Ring Lake Ranch, a place for renewal in the wilderness. A place of wonder. And community.
I led some conversations about our days of awe and wonder and being Christian in the 21st century during my week at Ring Lake Ranch this summer borrowing from the title of a published collection of Marc’s work over his lifetime. I am not going to provide the week in review. (The week can’t be summarized. All the attendees made it happen, including kids, dogs and horses. And our nourishment came from terrific meals as well. You had to be there.) But in keeping with my reflection in our eNewsletter, I want to continue the conversation about the (mistaken) thought that the holy is beyond the physical world. A notion unfortunately common to Christianity.
The Holy is Not Beyond the Physical World
A wise author wrote that the holy or the numinous might be “beyond the command of the ego but not beyond the physical world.” (See Jerry Wright, Reimagining God and Religion.) Wright also suggests that the numinous “emerges from within life rather than from beyond it.” He talks of “grounded mysticism.” I will call it awe and wonder, here and now. And we have the capacity to see it. But as Merton wrote, “we don’t.”
Life is this simple. We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and God is shining through it all the time. This is not a fable or nice story. It is true. If we abandon ourselves to God and forget ourselves, we see it sometimes, and we see it maybe frequently. God shows Himself everywhere, in everything – in people and in things and in nature and in events. It becomes very obvious that God is everywhere and in everything and we cannot be without Him. The only thing is that we don’t see it.
The language here is dated. Today the symbol language of GOD is being re-imagined. But the observation I think is correct. What Merton affirms is that “mystical experience” is not for the few nor is it the result of some elevated spirituality. Rather, what we call the mystical is shining through all the time.
Our Perception is All We Have
For me it is the exaltation that anything exists at all that brings me back to the here and now. I do not suggest that all that is wondrous and numinous is limited to our perception. But the fact is our perception is all we have. What can be seen in the everyday is myriad. And it draws me deeper into loving this remarkable existence. Which is beautiful and fraught. We must take it all. Recognizing that the sacred is “red in tooth and claw” (that I observed in The Bush) and shimmers like “some vast incredible gift” awakening us to “morning in a new land.” We cannot always pick and choose what befalls. We can however reflect and wonder. This is a particular gift of our humanity. To use a word Gordon Kaufman uses for God, “serendipitous creativity” abounds. So do not lose heart.
A quote from Carl Jung at age 75 (thanks again to Jerry Wright):
To this day God is the name by which I designate all things which cross my willful path violently and recklessly, all things which upset my subjective views, plans, and intentions and change the course of my life for better or worse.
This is comparable to Dag Hammarskjold’s courageous prayer: “For all that has been, Thank You. For all that is to come, Yes.”
The Death of the God of Supernatural Theism
It is this world we must engage. And hope for. Not only are we (still) grieving the death of the God of Supernatural Theism (a death long announced) but I suggest we are in the throes of relinquishing the notion of supernatural mysticism, that the holy is beyond the physical world. We need embodied, first hand awareness. If it is second hand, it will fail to transform our seeing and being.
When we have a first hand encounter with the numinous, the holy, I suggest we will find ourselves as Thomas Merton did “on the corner of 4th and Walnut.”
On the corner of 4th and Walnut, I suddenly realized that I loved all these people and that none of them were, or could be, totally alien to me, as if I [were] waking from a dream – the dream of separateness, of the “special” vocation to be different. My vocation does not really make me different from the rest or put me in a special category except artificially, juridically [referring to the priesthood]. I am still a member of the human race – and what more glorious destiny is there for us, since the Word was made flesh and became, too, a member of the Human Race! Thank God! I am only another member of the human race, like all the rest of them. I have the immense joy of being a human being. If only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.
What do you make of my insistence that, as Jerry Wright says, the numinous is experienced within our life, not from beyond it. Does this prioritizing first hand religious experience or the experience of paying particular attention rather than second hand or inherited, interpreted religious experience seem important to you?
Interpreted Religious Experience
Have you ever found yourself on “4th and Walnut”? What did you experience?
I think we have gained much more since the death of the God of supernatural theism and the rejection of supernatural mysticism than we have lost. What do you think?
And what about Mary Oliver’s affirmation and admonition: “when death comes… when it’s over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms…. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
Spot on! Thank you for these words, Marianne. It makes me think of people I’ve met along the way who has made me feel like I too am shining.
There might be no way of telling people directly. Still, there are people who reflect it with their eyes, voices and touch. With their warm presence.
A “grounded mysticism”, yes please.
Kind regards from Sweden
Are. What a joy to hear from you. I have fond and rich memories or Marc’s and my time with you in Sweden. I am so glad we made that trip. A return to Marc’s roots, on his father’s side. Norwegian on his mother’s. And I remember Marc preaching at the cathedral. And our being at the wood church. Do I have that name right?!! Eager to learn how you are and your ministry. You are a bright light shining! Stay in touch.
Marianne: Your wonderful story about Africa and the transformative nature of that experience greatly moved me. I just returned from my annual month long vacation in out summer house in the Adirondack Mountain wilderness. On one of my hikes with others in my extended family, the shear beauty and tranquility of the wilderness caused me to remember what Marcus said about “thin places.” He said that a closed heart is insensitive to wonder and awe and that it loses track of the mystery and it doesn’t remember the one in whom we live, and move, and have our being. But, on that fabulous trek with people that I loved and with the overwhelming power of the natural setting I truly experienced a “thin place.” God is right here, Marcus taught us, not “somewhere else.” And, I felt that in my heart.
Brant. Thank you for this. And for Part Two which you were so good to send. Thin places. Yes Marcus recognized them. Being around him even created them, (do I idealize? It is what I remember… ). And I will even go farther and suggest he himself was a thin place! An open heart. I would like to think we are born with them. And whatever makes us flinch and close like a sea anemone when provoked we are given opportunities to return to our original state….and see the world anew…..an open heart slays us and saves us. Brant you read well and closely Marc. A lamp shining in an all too often dark place. Stay in touch.
Marianne,
Thank you for a wonderful message this month and an invitation to “wilderness.” I served a parish in Lander Wyoming years ago and would drive through Dubois on occasion to visit friends or spend time in Jackson Hole. And thanks for reminding me of “the more” which I seem to live by in my later years. I have had so little experience in travel, but recognize the benefits in learning and self-understanding it can provide. I’m thankful for our daughter and her husband who take every opportunity to travel as they teach English in various countries. It is the unfamiliar wildernesses that they look for in the out backs of Australia, and the gorges of Central Asia. They are still young and enter the culture of the people. In regard to your question on language. I will read that carefully and dare to suggest another book, “Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies” by Marilyn McEntyre. Thank you again.
Gene
Gene. Lander, Riverton, Dubois, the Absarokas. And The Wind River range is a geography of time. In that place you have traveled through eons. And how great that your daughter and son in law venture into dangerous beauty and return to you with basketsfull of treasure to share. Thanks to your recommendation I have now read Marilyn McEntyre’s Caring for Words…an elegant, erudite, richly rewarding invitation to taste and see the power and beauty and shaping wonder of word. Thank you! I may be overstating but I suggest she sees in language and poetry what Merton saw on 4th and Walnut. I welcome your continued suggestions for my own learning and understanding.
Marianne, your wonderful description of your visit to the plains of Africa reminded me of my trip there in 1985. One evening on the patio of one of the lodges where we stayed I was sitting with a dear friend at the edge of the patio by a low rock wall that separates us from the vast African plain that stretched before us as the sun was setting. We could see tiny specks in the distance that were animals of all kinds that were mingling peacefully together. We grew silent in the awe and wonder of it all and sat there together in silence for a long time as we quietly watched a large herd of elephants slowly passing by very near to us. I know it must have been at least 30 minutes of just silently drinking it all in when my friend turned to me and said, ”I feel as if I am sitting on the edge of creation.” I did too and have never forgotten that moment which also changed me forever.
Jim. Sitting on the edge of creation. And then to look behind us and realize we are in the midst of it. I remember seeing a herd of elephant saunter across a road remarkably close to our open Jeep or Land Rover. Calves were jostling along side. One elephant turned to look at us. Intently. Flapped its ears like great canvas sheets, raised its trunk, paused….relaxed its stance and continued on its way. At least two dozen elephants then disappeared into the brush and trees so silently. So silently. With no trace of their having been. The power of their presence, their soundless movement like cat feet, and their disappearance as remarkable as their presence was one of the soul slipping experiences of my time In the Bush. Along with the lioness, and bloodied freckles faces of cubs embibing their mothers kill. Magnificent, all of it.
Stay in touch, Jim.
Dear Marianne,
Your words, reflections and way of expression continue to be such an encouragement and confirmation to me. The firsthand experience of God in every aspect of this physical life IS what affirms “the More” to me daily. And I am amazed how you are able, after having lost the chance to share conversations with your dear Marc physically, to build on his body of work explaing this way of life with God “in whom we love and move and have our being.” It is as if you 2 are together, collaborating, still helping deepen my undetstanding…thank you.. ..thank you. I am so blessed to have found the chance to continue the conversation with your foundation . I love being at “4th and Walnut!”
Deb. I am touched by your words. Marcus was a deep teacher and partner. His wisdom and influence continues to reverberate for me and countless others. And now it is up to us to continue. The core, the heart of Marc’s insights and understandings are timeless. And a foundation for us to stand upon. Now to travel the way knowing that 4th and Walnut is an everywhere if we would only see it. And it is obviously where you and me and Marc meet. And continue the conversation. Thank you.
I am grateful for this reflection. I practiced as priest and pastor for the last 32 years, and now, retired, I am pursuing more fully what was a sidebar to my professional ministry . . . and the focus is wilderness, mystery, wonder, resilience and youth. For me these are themes that move me forward beyond the boundaries that hold (well) our tradition and practice. I now lead trips for youth and clergy into wilderness settings in order, simply, to experience community within a context of magic and awe. It works. And I am grateful.
Bill. It sounds like your ministry has moved beyond hallowed walls into what Emerson called “God’s Cathedral.” There is salvation outside the church! It has taken me a long time to let the natural world and wilderness be my teacher. One reason we moved to rural Oregon was my increasing awareness that, like everyone else, to dust I shall return. I wanted to get better acquainted with what I am part of. The landscape I live in now is exposed. I am learning about strength and vulnerability in unexpected ways. Continue your good work. Thanks for being in touch with us.
I read the book “Inventing the Passion” by Arthur Dewey and appreciated his development of the argument that Peter was written early in the development of the Gospels. One question is I had after reading the book was, are ther other scholars who support his argument for positioning Peter early in Christianity. I am enjoying the furthering fo Msrcus’s body of work by you and the Foundation
I have read many of Marcus’s books. His spiritual point of view resonates with my view of how to be a Progressive Christian.
Thanks for your efforts!
G
George. Glad you have engaged Arthur Dewey’s book. I found it fascinating even as some of the dating criteria is beyond my pay scale! I would have to search out your question.. Or ask Art. As with many scholarly arguments there are differences of interpering time and place. As I recall, Art cites some of the argument he uses to make his case for the gospel of Peter being early. Regardless I am intrigued and persuaded by his premise that the Jesus story was framed and strengthened by an earlier story about the persecution of the innocents. So glad you continue to engage with Marc’s life work and conviction that at the heart of Christianity is a wisdom that can help us live and love. It is embodied in Jesus. And we are called to follow in his way. Deep peace. Stay in touch.
Dear Marianne
As one seeking to live out an eco-theopraxis
wherever i find myself there is an acceptance
of an interactive experience (dialectic) between the sacred knowing of Place and a “book learning” that comes not so much out of the academy as out of the writer’s humble encounter with the numinous and their own sense of Place.
As i see it poetics are always on the initiating edge of creating new human ventures; recovering the original meaning of poeisis (the ongoing action of creating).
Currently interracting on these edge issues with my Journeying Colleague Rex Hunt who hasjust recently published “Seasons and Self – Being At Home in Nature” including a few of my Poetic Pieces.
Strength for the Journey!!
(The context for this peice of musing is a road trip as passengerbetween Cairns and Townsville)
John. your “humble encounter with the numinous and sense of Place” is poeisis. And even though the term is a bit technical I think theopoeisis is a fresh invitation to reimagine God and re-examine our experiences as portals of the sacred. Life itself. Rex Hunt! I had the pleasure of meeting Rex at a Common Dreams conference in Australia in 2016. Thank you for directing me to his new book, I will engage it! I hope to attend the next Common Dreams in 2019. And will be sure to reacquaint myself with Rex. Thanks so much for this. I welcome your insights and guidance in eco-theopraxis. We drink from the same well.
Greetings Colleagues
Here is a start of a response have also sent your post around my network for their consideration
More to come!!
EXPLORING A QUIETNESS OF TREES
Enticed into a place of dynamic silence
to walk within this presence of trees
with eyes non-focussed
called to the contemplation of in-scape
Feel here this anticipatory-hush
a holding of breath a coming to be
a birthing of the new
Here is a settledness
slowly gestating
marking seasons
of growth of loss
of consolidation
Intimacy of awareness
just beyond the reach
of questing fingers
of searching minds
of intricate imaginings
Rustling leaves
tinkling water
zephyr-breezes amongst bird-wings
Silence and sound organically intertwined
Presence fleetingly observed
through the corners of our eyes
Attempt to look them in the face
and they are — gone!!
(ends)
John. Thank you for this eloquent, elegant view from within and without. Inscape and landscape. I love what the “focus” of soft eyes brings into view. And somehow even though it is all fleeting, to borrow from Blake, we kiss this joy as it flies. And that is how such joy lives in us. Paradoxical. Keep sharing your perceptions. They quicken our own.
I love Mary Oliver and your musings brought me back to every year at the ocean, the hikes and walks I’ve taken in nature, and any time I am mindful and attentive to what is going on around me.
Becky. Fourth and Walnut is everywhere. And you see it.. “I am mindful and attentive to what is going on around me.” I will take that into my days. Thank you.