Marrying Orthodoxy to Orthopraxy

Marrying Orthodoxy to Orthopraxis

“There’s a movement in the church to marry action and contemplation, to connect orthodoxy and orthopraxis. We’re not throwing out what we believe, but also focusing on practices that work out those beliefs. In the past few decades, Christianity has primarily been about what we believe. But in Jesus, we see an invitation to join our actions with a movement, rather than ideas and doctrine. People have grown tired of a Christianity that can say what it believes on paper but doesn’t have anything to show with our lives.”—Adapted from Shane Claiborne in When Action Meets Contemplation (Center for Action and Contemplation, 2010), disc 1.

Orthopraxis, or practicing our faith, differs from Orthodoxy, which is adherence to a particular belief. It is a paradox. We need both. We need to frame and reframe what we believe, but if we do not put that belief into practice, we are like a “noisy gong.” I am one of those people Shane Claiborne talks about who has numerous t-shirts spelling out social justice issues—but until I write letters, or make phone calls, or visit those in prisons, or those who are sick or in trouble, or those who are trying to immigrate to our country because they are in danger, I am not putting that belief into practice. I have learned this most pointedly from younger people.

The women in my family marched in the women’s march the day after a previous presidential inauguration, concerned about the human rights of others. We were talking with our feet. The crowds and speakers at this protest inspired us to do more.

That day has become like an icon for me, as I reach out from the words of my comfortable t-shirt to become more active, visit and make calls, and protect those in need. I know in my heart that this is the way the Spirit works. We are called to study God and the Spirit, but we are also compelled to find the God within ourselves, leading us to discover and connect to the God in others.

I share with spiritual friends that when I attempt to find God in others, God is most apparent in those in need. God most readily shines in those who are sick, dying, or seeking recovery, or at our food pantry, or our dinners for homeless veterans, or those today peacefully protesting for racial and social injustice or assisting those in our country who have fled oppressed countries like Afghanistan. Practicing the ministry of orthopraxy teaches us the most about orthodoxy and God.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

 

 

Centering Prayer

Centering prayer again

Guidelines

“1. Choose a sacred word to symbolize your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.

2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently, and introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.

3. Return ever-gently to the sacred word when engaged with your thoughts, feelings, images, and reflections.

4. At the end of the prayer period (20 minutes), remain silent with eyes closed for a few minutes.”—Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., www.contemplativeoutreach.org.

centering Prayer Group

 Reviewing the guidelines for Centering Prayer is worth doing often, even if we have been using this spiritual practice for some time. Catholic monks Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington, and Quaker Richard Foster have described this contemporary form of the ancient contemplative or listening prayer practice. This ancient prayer practice is rooted in the traditions of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, The Cloud of the Unknowing, Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross.

Thomas Keating

A friend from New York, Steve Standiford, associated with Contemplative Outreach, has practiced centering prayer for over twenty years. He reminded us at a retreat at our church of an old story about how to deepen our relationship with God and experience God’s presence and love in our lives through centering prayer. “A first-time tourist to New York City gets into the cab and asks the driver, ‘How do you get to Carnegie Hall?’ The driver responds, ‘Practice, practice, practice!’”  

As with most of our attempts to learn about a spiritual tool, we learn about the practice by practicing it over and over again.   

Joanna          https://www.joannaseibert.com/

 

What I learned at VBS

What I Learned at VBS

“Help me slow down, Jesus.

Hheellpp mmee ssllooww ddoowwnn JJEEUUSS.

Hhheeelllppp mmmeee ssslllooowww dddoowwwnnn, JJJEEEUUUSSS.

Hhhheeeellllpppp, mmmmeeee, sssslllloooowwww ddddoooowwwwnnnn, JJJJEEEEUUUUSSSS.” —“Bible Story Teller” in Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God! (Cokesbury VBS, 2018).

My friend, Mary Manning, and I have been the storytellers at St. Mark’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) for many summers. I have been the storyteller at VBS at the other churches I served, but I always did it alone. It was so amazing to have a partner. Mary is a retired schoolteacher. I am a former teacher of medical school students, residents, and fellows, but Mary had a lot to teach me. I had decided how to tell the story for each group. At our first meeting, Mary suggested we do it another way. She was so right. I keep thinking what a disaster it would have been if she had not been there.

Now I know why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. At my late stage, I am learning that almost any ministry is better with a partner, or even more, if possible. We learn so much from each other’s experience and expertise. Sometimes, our grandchildren helped us, which was even better.

This prayer for today about slowing down was our favorite from the story of Mary and Martha. I try to say it during my day, every day.

I learned one more thing at VBS. Mary and I were with each group of children for only twenty minutes. We told stories about Jesus calling the disciples, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, the Last Supper, and Jesus sending his disciples out with the assurance he would be with them always. Before telling the new story each day, we would review the story from the previous day. I was amazed that the children in each group, even the four-year-olds, remembered so much of yesterday’s story. Of course, each story was reinforced through crafts, music, and games.

VBS taught me that what we teach and say can be like seeds planted to germinate in children’s hearts for some later date. I am reminded of my teachers at VBS, who taught me about the love of God through stories. I am still learning from them through Mary.