Month: October 2024 (Page 2 of 4)

My journey as a follower of Jesus, in the fourth quarter of my life, has been influenced by the Carmelite spiritual stream of the Catholic Church, especially St John of the Cross.  I have needed help to making St John relevant in my life.  I have found help in the person of Fr. Donald Haggerty in his teachings on contemplative prayer.  One of his books “Contemplative Enigmas” includes a quote from Saint Edith Stein, a Jewish convert to the Catholicism.  Here is her quote.

“We are a spiritually impoverished generation; we search in all the places the Spirit ever flowed in the hope of finding water.  And that is a valid impulse.  For if the Spirit is living and never dies, he must still be present wherever he once was active forming human life and the work of human hands.  Not in a trail of monuments, however, but in a secret, mysterious life.  He is like a small but carefully tended spark, ready to flare, glow and burst into flame the moment he feels the first enkindling breath.”  

Personally, I have been struggling in my twilight years to become more of a “soulful” man.  I have always been a “heart” person, that is, someone who is more in touch with his emotions then with his “head.”  I connect first with heart, then head.  Even so, I have been reluctant to become aware of my inner life.  In my cry for transparency and authenticity, I have come to realize that I have been more of a “surface” man rather than a “soulful” man.  My time in retirement, having a home in a senior apartment complex, has given me ample opportunity to practice “soul care.”  It has been both liberating and painful.  But my wife (my spiritual director) thinks I am making progress. 

I have learned to embrace such terms as “longing, desire, thirst, and hunger” in my walk with the Lord.  After 40 years of being exposed to the teaching of St John of the Cross on the spiritual life, I am finally making some connections in my walk with the Lord.  The concept of “The living flame of love” speaks to my longing for God.  Deep within my soul the presence of the Lord is like a flame of love, waiting for me to discover the depths of His love for me.

The Palmist wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps 42:1-2a).  In his poem, St John puts it this way.  “O living flame of love / that tenderly wounds my soul / in its deepest center! / Since now you are not oppressive, now consummate! / If it be your will / tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!” My interpretation – “God you have come to my deepest center in love.  You call me your beloved.  But I have a hard time knowing your love for me.  Brake through the veil of my ignorance so that I may rest in your love.”  This for me is a lifelong process.  John has helped me.

One more passage from the “flame of love.”  “How gently and lovingly you wake in my heart / where in secret you dwell alone; /and in your sweet breathing, /filled with good and glory / how tenderly you swell my heart with love.”  My interpretation – If I am still and listen to my soul life, I become more aware of His love for me which “passes all understanding.”  I don’t understand or fully discern His love for me, but I have the assurance beyond my comprehension that I am His beloved. 

Axios Twin Cities had a very disturbing online article entitled, “Right to lie.”  They were dealing with the issue of “why campaign lying is generally legal.”   As the campaigns attempt to sway voters during this campaign season, politicians will “face few, if any, legal consequences for stretching the truth or telling outright lies.”  Voters are going to be inundated with political TV ads, mailers and texts.  There will be many questionable claims.  “But a long history of court rulings protects politicians’ ability to lie in most cases.” 

Political speech is foundational under the First Amendment. “Lies are not only protected, but even more so for politicians.”  Travis Ridout at Washington State University notes, “We do have laws against defamation, but usually the burden is very, very high when it comes to public figures.”  A lot of leeway is provided for politicians to make exaggerated or misleading campaign claims. Victor Menaldo at the University of Washington points out, “voters should always be skeptical and never take what politicians say at face value.” Then he makes this incredible observation, “Politicians are not in the truth business, but in the power business and quite often the truth is collateral damage.” 

During this political campaign cycle Americans’ top concern around misinformation is politicians spreading it to manipulate their supporters.  “54% of respondents in a survey agreed with the statement, ‘I’ve disengaged from politics because I can’t tell what’s true.'” Half of the voters who were polled said when it comes to political news and the media, “it’s becoming too difficult for them to tell what is true and what if false.”  John Gerzema, CEO of the Harris poll observed, “It used to be, we were worried about China or Russia, fake ads or Facebook.  Now, no, it’s coming from the campaigns.”  

Like so many Americans, godly men are frustrated, not knowing who to believe during this election season.  “Eight in 10 voters said they believe that misinformation can significantly affect election, political discourse and civility.” The article encouraged readers to check other sources to fact check the information they receive.  But we are told to be patient.  “It can take time for reporters and others to get to the bottom of whether a claim is true or false.  If something you see seems unbelievable, it’s smart to take a beat before sharing it more broadly.”  

So, who is the best source for “fact checking.”  As follower of Jesus, we have a great fact checker.  When Jesus was confronted by Pilate, the reply of Jesus during this intense political confrontation should give us guidance in our fact checking. Jesus declared, “I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.  All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true?”  To oppose Jesus and His kingdom is to believe and be deceived by a lie.  

Jesus warned us that our arch enemy, the devil is behind all lies. “He was a murderer from the beginning.  He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).  Men, remember during this election season, we are in a battle for the truth.  Jesus is the truth. The devil is a lair.  

We still have to do the work of discerning the truth along with fact checking.  Knowing truth will not be easy.   Praise God, with our eyes on Jesus during this election season, we will be following the truth.  So, in dialogue with others, while not having the full answer, we can declare Jesus as the sure truth.