I have come to expect an articulate presentation of brilliant insights and ideas from both Father Klavan and his son (no relation!), but for whatever reasons, this post, Spencer, was remarkable.
Thanks to both of you for this soul-feeding year of New Jerusalem! Keep 'em coming! We readers are much the richer for them!
The Bible recounts numerous instances of angels appearing (manifesting) to humans, interacting in dreams and in the physical world to communicate God’s plans or to perform some of His works. CS Lewis depicts angels as multi-dimensional beings with the ability to appear in an almost infinite number of ways.
In my life, I believe I’ve come across people doing angel’s work. I find it very sad that some people can not, or will not experience the wonder and awe of the supernatural in their lives.
Maybe someday soon, God will move in an incontrovertible way for all to see, and to believe.
I am just reading this on Sunday and the pastor said you will only hear the Holy Spirit if you are listening for it, so listen for it everyday. We need to be open to it for the words of Bible to be alive and moving. So many people have hardened hearts.
But the material causes in the case of Andrew's dream story oughtn't rightly to stop with his dream. Or you would have to also argue his illness was not a material reality, but also in his private perception. His connecting the two events has more to do with his attentiveness (cultivated through a life of prayer) than anything understood as either event in isolation. The real issue I think is that our lives aren't meant to be lived in terms of isolated events, and that the fabric that unites them most reliably is prayer.
I like the reference to a polyglot. When we look up a word, the dictionary will give us another few words to describe what the target word means. But words often transcend that small little definition and usher us into a world of rich and complex textures and associations. Trying to then take a dream or experience and reduce it to words is quite challenging, as dreams and experiences have tens if not hundreds of associations in visual, sensate, emotional and spiritual contexts. Sometimes just staying with or meditating on an experience that startles us may allow enough time or non-judgmental space to better understand it. Like experiencing a new delicious food or wine (or bourbon 😃) you roll it around your mouth and tongue to appreciate the various flavors, textures, and nuances it offers. Words are reductive of necessity, and when we move into music, the arts, and (certainly) the religious/mystical, words can be frustratingly limited and fail completely to satisfy.
I have come to expect an articulate presentation of brilliant insights and ideas from both Father Klavan and his son (no relation!), but for whatever reasons, this post, Spencer, was remarkable.
Thanks to both of you for this soul-feeding year of New Jerusalem! Keep 'em coming! We readers are much the richer for them!
The Bible recounts numerous instances of angels appearing (manifesting) to humans, interacting in dreams and in the physical world to communicate God’s plans or to perform some of His works. CS Lewis depicts angels as multi-dimensional beings with the ability to appear in an almost infinite number of ways.
In my life, I believe I’ve come across people doing angel’s work. I find it very sad that some people can not, or will not experience the wonder and awe of the supernatural in their lives.
Maybe someday soon, God will move in an incontrovertible way for all to see, and to believe.
I love these conversations. thank you.
I am just reading this on Sunday and the pastor said you will only hear the Holy Spirit if you are listening for it, so listen for it everyday. We need to be open to it for the words of Bible to be alive and moving. So many people have hardened hearts.
But the material causes in the case of Andrew's dream story oughtn't rightly to stop with his dream. Or you would have to also argue his illness was not a material reality, but also in his private perception. His connecting the two events has more to do with his attentiveness (cultivated through a life of prayer) than anything understood as either event in isolation. The real issue I think is that our lives aren't meant to be lived in terms of isolated events, and that the fabric that unites them most reliably is prayer.
I like the reference to a polyglot. When we look up a word, the dictionary will give us another few words to describe what the target word means. But words often transcend that small little definition and usher us into a world of rich and complex textures and associations. Trying to then take a dream or experience and reduce it to words is quite challenging, as dreams and experiences have tens if not hundreds of associations in visual, sensate, emotional and spiritual contexts. Sometimes just staying with or meditating on an experience that startles us may allow enough time or non-judgmental space to better understand it. Like experiencing a new delicious food or wine (or bourbon 😃) you roll it around your mouth and tongue to appreciate the various flavors, textures, and nuances it offers. Words are reductive of necessity, and when we move into music, the arts, and (certainly) the religious/mystical, words can be frustratingly limited and fail completely to satisfy.