October 26, 2010 - The Authority of Compassio - ] Reflection from Henri Nouwen

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The Authority of Compassion

The Church often wounds us deeply. People with religious authority often wound us by their words, attitudes, and demands. Precisely because our religion brings us in touch with the questions of life and death, our religious sensibilities can get hurt most easily. Ministers and priests seldom fully realize how a critical remark, a gesture of rejection, or an act of impatience can be remembered for life by those to whom it is directed.

There is such an enormous hunger for meaning in life, for comfort and consolation, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for restoration and healing, that anyone who has any authority in the Church should constantly be reminded that the best word to characterize religious authority is compassion. Let's keep looking at Jesus whose authority was expressed in compassion.

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These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

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Blood Test Bingo - Part 3 Beat the house!

I'm just back from the hospital. All 7 tests were negative!

I do not have either TB or the systemic infection which seemed so evident on Monday.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes!

I am blessed by God and by my good friends and family who wrote to me this week.

Onwards to Chaplaincy and CPE at UCDMC.

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A good video of this year's KMVR Cletic Festival at Grass Valley

I am SO getting a "flip" camera next year.....  And a MAC!

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Decision - Part 2

I made the decision today. Or should I say "the decision was made for me".

I took one difficult step which dealt with something that had kept me up all night.

Then a number of positive unexpected events unfolded within 90 minutes this morning.

I am now the newest member of the Clinical Pastoral Education Class at UC Davis Medical Center. I spent today in class.

And I still have my job!

God works in wondrous ways..

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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I'm in a bit of a muddle.  In early  July, an educational/vocational opportunity was offered to me. This was an opportunity I had anticipated for at least two years.  However, due to funding issues, it had been repeatedly delayed.  In July, I once again was told this program could be a possibility for this Fall.

I sent back a request to meet and talk about it as it meant major vocational change.  When I heard nothing after over a month, despite a repeated email,  I presumed the funding got cut once more and started making other plans. 

Today I received a phone call that this program was indeed happening and I needed to make a decision by Friday and start next week!  This would result in my having to work 1 day less or 4 10-hour days to keep me at the same salery and to work 1 weekend per month.  It's doable but I'd have to disappoint quite a few people I've made commitments to for the next 6-9 months.  Among them would be my Rector at my church for whom I already work the equivalent of one weekend per month.

A year ago, say even two years ago, I wanted nothing more than this opportunity.  Now that two years have passed, I am not so sure.  A bad experience as a volunteer in this area has only deepened my self-doubt that this might not be my path.

My nephew just wrote a well-thought-out post on his blog about what people wanted when they make their concerns known on line.  He basically says that people want to be listened to, not given options.  Likely this is the case here.  I already know the options -- and the ramifications for each one on my future vocation, and on my current life and work.

So keep me in your prayers and good thoughts that I am led to the right path.  I will greatly appreciate them. 

Best,

BEN

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