murder.  Many persons believe jealousy drove O. J. Simpson, the star football player and celebrity, to murder his former wife and her suitor.  He was found innocent in trial, but guilty of influence in another trial.  Found guilty of a crime that involved different violations he went to prison where, at this writing, he is serving a lengthy sentence.   A highly regarded athlete, he has lost the respect of the public world, likely caused by reputed jealousy.  Ezekiel noted a jealousy that provokes jealousy. (8:3)   Jealousy needs management.  To accuse a mate of an affair if no affair has occurred is related to jealousy – false… Read more

Humors

March 29, 2018
Year 3, Day 88 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

The word humor has quite a varied history of meanings.  Currently in general society it means something related to lightness of being – good humor, funniness, laughable, enjoyment, and the like.  A person of good humor is perceived as someone going-along-with approved pleasantry with those present in the context.  There is a good feeling (healthy psychology) about the immediate relationship that may carry over to whatever follows – or may not.  Heads of state like to meet together in some social situation, perhaps accompanied by gifts, before dealing with serious matters so to find the best context among them before discussion that can lead to reducing the humor between them.  There occurs much smiling and gestures that indicate lightness of… Read more

Humor Context

March 28, 2018
Year 3, Day 87 | No Comments
Section of Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger

As noted elsewhere in these Pages, human beings decide on the prevailing context of their approach to everything acceptable to themselves, perhaps to others.  That context is identified as a compound, made up of various elements that play an important role in forming the person.  If well cast, the context is going to contribute to forming well the person and likely forming other individuals, especially family members.  It may be for good or ill – or in-between in a kind (feeling) of neutrality.  My prevailing life context is dominated by a spiritual orientation (faith and prayer without ceasing); by an intellectual orientation (search for evidence and meaning); by moderation (choices for balance in life); by service (aiding others as ministry… Read more

Holistic

March 27, 2018
Year 3, Day 86 | No Comments
Section of The Crucifixion, Pedro Orrente, ca. 1625–30

Reflecting an important spiritual insight, a one frame cartoon appeared during the holidays ending the year 2013 and beginning 2014 illustrated the difference between illusion and reality in human beings.  The implication we can take from the cartoon is that illusions may be made facts for living – proved by public opinion polls.  In point-of-view (related to values in society) and reality of character (related to values in the individual person) may offer undeniable different scenarios about values.  The combined scenarios become contradictory, and may be reported differently as perceived in the orientation of the poll evaluator.  In reporting to society the illusion may become evidence and objective reality may be disregarded.  We gain from the cartoon the sense of… Read more

Life

March 26, 2018
Year 3, Day 85 | No Comments
Section of The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio, 1602

In semi-retirement, I continued some of the context of what I had done professionally, some in emeritus roles but with new added factors.  I was part of business interests with others, including a period of interim ministries at churches with building and expansion interests that involved a church construction company.  In addition I launched several writing projects and remain as busy as ever without institutional obligations.  I am in the tenth decade of my life, and when engaged in both spiritual and professional interests related to secular and spiritual contexts in churches and colleges, I found that those interests contributed to my life and health in such a way that I have no doubt that my lengthened years are related… Read more

All Things to All People

March 25, 2018
Year 3, Day 84 | No Comments
Section of The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435

Cultures move at different speeds.  At this writing there is a world disruption brought on largely not only in the prevailing differences between and within cultures, but accented.  The accent is most easily seen in the terrorism that stalls some life and progress as segments of society enter into conflict with another – aided by race, wealth, religion and other influences.  Currently the extremists in the Islamist culture and society have introduced what may be called holy wars to gain objectives against a collection of different cultures, especially against Christian because it is perceived as the largest of the enemy groups, most of whom are interpreted as in some way related to the great Satan.  The story is more complex… Read more

Veiled Miracles

March 24, 2018
Year 3, Day 83 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

We return to the mystery of miracles.  Anything God does in nature that nature has not done within its own laws qualifies as miracle–working in that the actions and processes are not originated and carried through within the laws of nature.  Anything God does includes a miracle factor in it – origin.  Those actions of God that utilize the natural processes I perceive as providences – so to keep clear the differences between variant extra-natural occurrences and natural experiences.  These providences we sometimes call miracles.  They are not perceived most truly as miracles except through language accepted in analysis related to them.  Joseph in prison in Egypt interpreted the dreams recorded to his attention in Genesis.  His interpretations turned out… Read more

Miracles

March 23, 2018
Year 3, Day 82 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

In any discussion involving miracles there ought to be definition, some perception of differences in the practice of miracles, and what the matter means to present day activity and the Christian context.  To many thoughtful persons, miracle is either a contradiction or a paradox.  The word miracle is commonly used to cover ignorance.  If something beneficial occurs in our experience that seems unexplainable we commonly report it as a miracle for us.  It may later be discovered as natural.  In medicine the unexplained remission for an illness may be the natural response of the body to some negative physical influence.  The force of physical healing may be stronger than the force of the illness.  I interpret such an event as… Read more

Life Words

March 22, 2018
Year 3, Day 81 | No Comments
Section of The Infant Jesus and St. John the Baptist, Guido Reni, n.d.

This is being written a few days after Father’s day, 2013.  The dates of these pages seldom have anything to do with the dates they were written.  Something usually happens to me, light or serious that lifts my interest so I look up an appropriate date for the theme.  Today, 07/01/2013, I have had E-mails, phone calls, and visits that have touched memories, nostalgia and meaning for me.  Today, a church member friend remembering a sermon from 1978, asked for the outline: I can use it for a project I am working on. Anyone carried along by a sermon of mine from 35 years ago deserves my undivided attention – and he got it.  My eldest daughter came in to… Read more

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