tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31105118.post7660453573164985799..comments2023-09-12T08:47:06.615-04:00Comments on Naru Hodo: More Thoughts on that Advent RetreatMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04500724701139176293noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31105118.post-23137164766253659272008-12-05T09:52:00.000-05:002008-12-05T09:52:00.000-05:00Hi Laura,If I ever did read Jane Eyre it was so lo...Hi Laura,<BR/><BR/>If I ever did read Jane Eyre it was so long ago that I remember none of it. But perhaps I should give it a go!<BR/><BR/>I realize this post is sort of cryptic for people who either weren't at the retreat or who don't follow CL (or who don't have a clue what it is, this description perhaps fitting a few people who do follow CL as well, like myself a year ago when I was brand-spankin' new). One of my greatest desires with this movement is to be able to communicate the heart of it without resorting to lingo for which you basically need a dictionary to make sense of.<BR/><BR/>Nice to hear from you as always :)Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04500724701139176293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31105118.post-1597415023660559772008-12-05T08:39:00.000-05:002008-12-05T08:39:00.000-05:00I'm not sure I'm understanding everything just rig...I'm not sure I'm understanding everything just right, but I did read this and the "abstraction" post you linked to, I think I get some of it at least. <BR/><BR/>I struggle a lot with the idea of social interaction as a way to meet God, too. In theory, I understand it, but the reality is that my thoughts often scatter in a group where lots of people are talking at once, so then I have to reconcile my disparate social experiences with my spiritual life when I'm alone again (4 a.m. seems to be a recurring time for this). So when my pastor talks about Christian community and accountability, I tend to get tired just thinking about it. <BR/><BR/>Add to this the matter of being on the streets of NYC every day, and trying to see Christ in mentally ill people, even when I'm trembling because one of them just came up unexpectedly and screamed in my ear or something. I can see it easily enough in Flannery O'Connor, but at the moment I'm not likely to react well.<BR/><BR/>And lastly, I think I see a connection between what you said about seeing Christ in others, and Jane Eyre's reaction to St. John Rivers. (I don't know if you've read the book recently, or whether you want any spoilers, so take it for what it's worth.) I think he means her to take him as the literal voice of God, but she uses her freedom, her intelligence, and her affection to respond to the meaning of that call. It can be hard for a young woman, who has always been taught to equate obedience to God with obedience to godly men, to do that. But I don't think "seeing Christ in others" means that you subjugate yourself to the St. John Riverses in your life!<BR/><BR/>You wrote somewhere (the abstraction post, I think) that you admire the diversity within the Catholic Church as represented in the different orders, though you used to not get it. I think this hits at what I'm talking about, and I'm glad there is room for so many different kinds of people. But I'm speaking as one who is ill-informed on the Church, so I'll be quiet now and go back to listening ;-).Laura Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168905598871608315noreply@blogger.com