In the inflated realm of mythical oppression, villains are so villainous that no one sees themselves reflected in the image. When history is collapsed into myth, responsibilities become diffused, and repentance and reconciliation become impossible. Those who attempt to describe the horrors of one holocaust or another inevitably use language that mythically denies, romanticizes, or diminishes the oppression. The word courageous within the context of slavery is problematic because it has incongruous but romantic overtones. Here, enslaved Africans created narratives of survival that depended on personal courage and God’s deliverance. One example of crisis contemplation occurred on plantations: We need practices to move through suffering and find creative responses. Barbara Holmes, writes about “crisis contemplation” as a way to express grief and find refuge in the midst of danger. You may not always choose to try the practice we suggest, but I hope you will explore today’s, even if you have a regular contemplative practice. Howard Thurman Įach Saturday we offer an invitation to contemplative practice. Whatever there is that blocks this, calls for action. the basic consideration has to do with the removal of all that prevents God from coming to. If this were all, in and of itself, it would be important surely. to feed the hungry, not merely to relieve human suffering and human misery. The mystic’s concern with the imperative for social action is not merely. If being Christian does not demand that all Christians love each other and thereby become deeply engaged in experiencing themselves as human beings, it would seem futile to expect that Christians as Christians would be concerned about the secular community in its gross practices of prejudice and discrimination. What does our religion say to the poor, the disinherited, the dispossessed? -Howard Thurman ( Thursday) It has long been a matter of serious moment that for decades have studied the various peoples of the world and those who live as our neighbors as objects of missionary endeavor and enterprise without being at all willing to treat them either as brothers or as human beings. Howard Thurman ( Monday)įaith teaches us that God is. God reveals God’s Presence out of the mystery of Being.

The goal of life is God! The source of life is God! -Howard Thurman ( Sunday) Summary: Sunday, July 21-Friday, July 26, 2019

The Centering Moment by Howard Thurman