Alice Despard's Response

Dear All:

I am enjoying this exchange tremendously.
I think we should always have an on-going topic that we can
weigh in on together in a forum style such as this.
It will help keep us grounded and in touch with each other,
especially since we are so far-flung geographically
and getting together, at least as often as we'd like, is a challenge.
I know the OOOW blog was intended to serve this purpose,
but I would guess that some are more comfortable posting
only to the group in this more intimate way.

As a preamble, I'd like to say that the retreat spent
in the presence of Rabbi Rami Shapiro and Lynn, et al,
was a phenomenal, blessed time.
I returned home so inspired by Rami's teachings,
and so energized and focused from Lynn's
invitation to re-examine our mission statement.
For me, these retreats are so important --the synergy
of teamwork is an invaluable aspect of our work in the world.
I welcome any chance I can get to converse with you,
the members of the Order, especially as a newbie
struggling to find my path.

I really resonated with all the responses so far,
and particularly with Blake's main points regarding
our particular ministry within this powerfully transformative
era of the Church.
Midwives, triage workers, and hospice caretakers are all needed.
Furthermore, I feel this work cannot be accomplished without deep
commitment to one's particular stream of faith.
Grace pours itself into the vessel wherein there is strong faith.

The spiritual tourist of which Blake speaks will not be able to withstand
the pressures and intense difficulties inherent in the work of the shifting of ages.

We all share the cultural and theological bedrock of the Abrahamic traditions...
the foundation is wide and the bedrock is deep-rooted.
The combined forces of wisdom and faith within the inner Christian tradition creates
a unique space within the psyche. This space--this spaciousness--
is essential and it is from this spaciousness that we can convey
and transmit to others the most precious tenets of our faith and gnosis.
The commitment of the heart to one stream--the Yeshua teachings in this case,
is essential for deep transformative inner work.

We know this.

And yet, I sense in many people, both within and outside of the Order,
a fundamental ambivalence towards their Christian heritage.
Many people--even those who have practiced within the Christian
faith their entire lives--seem to have suffered some degree of trauma with regard
to being a Christian: they have suffered through bigoted fundamentalism,
sexual hypocrisies, moral relativism, spiritual distortions and rampant egoism
in the ranks of both clergy and lay--in short, the Church's tarnished image in the world
has been more of a cross to bear than most seem able to carry.
Christianity, as it exists in the institution of the Church today, has a terrible
self-image, and it looks at itself through a glass darkly.
We need to be aware that each of us carries a piece of the Church's stigma--
that a portion of the Church's shadow-side has taken up residence within each of us
in sometimes subtle ways. I think it is part of our task, as monks, to
purify ourselves of this shadow-side of the Church.
That does not mean we must turn away from the Church--no, we must,
in fact, turn back towards her and pull up every ounce of loving-kindness (caritas)
and mercy (chesed) which grace has bestowed upon us to raise her back up into her
new form out of the remaining ashes of the dying Church.

Drinking deeply from the wider waters of the Abrahamic traditions, such
as we accomplished with Rami, is a welcome antidote and I think
we should continue to taste of the fountainheads of our tradition--surely
this will have a salutary effect upon our mission.

With warm regards,

Alice Despard