Friday, May 05, 2006

The Other Side of Silence

Author: Morton T. Kelsey
Publisher: SPCK, London
ISBN. 0281 029849

An excellent book written as a guide to Christian Meditation. It focuses on the discipline from both Western and Eastern tradition and considers meditation in the light of other spiritual traditions, Zen and TM to name just a couple as well as the psychological paradigm of Jung. The 'Checklist' is especially of note. His comment here on the importance of relational theology it timely. It is full of anecdote and illustration. It has particular good sections on the use of 'time' as well as on the interpretation of dreams. I found it surprisingly easy to read.

'A complete religious life involves more than one element. It needs to be rooted in the traditional practices and beliefs and morality of the Church. At the same time it also needs to seek the bliss and contemplation of God that provides the essential meaning to these traditional practices and the motive to share that meaning with others. Finally, the whole structure depends upon the individual’s continual growth and ability to bring all parts of the being into the religious process and keep integrating them so that more and more of the love of God is brought into himself and then into the world. This last process, in particular, involves the use of images and imagination.'

Morton T. Kelsey, ‘The Other Side of Silence’, London, SPCK, 1976, p.155.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Finding a Spiritual Friend

Friendship is essential, according to Eugene Peterson, for 'developing spiritual depth'. Timothy Jones, formerly associate editor of Christianity Today, has produced a book which is trully a literary Barnabas. This little book will encourage you to see how friends and mentors can make your faith grow. 'True spiritual help is more than a human enterprise. God is the central actor in the partnership' writes Jones. Recall, He was the one that said, 'It is not good that man is alone' and as the writer of proverbs 13:20 counsels, 'Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise'.

The cover here is of the reprint, I have an earlier edition. It is published by Scripture Union, 1998, ISBN 1 85999 3362

Adventure Inward by Morton T Kelsey

Publisher: Fortress Press 1980

It wouldn't be to much of an exaggeration to say that is very much a practical manual on journaling as a spiritual discipline. Its chapter on the possible dangers in journaling is of great help. Whilst the book can just as easily be read and appreciated by someone from a non religious background it is a good guide for Christians. He understands that the journal, in this regard, is not the end but the means to the end, the scaffolding around the construction of our relationship with God. I don’t think his conclusion that those who can read and write will never come to the depth of relationship with God that is there for them if they do not write a journal.

He also issues a warning that the keeping of a journal will not in and of itself develop our relationship with God unless we are willing to put into practice the insights we have arrived at in the process of reflection. Writing,

‘One can keep an exciting and delightfully written record of one’s inner life, and it can still end in a dead-end street religiously. It may be playful, charming, full of fun, and yet come in the end to despair and disillusionment. If one knows how to follow playfulness and humor God, one can find the way; but this road does not inevitably lead there. The great existential writers like Camus and Sartre lead usually to despair.’ (page 29).

He rightly believes that God has placed within us all the potential for growth in relationship with Him as well as our own personal growth, through that relationship, in order that we attain the full measure of sons and daughters in Christ that He desires us to be.