"Our life is a short time in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment… Joy and sadness are born at the same time; both arising from such deep places in your heart that you cannot find the words to capture your complex emotions."
Henri Nouwen
Showing posts with label Soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soul. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, July 02, 2007
my soulscape thrums
There are moments
when my soulscape
thrums with jazz and banter
…pulses with brushstrokes and light
And then cuts abruptly
to a vacant soundstage
mute as ash
held like a breath
…pending and panicked
At such times my beliefs
like unemployed actors
must again audition
for their roles
in the script I hold
They are fragile and insecure
It is a wearisome business
But you are singing under a streetlamp
tambourine in hand
refusing to learn your lines
confronting me with hilarity
…reanimating the mundane
Copyright Scott Burnett 2007
when my soulscape
thrums with jazz and banter
…pulses with brushstrokes and light
And then cuts abruptly
to a vacant soundstage
mute as ash
held like a breath
…pending and panicked
At such times my beliefs
like unemployed actors
must again audition
for their roles
in the script I hold
They are fragile and insecure
It is a wearisome business
But you are singing under a streetlamp
tambourine in hand
refusing to learn your lines
confronting me with hilarity
…reanimating the mundane
Copyright Scott Burnett 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
about the soul
My long-time friend, Dan Miller, left this as a comment on one of my other blogs, burnettstories.
"It's all about the soul. Jesus understood this. James Brown understood this. In fact, every writer, poet, musician, evangelist, educator, philanthropist and motivator who finds success understands that the soul is the foundation from which vibrant life begins."
I thought it was so nicely put that it warranted the light of day -- or at least the light of a cathode ray screen.
"It's all about the soul. Jesus understood this. James Brown understood this. In fact, every writer, poet, musician, evangelist, educator, philanthropist and motivator who finds success understands that the soul is the foundation from which vibrant life begins."
I thought it was so nicely put that it warranted the light of day -- or at least the light of a cathode ray screen.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
music & worship
In the Seventies I led the singing for a youth Bible study. A few years later, it became acceptable to play those types of songs in church services. In the Eighties I joined a church where there was a rock band instead of an organ.
Over the years we shorthanded the phrase, “A sequence of songs about our relationship with God that helps facilitate an atmosphere conducive to a collective experience something we identify as worship” into “Worship”. At first it was just a convenience of language; we knew the music was not actually worship – or at least it was not the sum total of worship.
But over the years our linguistic laziness contributed to a serious error; one that seems to be common to most of the “contemporary worship” movement. We began to equate our 20-ish minutes of singing with worship itself. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a handful of dopey little songs!
The first few sentences of the twelfth chapter of Romans contain some of the most important insights available to us on the subject of Christian worship. This passage forms a “hinge” that connects the two essential elements of Paul’s theology: 1) the Gospel achieved by God; 2) the Gospel applied by us.
“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect.”
Paul’s Letter to the Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips – Revised Edition)
One of our principle works of faith is to abide in the moment of transformation, remaining open to change and continually yielding to realignment with the Spirit of Christ. We must return again and again to God’s mercies, with our eyes wide in wonder at the endless interventions of grace into our lives.
Music is uniquely effective in both softening and empowering us to worship. Music isn’t worship, but it is a pivot-point where the whole human soul (physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual) can turn toward God.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Over the years we shorthanded the phrase, “A sequence of songs about our relationship with God that helps facilitate an atmosphere conducive to a collective experience something we identify as worship” into “Worship”. At first it was just a convenience of language; we knew the music was not actually worship – or at least it was not the sum total of worship.
But over the years our linguistic laziness contributed to a serious error; one that seems to be common to most of the “contemporary worship” movement. We began to equate our 20-ish minutes of singing with worship itself. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a handful of dopey little songs!
The first few sentences of the twelfth chapter of Romans contain some of the most important insights available to us on the subject of Christian worship. This passage forms a “hinge” that connects the two essential elements of Paul’s theology: 1) the Gospel achieved by God; 2) the Gospel applied by us.
“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect.”
Paul’s Letter to the Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips – Revised Edition)
One of our principle works of faith is to abide in the moment of transformation, remaining open to change and continually yielding to realignment with the Spirit of Christ. We must return again and again to God’s mercies, with our eyes wide in wonder at the endless interventions of grace into our lives.
Music is uniquely effective in both softening and empowering us to worship. Music isn’t worship, but it is a pivot-point where the whole human soul (physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual) can turn toward God.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Wisdom (Cognitive Balance)
Wisdom is not a one-dimensional quality. It is something like an intersection of knowledge and understanding with commonsense… A cultivated awareness of the big picture along with attentiveness to detail… Consistent, tenacious, and ready for change... Open-hearted with clear, strong boundaries…
Wisdom seems to presume and produce thoroughgoing balance. While its varied streams and currents seem to flow in and out through the mind, it certainly involves much more than cognition; it’s a whole-soul endeavor. Furthermore, it makes no sense in isolation: wisdom is relational.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Wisdom seems to presume and produce thoroughgoing balance. While its varied streams and currents seem to flow in and out through the mind, it certainly involves much more than cognition; it’s a whole-soul endeavor. Furthermore, it makes no sense in isolation: wisdom is relational.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Generosity
I think generosity is the heart of emotional flexibility. Physical flexibility improves the fluidity of my movement, allows me to flow more symbiotically with life’s currents, and helps fend off injuries related to brittleness. Generosity brings analogous qualities to my feelings, reactions, and moods.
A readiness to share what I have, whether material, relational, or spiritual, keeps my soul pliable and supple. It seems to increase my capacity to “roll with the punches”, and ease my tendency to jump to conclusions.
Kindness is among generosity’s most beautiful faces; softness to another soul. Sometimes it’s harder to share than cash! But its power to radiate blessing is remarkable – even small acts of kindness can emit wellbeing in all directions.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
A readiness to share what I have, whether material, relational, or spiritual, keeps my soul pliable and supple. It seems to increase my capacity to “roll with the punches”, and ease my tendency to jump to conclusions.
Kindness is among generosity’s most beautiful faces; softness to another soul. Sometimes it’s harder to share than cash! But its power to radiate blessing is remarkable – even small acts of kindness can emit wellbeing in all directions.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Cognitive Endurance
Honesty ^ Curiosity ^ Follow-through
Clear, productive thinking can’t be sustained without honesty. Without it, cognition gets tangled, threadbare, compromised, structurally unsound…
Curiosity – an appetite for discovery – is a sustainable fuel. It steadily propels the soul's rambles, pilgrimages, and ascents.
I wonder if follow-through can become a habit. It is certainly a discipline – a practice I seek to cultivate and deepen. I aspire to the art of finishing; I suffer the empty ache of failing to finish.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Clear, productive thinking can’t be sustained without honesty. Without it, cognition gets tangled, threadbare, compromised, structurally unsound…
Curiosity – an appetite for discovery – is a sustainable fuel. It steadily propels the soul's rambles, pilgrimages, and ascents.
I wonder if follow-through can become a habit. It is certainly a discipline – a practice I seek to cultivate and deepen. I aspire to the art of finishing; I suffer the empty ache of failing to finish.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Peace (& Humor)
Peace is elemental to Emotional Balance; in fact, it fundamentally impacts the health of the whole person.
“A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
The ancient Hebrew idea of shalom connoted wholeness and well-being: physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual. It’s this sort of peace that Jesus promised his followers in John 14:27.
For me, one way of cultivating peace is to practice nonviolence: interior (toward my own soul), interpersonal (toward other souls), and environmental (toward creation’s soul).
And I’ve found that the power of Humor mustn’t be underestimated in these pursuits. Laughter is not a luxury; it’s impossible to engage the fullness of life without it.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
“A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
The ancient Hebrew idea of shalom connoted wholeness and well-being: physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual. It’s this sort of peace that Jesus promised his followers in John 14:27.
For me, one way of cultivating peace is to practice nonviolence: interior (toward my own soul), interpersonal (toward other souls), and environmental (toward creation’s soul).
And I’ve found that the power of Humor mustn’t be underestimated in these pursuits. Laughter is not a luxury; it’s impossible to engage the fullness of life without it.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Fourfold Fitness
The soul’s topography won’t fit within the languages of tongue or pen. It’s like trying to capture the vastness and detail of a natural landscape in the frame of a photograph.
But knowing the terrain of our own depths is necessary for fully engaged living. Some people have an innate knack for soul navigation; others need a map and compass.
I use a four by four grid, where the intersections create “intention zones” integral to my joie de vivre. The four components of my humanness are: Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, and Spiritual. The four key attributes of fitness (IMHO) are: Strength, Flexibility, Endurance, and Balance.
The next few soul-friending posts will describe some of my intention zones. I hope there will be ideas and inspirations for you. However, I hasten to underscore that it’s just a map I’ve sketched to help make sense of my personal topography; it’s not intended to be comprehensive, absolute, or directly transferable. But maybe it’ll provoke you to undertake your own “depth cartography”.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
But knowing the terrain of our own depths is necessary for fully engaged living. Some people have an innate knack for soul navigation; others need a map and compass.
I use a four by four grid, where the intersections create “intention zones” integral to my joie de vivre. The four components of my humanness are: Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, and Spiritual. The four key attributes of fitness (IMHO) are: Strength, Flexibility, Endurance, and Balance.
The next few soul-friending posts will describe some of my intention zones. I hope there will be ideas and inspirations for you. However, I hasten to underscore that it’s just a map I’ve sketched to help make sense of my personal topography; it’s not intended to be comprehensive, absolute, or directly transferable. But maybe it’ll provoke you to undertake your own “depth cartography”.
Copyright Scott Burnett 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
soul-sized life
What are the dimensions of your soul? How far can she throw her light? How many close relationships do you have the capacity to honor?
How much art will you render? How many stories will be yours to tell? How many friends will you help to discover their own souls?
As I ask questions like these of myself, the tendency is to swing between overestimating and underestimating the size of my soul. Maybe the oscillation between big and small is what keeps me bending back toward a sane assessment.
For more on this topic, see the post inhabiting littleness, and the comments that followed.
How much art will you render? How many stories will be yours to tell? How many friends will you help to discover their own souls?
As I ask questions like these of myself, the tendency is to swing between overestimating and underestimating the size of my soul. Maybe the oscillation between big and small is what keeps me bending back toward a sane assessment.
For more on this topic, see the post inhabiting littleness, and the comments that followed.
Friday, July 07, 2006
TRANS|plant|action|formation
Transplant Transaction Transformation
Look at God’s declared intent in this lovely couplet: the equation contains three additions and one subtraction.
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."
Ezekiel 11:19, NIV
{PLUS} Integration (undivided heart)
Meaningfully constellating our fragmented souls
{PLUS} Inspiration (new spirit)
Breathing into us a second wind
{MINUS} Petrification (heart of stone)
Stone became set in its ways a long time ago
It would rather break than bend
It’s incompatible with breath and blood
{PLUS} Corporeal Reanimation (heart of flesh)
Flesh is pliable, vulnerable
And capable of growth
It’s a suitable habitat for life
Look at God’s declared intent in this lovely couplet: the equation contains three additions and one subtraction.
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."
Ezekiel 11:19, NIV
{PLUS} Integration (undivided heart)
Meaningfully constellating our fragmented souls
{PLUS} Inspiration (new spirit)
Breathing into us a second wind
{MINUS} Petrification (heart of stone)
Stone became set in its ways a long time ago
It would rather break than bend
It’s incompatible with breath and blood
{PLUS} Corporeal Reanimation (heart of flesh)
Flesh is pliable, vulnerable
And capable of growth
It’s a suitable habitat for life
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
awful coffee and a Lorna Doone
Bleary-eyed and hours from home, struggling to stay awake... Awful coffee and a Lorna Doone cookie at the rest stop... Okay, I think I can make it for another chunk of miles.
Thank God for the Rotary and Kiwanis people who cheerfully host those simple oases.
Maybe that’s what weekly church services are for: offering simple, spiritual hospitality and helping souls stay awake to their faith journeys.
Thank God for the Rotary and Kiwanis people who cheerfully host those simple oases.
Maybe that’s what weekly church services are for: offering simple, spiritual hospitality and helping souls stay awake to their faith journeys.
Monday, March 27, 2006
eSphere revisited
"Your descendants will spread over the earth in all directions and will become as numerous as the specks of dust. Your family will be a blessing to all people." Genesis 28:14 (CEV)
Those words from the Book of Beginnings (Genesis) articulate God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, et al (in this particular instance being spoken to Jacob, also known as Israel).
all directions - spherical, radiating
specks of dust - multitude of particles
family - relatedness, connectedness... common point of origin (in this case, faith)
I can’t help but see a connection to Particle Theory, which Wikipedia describes as having to do with elementary constituents of matter and radiation, and the interactions between them. It describes the radiative and scattering processes of those particles. Furthermore, these phenomena do not occur under normal circumstances. In other words, an extraordinary interruption is required.
It looks an awful lot like a prefiguring of the eucatastrosphere (eSphere) decribed a few posts ago: a soul-scape shaped in the ripples of divine interruption...
From the beginning, God has challenged people of faith to be his blessing - to everyone, everywhere, all the time... infusing their communities with beauty, strength, generosity, affirmation, health, balance, patience, hope...
Those words from the Book of Beginnings (Genesis) articulate God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, et al (in this particular instance being spoken to Jacob, also known as Israel).
I can’t help but see a connection to Particle Theory, which Wikipedia describes as having to do with elementary constituents of matter and radiation, and the interactions between them. It describes the radiative and scattering processes of those particles. Furthermore, these phenomena do not occur under normal circumstances. In other words, an extraordinary interruption is required.
It looks an awful lot like a prefiguring of the eucatastrosphere (eSphere) decribed a few posts ago: a soul-scape shaped in the ripples of divine interruption...
From the beginning, God has challenged people of faith to be his blessing - to everyone, everywhere, all the time... infusing their communities with beauty, strength, generosity, affirmation, health, balance, patience, hope...
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Attentiveness
“One of those who heard us was Lydia from Thyatira, who was a dealer in purple cloth. She was a woman who worshiped God, and the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying.” Acts 16:14
Attentiveness is a gift we give one another. True communication isn’t something that can be done to someone – only with someone.
Sometimes communication amounts to a minor miracle: Mutual, soul-deep understanding requires the touch of the divine.
Attentiveness is a gift we give one another. True communication isn’t something that can be done to someone – only with someone.
Sometimes communication amounts to a minor miracle: Mutual, soul-deep understanding requires the touch of the divine.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Eucatastrosphere
The twin piercings of humanness are the Incarnation & Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. One interrupts human life; the other, human death.
According to J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy.
Tolkien created the term eucatastrophe to fill a hole in the English lexicon. It’s meant to convey the notion that God has planted a seed of infinitely concentrated joy in the soil of human existence. It is a potent goodness, always becoming thinkable, visible, tangible through people saying yes to the Spirit.
The-way-things-ought-to-be exploding redemptively outward into the void of the-way-things-ought-not-to-be like a Big Bang of meaning, beauty, honor, grace...
The space created by this phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of God. Building upon Tolkien’s word, I've started thinking of it as the Eucatastrosphere -- a soul-scape shaped in the ripples of divine interruption...
According to J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy.
Tolkien created the term eucatastrophe to fill a hole in the English lexicon. It’s meant to convey the notion that God has planted a seed of infinitely concentrated joy in the soil of human existence. It is a potent goodness, always becoming thinkable, visible, tangible through people saying yes to the Spirit.
The-way-things-ought-to-be exploding redemptively outward into the void of the-way-things-ought-not-to-be like a Big Bang of meaning, beauty, honor, grace...
The space created by this phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of God. Building upon Tolkien’s word, I've started thinking of it as the Eucatastrosphere -- a soul-scape shaped in the ripples of divine interruption...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)