Salty Goodness

Last updated on: March 3, 2007 at 1:59 pm by Cat Chapin-Bishop

Salty Goodness 2007-03-03T13:59:00-04:00 Cat Chapin-Bishop

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Two posts in one day? Holy Herne and Hecate, Batman, what is this blog coming to?

It was SO GOOD to have a snow day close my school yesterday. Amazing what a little bit of time off can do for your soul…

It may also be, if not amazing, a little odd for such a self-consciously Pagan Quaker to want to encourage you to read a post that ends by reflecting on what “we – – as His disciples – – ought to be,” but despite the clearly Christian language, I think one of the things my Quaker and my Pagan friends have in common is a deep desire to live lives consistent with their spiritual leadings. Which is what Brooklyn Quaker‘s post this week, It Needs a Little Salt, is talking about.

Something that has been coming up for me again and again in meeting for worship is the way I need to let go of working so hard to be virtuous and good. When I work at making a difference, I get tired and frustrated, or, if things are going well, I slip into self-congratulatory mode, and while I’m not a fan of self-abnegation, when you’re working with people and you start patting yourself on the back for how well your’e doing it, you tend to piss them off, to say the least. (Very few people enjoy thinking of their problems and tragedies as your spiritual self-improvement opportunity, or like to consider their lives as a “Good Cause.”)

And, you know, working against global warming and the destruction of ecosystems is certainly one way of living out my relationship with the Earth. But I think the Gods want more from us (speaking as a Pagan here) than to care for the planet. I think they want us to be in relationship with Them, too. The first priority isn’t fixing things–or people. That makes everything into an object, and it distracts me from what really comes first–being in love with God. Because, when you’re in love, and you’re with the beloved and attending to him or her, you don’t have to work at trying to do right by them. You’re going to do your absolute little human best for them, just because you can.

Crap. I sound like a lousy greeting card. I sound watered-down and saccharine, which is not how it feels. Brooklyn Quaker says it right:

“…The question can be asked – is all this stand-taking a form of faithful witness, or just self-indulgence? Do we really promote peace by being “for” it?… …if I knew how to really have an effect on the war in Iraq and to shorten the suffering by one day or save a single life, then the argument could be made that it would not be faithful to neglect… one effective action and turn my back on that one life or that one day of suffering.

“[E]ffectiveness” and “faithfulness” may not be antonyms. But neither are they synonyms. We can’t be faithful just by trying to be “effective”. Perhaps one can’t even be effective just by trying to be effective.”

There’s more. Just… what he said. (Oh, OK. In Quakerese: “This Friend speaks to my condition.”)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 3, 2007

Since Rome

Next Post

March 9, 2007 Holding Back?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Cat's posts Peter's posts Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 November 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 July 2000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz