The last chapter about the neighborhood church in Part I is called "Finding Home." The study guide (pp. 289-294 in the back of the paperback edition) has only two questions for this chapter.
1. With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
2. Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church?
Later, I wrote a separate post on
labyrinths, mentioned on page 56. Click on the link to see photos and read about labyrinths.
11 comments:
Once again I would like to answer the question before and after reading:
1. With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
At this time I will choose the exile. But I do feel that my community church is my family, with my spiritual/religious books that I read as my extended community...this is communion with the saints for me.
2. Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church? I do not participate in a physical congregation at a weekly church service. I grow primarily outside the context of the physical community. My growth comes through me association with the community of the saints in a spiritual realm.
Now that I have read the Finding Home Chapter, I will call myself a seeking pilgrim who is not in a physical church. I do consider myself a member of the Body of Christ.
1. I most strongly identify with villager since I obviously am at home in my Disciples' tradition. I might have a tiny bit of conversion to progressive (or emerging) Christianity, although most of my spiritual journey has been a deepening of the conviction of following Jesus' life and of social justice.
2. I do appreciate mu congregation for their commitment to outreach, both locally and globally, but I grow and change in my faith outside of church, through my personal study and meditation and my conversations with my best friend.
I'd first heard of current day labyrinths by reading an article in a quilting magazine. They do sound like a good meditation place unless one would wind up with a fear of getting lost or falling (two things that I do far too frequently).
I was especially touched by the compassion that the church showed to the family whose daughter-in-law committed suicide. I do think that churches are becoming more accepting of suicides. I remember hearing that at least among Catholics that they not only would not give a funeral mass, but they would not allow these victims to be buried in the Catholic section of the cemetery. All of the questions that a suicide would bring in addition to the loss of a loved one would be even worse if one's church home did not show compassion. The church should be there for the survivors of any death--the person who died, regardless of the means, is no longer subject to earthly constraints so it makes no sense for others to judge them.
1. With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
I am a mixture. I am a returnee to the church since I didn't go much for several years. I am a convert to the Lutheran church since I grew up as a Baptist. I am a villager in that I have been a member of the Lutheran church for over 40 years and a member of the current congregation for over 30 years. However, unlike the examples in the chapter, I don't feel that I am at home in my church.
2. Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church?
Although various Bible studies and the church services have helped in my spiritual growth, most of mine has occurred outside the context of church.
Shirley, I wrote a post on labyrinths for you and anybuddy else who is not familiar with them. I'll put a link inside this post about chapter four, but here's the separate post on the subject:
http://bookbuddies3.blogspot.com/2012/10/labyrinths-chapter-4-page-56.html
1. With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
I've been on a spiritual quest my whole life, questioning and learning and trying to understand. I was unhappy that white men denied civil rights to so many people. In the 1970s and 1980s, I did management training about racism, sexism, and EEO compliance (Equal Employment Opportunity), teaching managers what they could and could not say to blacks and women — and why. I guess questing means I could be called a pilgrim, while also being an activist for social justice.
2. Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church?
Most of my learning has been in juxtaposition to the church and the congregations I've known. The church was just as guilty as the rest of society in segregating blacks and whites and refusing to "allow" women full human rights. I have grown by reading, studying with or without others, pondering, and asking questions. Sometimes, though rarely, the church is interested in the same things I am.
Zorro, I like what you said (above) about reading being "extended community" and "communion with the saints for me."
I admire you, Bonnie, for your lifelong spiritual quest and your activism to try to help other's overcome their racism/sexism (or at least improve their overt behavior).
I agree, too, with Zorro's comment on books being part of your extended community. Books have been such a wonderful source of growth and re-examination of my values throughout my life.
1. Where did you grow up? What was the world like then? How have things changed since your childhood?
Born and raised in Pasadena, Calif. My parents belonged to Grace Lutheran Church, which I attended until I was married. Society had a sense of right and wrong which I think has been lost over the passed fifty years.
2. How do you think your childhood experience has shaped your spiritual longings?
My life has taken many turns good and bad but I hold on to the thought there must be a Holy Spirit because I have seen miracles happen. I trust my soul will guide me in the right direction for my life.
3. Do you relate to the idea of being a “Spiritual nomad?” Why or why not
A spiritual nomad would be a good description of me I have not attended church for many years. When my children were young, I returned to church that did not work. When I moved here to Illinois, I returned to church once again that did not work either. I have noticed that people come and go in church or change churches. I seldom ask God for things for me often ask for friends and relatives and always thank him for what we receive.
1. With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
The villager would be me, we live in a village now with a Lutheran Church within walking distance to my back door. Here is the problem I do not attend church because I live with a man I have lived with for the past forty plus years. I spoke with the reverend years ago about my personal situation he just smiled and said he understood. We do not fit into the normal people here in the village of 750 people even though we have lived in this place for over 20 years. When I go to the beauty shop, I hear what the ladies are saying about other people and can just imagine what they say about me. My thinking at this point in my life I do believe being different having a different way of living is a personal thing between our heavenly father and your soul.
2. Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church?
I lost both my feet twenty years ago following a massive heart attach, Richard stayed with me during those months of rehabilitation. He is still with me today so my life outside the context of my church has not been great but I still struggle like everyone else does and believe there is a reason why I am still here on earth. I learn each day how to accept people who are different from me.
Caboose, Richard sounds like he has definitely stood the test of time and loyalty.
Living in a small village may be worse in terms of judgmental behavior, but it is surprising how in the 40 plus years I've been a Lutheran how much less things like adultery has been preached. The change is a result of the changes in the behavior of the church members. Divorce and remarriage, illegitimacy, and probably living arrangements similar to yours are fairly common. You might just start attending the church and learn how accepted you are or are not. I haven't found the Lutherans to be a particularly friendly group (quite a contrast to the Baptist church I grew up in), but I am sure that in varies by congregation. So if they act snobbish, it may be their general behavior. Good luck to you in whatever way you decide to make your spiritual journey. A person can be a very spiritual person without attending church.
With which image do you most strongly identify: returnee, exile, immigrant, convert, or villager? Does another image better describe your faith journey?
I guess I'm mostly a villager, being "settled" in my lifelong affiliation as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). I really like, however, the idea of being "continually converted" - and I believe I'm still on a pilgrimage.
Does your congregation have an impact on your spiritual journey – or do you grow and change primarily outside the context of church?
The congregation with which I currently worship has the feeling of "joining God's people, being incorporated into the body of Christ." We often speak of the congregation as "our family." It's a nice feeling, that general sense of belonging, that we're all working together for a common goal. But my personal growth really has to happen outside of the context of church, I think, because it is personal.
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