[Oe List ...] Salmon: Reflections on "Discernment"

Wed Apr 2 18:55:53 EDT 2008

Hi colleagues
I am intrigued by this dialogue.
My own experience is similar to Bill's - Elaine & I moved to a beautiful
spot in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, a couple of years ago with the
self-story that as we were approaching our seventh decade it was time for a
'tree-change' and that promised a slower pace of life with fewer full-on
engagements in the community. In the relaxed environment of the mountains it
did not take very long at all (probably no more than a week) for that
promise to become very alluring - a nice leisurely breakfast etc. And for a
while we managed to avoid getting too involved in local community
activities, although we already knew some community activists in the
Mountains. But I have found that I am constantly having an internal struggle
as the Mystery (or is it just the media) assaults my consciouness -
certainly has the force of a River - with images and stories which call for
my Care - the Mountain seems as large or larger than ever. So I guess in the
midst of all that I am left once again with the choice of saying "Yes" to it
all, or not, and then weighing up and deciding what action I will take. I
find this to be a daily experience!! The Sea of Tranquility sure has some
big waves.
Take care
John

On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 5:27 AM, Bill Salmon <wsalmon at cox.net> wrote:

>  Margaret --
>       May I cut in? This Rumba is now my Numba.
>       The offence of the Gospel is what got Jesus in trouble in the first
> place.
>     Several years ago I worked with a summer intern from Illif School of
> Theology. That summer we studied Bonhoeffer's "Life Together," and
> JWM's paper on "The Everyman Christ."  One of the sermons he preached was
> titled, "Don't wait for your ship to come in, it's already in." Now, that's
> that the Gospel too, isn't?
>     Thanks for sharing. "Excuse me for stepping on your feet, but I just
> have two left feet. But, what the hell, I'm gonna dance right outa my
> shoes."
>      Bill
> PS: You know, I keep asking the Lord for a rest; after all I'm now retired
> for eight years. However, the Lord keeps telling me, "Salmon, I've got a
> long rest planned for you, so keep your nose in the base drum and bang
> away."  Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Margaret Helen Aiseayew <aiseayew at netins.net>
> *To:* Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 02, 2008 1:21 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Oe List ...] Salmon: Reflections on "Discernment"
>
> Bill, et. al.
>
> I want to give thanks for the dance.
>
> Then I feel it is important to point out that unless I Really Awaken,
> Jesus gets nailed again to the cross., and when I REALLY AWAKEN I get nailed
> to the cross again.  Isness is not generally appreciated in our society, it
> is offensive.  I have discovered in the past few weeks that most of my
> congregants would prefer to keep the stone sealed in place, some are willing
> to have it rolled away to let in a little light, a few are willing to walk
> out of the tomb and only a one or two are willing to dance.  Last Sunday, I
> told them flat out that the Good News and the Bad News is:  You are the
> Messiah.
>
> Love you all, Margaret
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Bill Salmon <wsalmon at cox.net>
> *To:* Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 30, 2008 10:41 PM
> *Subject:* [Oe List ...] Salmon: Reflections on "Discernment"
>
> Roxanna and Weigle --
>     Doesn't it work both ways? Luther called us "little Christs," and
> unless Christ is risen in me, I'm not all that I'm called to be; i.e., to
> live the life for which I am created as servant and as sacrifice.
>     Unfortunately, unless I Really Awaken, Jesus gets nailed again to the
> cross. The unfortunte part is that when I elect to stay in bed, I'm not all
> the Is-ness that I am, and those lives that I elect to call forth from their
> tombs sleep on, and they do not live abundantly in their Is-ness.
>     Isn't this the motivation of emphasizing the Human Factors in Human
> Development? Wasn't this the motivation for getting me up every morning?
>     Inner Peace, ya'all. Bill
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* James Wiegel <jfwiegel at yahoo.com>
> *To:* Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
> *Cc:* oe at wedgeblade.net
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:43 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Oe List ...] Salmon: Reflections on "Discernment"
>
> So, if I push the "snooze" button . . . Jesus does too??
>
> *"foxy-rox at juno.com" <foxy-rox at juno.com>* wrote:
>
> How about 'Praise the Lord, Christ is Risen!' --and instead of 'He is
> risen indeed!' it should be 'He is risen in me!' Now THAT is a shaking of
> the foundations.
> Shalom, Roxana
>
>
>
> From: "Bill Salmon"
> To: "Ecumenical Order"
> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:47:47 -0500
> Subject: [Oe List ...] Salmon: Reflections on "Discernment"
>
> _____________________________________________________________
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>
> Colleagues on the Journey --
>     I enjoyed Mark Phillips' Earthrise reflections about the discernment
> of God. It made me stop to reflect on similar episodes when I've been asked
> to help someone discover the presence of God in their life. My first
> question is quite existential. How do we know a cow is a cow, or a tree is a
> tree? Of course, it is its "IS--NESS" that is discerned.
>     The same is true for us as humane and gracious creatures working for
> justice and mercy -- it is as we awaken to our "is-ness" that we discover
> the experience, or presence, of God. Well, at least we are one manifestation
> of the Mystery. Um-m-m-m, it seems to me this is the similar message Moses
> claimed from the Great "I Am!"
>     Isn't it fun to wake up to what we already are, but to which we spend
> most of our time asleep or in denial? Isn't this the demonstration of the
> Christ Event. Mark is right, Zorba experience it in quarter-time: Ah' ! - 2
> - 3 - 4, and'a 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. Thank God for Kaz. I suppose it is appropriate
> to thank God for Tillich as well. Once awakened, it is necessary to accept
> our awakenment as the gift it already is, already has been, and always will
> be. Isn't this The Way It Is (TWLI)?
>     Come to think about it, isn't this the purpose of that damn wake up
> bell: "Praise the Lord, Christ is Risen." "He [or she, as the case may be]
> is risen indeed!" Now, if my feet can find that cold winter boards on the
> 3rd floor of the Brussels convent. Oh, that's cold. Yep! That'll wake up
> anyone.
>     Inner Peace!
>     Bill Salmon
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
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