Ray Simpson, guardian of the Community of Aidan and Hilda has just made this available as guidelines the the CAH way of life.
Technorati Tags: lifestyle, rule, way_of_life, CAH, Celtic, spirituality
LIVING BY A WAY OF LIFE
WHY MAKE A WAY OF LIFE?
Without one
o choice fatigue
o data overload
o conflicting ego demands
hijack our desire to live only for God.
Then we
o get tangled up
o or go round in circles
CHRISTIANITY BEGAN AS A WAY OF LIFE (Acts )
WE WANT TO RECOVER THIS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
TEN WAY MARKS
1. LIFE-LONG LEARNING
2. SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
3. RHYTHM OF PRAYER, WORK
AND RE-CREATION
4. SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE THROUGH
INTERCESSION
5. SIMPLE LIFE-STYLE
6. CHERISHING CREATION
7. HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITES
8. LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
9. BUILDING UNITY
10. BRINGING JESUS AND JUSTICE TO THE
WORLD.
1. LIFE-LONG LEARNING
FOOD PACK FOR SOUL FARERS
We learn from
BIBLE
CREATION
PEOPLE
LIFE
USE THE BIBLE AS
A MEMORY PACK
Learn & repeat verses from Psalms and Gospels
A MEDITATION SOURCE
Imagine Jesus speaks to you
What words stand out?
What do you feel?
What might God be saying?
What do I say to God?
How do I act on what God’s saying? (Ask God)
What do I most want God to do in me today?
Make notes or draw …
1. LIFE-LONG LEARNING
LEARN FROM CREATION
Each day hold
the Book of Scripture in one hand
the Book of Nature in the other hand.
Look at a
* Scene
* Plant
* Creature
* or Mineral
What do you feel?
What might God be saying? (Ask God)
What is your response?
1. LIFE-LONG LEARNING
LEARN FROM INSPIRED PEOPLE
These are
A cloud of witnesses (Hebrews)
Athletes of the Spirit (Desert fathers and mothers)
Which of these most inspires you
And what might God be saying to you through them?
* A person in the Bible …
* A desert Christian …
* A Celtic Christian …
* A second millennium Christian …
* A living person …
Which of their qualities do you most need to develop?
How will you do this?
1. LIFE-LONG LEARNING
LEARN FROM LIFE
Before you sleep, reflect on the day
THINK OF
o A BLESSING; THANK GOD FOR IT
o A FAILING; SAY SORRY
How might you behave differently next time?
o SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED
Write or draw the most important of these that you don’t want to forget …..
2. SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
We view our life as a journey
We have no permanent home on earth (Hebrews)
I have not yet arrived (Philippians)
THREE AIDS ON OUR JOURNEY
1. THE SOUL FRIEND
We meet at least twice, sometimes often each year
2. THE RETREAT
We retreat in order to advance, at least once a year – in a wild place or retreat house
3. PILGRIMAGE
We act out the inner journey by making an outward journey
e.g. a prayer walk or a journey to a pilgrim centre
3. SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
QUESTIONS FOR YOU
AND YOUR SOUL FRIEND
When do you plan to meet with your soul friend this year?
What question do you wish to ask?
What weaknesses do you hope overcome?
What strengths do you hope to develop?
What areas of life or Christianity do you need to learn more about?
What kind of retreat do you need help to plan?
Do you need help to plan a pilgrimage?
PILGRIMAGE
We act out the inner journey by making an outward journey
e.g. a prayer walk or a journey to a pilgrim centre
PICTURE OF CORACLE
BAPTISM SERVICE --- JOURNEY --- ENDS AT THE DOOR
PRAYER
BE A GUIDING STAR ABOVE ME …
BIBLE PASSAGES
Genesis 12:1-9; Exodus 13:17-14:31 (or any of the other Exodus stories); 1 Kings 19: 1-9; Psalm 84:5-7; 121; Luke 9: 51-55; Hebrews 12:1-3; 13:14.
TO DO
Draw a route on paper. Make it the route in life that you have taken in your spirit. Mark on the route the significant points along the way. Where were the major junctions when you had to make decisions? Where do you think the route is heading now? How has God guided you through it all?
WHAT PROVISION DO YOU MAKE FOR REFRESHMENT AND REST ALONG THE JOURNEY?
WHAT THIN PLACES ARE THERE FOR YOU?
TO BE ABLE TO BE FULLY OPEJNN TO THE WINDS OF THE SPIRIT,
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LET GO OF?
3. RHYTHM OF PRAYER, WORK AND RE-CREATION
Bible Christians (like Jews and Muslims) obeyed God
by keeping a daily rhythm of prayer, work and re-creation.
The Aim is to have a good balance of
Work-life
Body-mind-spirit
PRAYER –
REFLECT THE SUN’S RISING, ZENITH AND SETTING
CREATE SPACES MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT
******
CREATE SPACES EACH DAY FOR –
* PAID WORK
* UNPAID WORK
* RE-CREATION
* SOCIAL DUTIES
SWAP THESE AS NEEDED
4. SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE THROUGH INTERCESSION
Overcome evil with good (apostle Paul)
LIST PROBLEM AREAS GOD PUTS IN YOUR HEART
PRAY ‘YOUR KINGDOM COME’ FOR THEM
FIX A TIME TO INTERCEDE OR
CONSTANTLY KEEP THESE IN MIND
VISUALISE HOW THESE AREAS CHANGE
INTERCEDE = THINK >> FEEL >> ACT
5. SIMPLE LIFE-STYLE
CUT OUT
WHAT CLUTTERS ONE’S SPIRIT
IN
ACTIVITIES
POSSESSIONS
RELATIONSHIPS
CULTIVATE HABITS
THAT MAKE US CLEAN, CLEAR, COMPASSIONATE, CREATIVE
E.G.
MINDFULNESS
DIET
EXERCISE
FRIENDSHIP
…
6. CHERISHING CREATION
THROUGH CREATION LET GOD
CHERISH US
IN OUR
CONTEMPLATION
EXPLORATION
CO-CREATION
Focus on one of the five elements
o air
o earth
o fire
o water
o flowers
Ask God: What do you teach me through this?
6. CHERISHING CREATION
THROUGH US LET GOD
CHERISH CREATION
IN OUR ECO-FRIENDLY
SHOPPING
TRAVEL
ENERGY USE
RE-CYCLING
E.G. L.O.A.F. – LOCAL, ORGANIC, ANIMAL-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE.
AND
BLESS THE EARTH!
7. HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
Each person and community has wounds
caused by abuse, neglect or selfishness
Healing is possible
Healing is a process
We seek healing of
* Ourselves
Others
Communities
Places
We call this Healing the Land
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
WE HEAL OURSELVES
by inviting Divine Love into
our wounded parts
TO DO
Be still.
Become aware of a wound in yourself. If you are not aware of a wound, ask yourself where you are defensive or bossy – what wound might that heal?
Invite Jesus (Divine Love) to come into your wound.
What does he say and do?
What do you feel?
What do you say?
How are you healed?
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
The journey from fragmentation towards wholeness means
WE CULTIVATE THE TRAIL
OF THE FULL HUMAN BEING
The glory of God is seen through a life fully lived
Irenaeus
Repeat this prayer:
I invite God’s Spirit to move me
From fear to faith
From self to the other
From being false to being real
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
WRITE WHAT THESE MEAN FOR YOU
To be real means …
To live all out means …
The highest, deepest, widest means …
To bear another’s pain means …
To love for better or worse means …
To laugh means ….
To wonder means …
To die well means ….
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
W E HEAL ANOTHER
by listening to, loving and
praying for their wound
Become aware of a wounded person you are drawn to pray for.
Invite Jesus (Divine Love), accompanied by you, to come into their wound.
What does he say, do and feel?
What do you say, do and feel?
What does the wounded person say, do and feel?
HOW MIGHT YOU LISTEN TO, SHOW LOVE, OR PRAY WITH THIS WOUNDED PERSON?
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
WE HELP TO HEAL A COMMUNITY
(organisation, work-place, church or town)
by
* learning the story of its wounds
* Bringing representatives of wounders and wounded together
* Expressing sorrow and forgiveness
* Dedication and prayer
This can only be done when the time is right.
Only some are called to initiate this.
All should be aware of and practice principles ofr conflict resolution.
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
CONFLICT RESOLUTION PRINCIPLES
1. LISTEN TO THE OTHER SIDE’S STORY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OF JUDGEMENT.
2. EXPLAIN YOUR SIDE’S STORY W
3. EXPLAIN THE HURTS YOU FEEL FEEL WITHOUT BLAME.
7 HEALING FRAGMENTED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
WE HEAL OR RE-HALLOWA PLACE - by
re-hallowing it with presence and prayer
May Christ break the power of the past to control the present.
Heal all that harms
Bless all that is of you.
8.LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
WE CULTIVATE
o THE ART OF LISTENING
o APPROPRIATE PROPHECY
8.LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
THE ART OF LISTENING
A thousand voices shout at us. We listen to the most urgent or alluring (e.g. they appeal to our pride or comfort), and block out the rest. Divine little whispers are lost.
TO DO
LIST THE FIVE MOST URGENT VOICES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LIST THE FIVE MOST ALLURING VOICES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
8.LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
THE ART OF LISTENING
TO DO
LISTEN TO WHAT SOMEONE MOST WANTS TO SAY TO YOU (ASK THEM)
After 2 minutes, reflect back what you think they most wanted to say to you. Ask them to advise you how much was accurate.
LISTEN TO WHAT IS DEEPEST IN YOUR SOUL
1. Fears?
2. Aspirations?
3. A calling to do, help, heal, relate, create?
4. Compassion – to be in union.
(Four is deepest)
8.LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
WE CULTIVATE
APPROPRIATE PROPHECY *
* ‘to communicate a thought or picture we sense comes from God’
TO DO
Agree to sit with someone you don’t know well.
In silence focus on God’s purpose for that person. If a mental picture, word, thought or scripture verse comes into your mind that you think is for that person, share it with them.
Now let the other 8.LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT
9. BUILDING UNITY
At the heart of God is a flowing communion of Loves
God has designed us to reflect this on earth
‘May they be one as you and I are one’
Jesus’ prayer on his last night
WE BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN FOES IN A
STREET
ORGANISATION
OR SOCIETY
******
WE WEAVE TOGETHER SEPARATED
GOD-GIVEN STRANDS OF SPIRITUALITY
E.G.
BIBLICAL
SACRAMENTAL
PENTECOSTAL
JUSTICE
ORTHODOX
9. BUILDING UNITY
WE MAKE MENTAL ACTS
OF UNITY WITH JESUS IN THE
SCRIPTURES
SACRAMENT
OVERSEERS (E.G. BISHOP)
POOR AND HURTING
10. SHARING JESUS AND JUSTICE
WE OFFER A
* LISTENING EAR
* HELPING HAND
* MUTUAL SHARING OF CONVICTIONS
TO EACH PERSON GOD DRAWS US TO
TO WRITE
If someone asks me ‘What does Jesus mean to you I would say
If someone asked me what it means to follow Jesus I would say
WE SUPPORT SOME ACTION FOR
A JUST WORLD WITH OUR
o MONEY
o SERVICE
o OR WORDS
THE THREE LIFE-GIVING PRINCIPLES OF
SIMPLICITY
PURITY
OBEDIENCE
ARE APPLIED TO EACH WAY MARK
E.G.
PURITY IN STUDY MEANS WE LOVE LEARNING FOR ITSELF, WE DO NOT GRASP FOR PRESTIGE DIPLOMAS
OBEDIENCE IN LIFE-STYLE MEANS WE ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF A DOCTOR OR
SOUL FRIEND
SIMPLICITY IN RHYTHM MEANS WE FOLLOW OUR HEART, NOT EVERY PERSON AND PRESSURE
Technorati Tags: lifestyle, rule, way_of_life, CAH, Celtic, spirituality
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