Dear friend,

Each section of the “Way of Love” Rule of Life has a set of resources to help us more fully take on the practices names by the Way of Love. In October we have focused on “Bless.” There is a lovely little book in Saint Philip’s Little Shop in La Paz that is a helpful hashing out of some ways of thinking about blessing, how do we bless, who do we bless, the specificity of Jesus’ blessing, and what all of this might have to do with who we are in Christ. There are too many poignant elements to share here, and too many references to make, so I would encourage you to check out this little pink book, or some of the resources provided by the Church at large on this practice that brings us closer to JEsus and each other. Here is a link to a Podcast:

One of the most poignant sections has to do with the vulnerability, hospitality of the heart, and gratitude required by and learned by blessing.

The authors write:

The old English word for Caring - caru - means sorrow, grief, or anxiety. Although this is a surprising description of the word, it holds within it an aspect that is critical to the spiritual practice of Caring. When we commit to the practice of caring, we become aware and attentive to the sorrow, grief, or anxiety that rises in us when we see others struggling and in need. It is, as Harold Kushner says, “running the risk of feeling.” When we truly risk feeling, we are doing longer able to ignore, avoid, or deny the reality of people’s needs.

The spiritual practice of caring begins when we decide to risk feeling.... in order to develop this kind of focus and attention, we need to open ourselves to the needs of others on a regular basis. We can do this by committing ourselves to a ministry that has no connection whatever with what we do in our daily work. Or, we might align ourselves with a community project that cares for the underprivileged in the community. Or, we might push ourselves beyond our comfort zones to give care to a group of people that we might find difficult to accept or love. Or, we might enter into a relationship with someone who experiences hardship on a daily basis.… When we encounter what we don’t understand, what we are fearful of, or what is unknown to us, and feel the sorrow and grief of compassion growing in us, we are ready for the practice of caring.

Such radical compassion causes three things to happen in our souls. First we grow in gratitude. We become grateful for the lives and blessings that we have been given, but even more we become grateful for the recipients of our caring. Through them we begin to see the places in our souls that have lane empty for too long. We gain insight into how those empty places might be filled. Hope begins to trickle into us and our hearts begin to gladden.

Second, we are diverted from our own struggles. As we notice and respond to the grief and sorrow that creep up in our souls, when we relate with those in need, we find that we are no longer so absorbed in our own dramas and storylines. As we open ourselves to what is outside of and beyond us, we are less fascinated with the often trivial stressors that occupy our minds and souls.

Finally, the practice of caring helps us pull back the mantle on meaning. The purpose of human existence, the power of God, the strength of human community is revealed in ways that had before seemed obscure. The practice of caring takes us out of ourselves and into the heart of God through the hearts of others.

Continuing on the theme of gratitude, the author writes:

When we begin gratitude practice, it is good to determine the strength of our gratitude muscles. We can start by writing down 100 things for which we are grateful. At first will find it we’re great very quickly. Our mind seems to pop with things that make us feel gratitude. Before we are halfway done, however, we’ll find ourselves going a little more slowly. The further we go, the deeper we need to dig. Toward the end of our list we will be looking for the smallest, most stealthy graces - and they will be there. When we finally complete the list we will feel both spiritual weariness and spiritual rejuvenation. This exercise will be a jumpstart for regular and consistent gratitude practice. As we progress in the practice, we begin to find that, rather than being grateful in hindsight, our souls are on the lookout for ways to see grace and to be grateful for it.

Practicing gratitude, hospitality, vulnerability opens us up to see God’s love, mercy, and grace in the world. When we bless and receive blessing, we might just feel and know the blessing of Jesus’ compassion, feeling with, being with us and those we meet.

In Christ,

Mtr Taylor

(The Way of Love: Bless, A Little Book of Guidance; Church Publishing, P. 13-20)

Mtr Taylor Devine