Skip to content

Father Goodrich Posts

Exploring Christianity: 4 Essentials

Published by Father Goodrich on
Three figures exploring a forest. Exploring Christianity is like exploring a forest.

In seekers and skeptics posts, I write specifically for those outside of the Christian faith. I know some will be considering the faith, some will be exploring spiritually, and some will come to any consideration of Christian claims with considerable suspicion.  If this describes you at all, I’m glad you’re here. Welcome!

Exploring Christianity is a search for illumination, meaning, and truth. Christianity is a way of understanding the world. A way of understanding what life’s journey is all about. How best to make it and where to find the traps and the treasures.

When exploring Christianity, whether you are new or are returning to the faith, it is important to understand that Christianity, like most world religions, is about more than beliefs. The Anglican scholar, Dr. Alister McGrath, writes in one of his books:

“Christianity has three main elements. 1. A set of beliefs. 2. A set of values. 3. A way of life.”

– Christian Spirituality

If you are exploring Christianity seriously you will need to investigate all three elements. Some Christians do not like the word religion. They prefer to describe Christianity as a relationship, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Other Christians are comfortable with the word religion because they understand religion to be in service to and enhancing of ones’ relationship with God and others.

In other words, spirituality and religion go together. Christianity is not a private exploratory quest – though it begins this way for many – but a quest that brings one into a fellowship with others.

Four Essentials for Exploring Christianity

Essential #1: Check Your Stereotypes

There are many stereotypes about Christians. Sure, you can probably find people who fit these stereotypes but this sort of thinking will be an obstacle to a fair and sincere exploration. For example, statements like, “all Christianity is anti-science,” fail on the face of the facts on the ground.

The scientist who led the human genome project is a Christian. There are large numbers of scientists and science practitioners who are devout Christians. Obviously, they are well educated scientifically, and some are also so religiously, and they find no conflict between the two. Many churches allow for a theistic evolutionary approach, some do not.

Honestly:  Christianity is complex.

Whatever assumptions you bring about Christianity, check them against the facts on the ground. Local churches as well as denominations vary significantly on many points. You’ll be surprised how much in some cases.

Essential #2: Check Out a Local Congregation

If you are going to follow, be guided by, or look for inspiration from the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth; then, from a Christian point of view, you need to connect with the people of Jesus.

There are some religions and spiritualities that advocate a solitary, do it on your own approach, but Christianity, while offering spacious room for individual conscience and practice, advocates a faith lived in community with others.

Yes. This can be hard! It also can be immensely rewarding and life transforming. Check out a variety of churches. Maybe a family member or friend is involved in a congregation. Start there. But, please, do not stop there.

Honestly: Congregations vary immensely!

Try out several churches. This will give you an appreciation for the wide variety of service styles, variations of beliefs, and cultural expressions of the faith. You might start with churches that share some of your current values and beliefs.  

Essential #3:  Acknowledge the Worst, but also the Best

Christianity is over 2000 years old. History has many examples of Christians misbehaving, of individuals using the Church for their own purposes, and of high-profile leaders acting in ways heinously contrary to Jesus’ two greatest commandments:

“Love God” and “Love Neighbor”

– Matthew 22:36-40

When judging any world religion or ideology it is only fair to judge it by its greatest exemplars and its worst offenders.  So, sure, look at our dark history, but also look at all the good people of Christian faith have done over the last 2000 years and are still doing around the world today.

Honestly: I am so sorry if you have been hurt by the Church.

It breaks my heart when people tell me their negative experiences with Christians. Do I also hear wonderful stories of welcome and transformation? Often! Yet, every serious Christian is pained to hear the stories of those hurt or failed by the Church.

Essential #4:  Consider the Claims of Jesus

Christianity’s understanding of God and human existence is rooted in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ life and teachings have influenced countless individuals over the centuries. I believe that Jesus Christ has something to offer every single human being on the planet.

This includes human beings who for whatever reason choose not to become Christian. A first step to learning about Jesus is reading the Gospel of Mark. It is the shortest and simplest of the four books about Jesus’ life from the Bible. A second step to learning about Jesus is asking several Christians about their view of and relationship with Christ.

Honestly: The teachings of Jesus are challenging.

To put them into practice can be uncomfortable. Jesus’ high calling for humans to love, serve, and forgive each other sacrificially are things we Christians believe we can only do consistently with God’s help.

When exploring Christianity understand that doubts are ok, but always put as much effort toward faith as you do toward doubt. Go ahead and read the arguments against faith and following Christ. Then make sure to read the best of the Christian responses to those arguments.

Explore the faith through music and art, as well through books and sermons. Find Christians and others to discuss the great questions of life with. Do not be afraid to ask questions, even controversial ones, just ask them respectfully.

One Final Suggestion for Exploring Christianity

Finally, in your exploration of the Christian faith I encourage you to pray. Even if you are not sure how to pray or what to say, begin somewhere. Invite God into your life. For some the exploration of faith is intellectual, for others emotional, for others relational, and for most people, a mixture of all these things and more.

I share this prayer, sometimes attributed to St. Teresa of Avila from the 16th century, (but probably from a later time) as a blessing over you in your search:

“May today there be peace within.  May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

May you journey well, may your explorations lead to truth, beauty, and goodness. May you find light for dark days, laughter for bright days, and always, peace.

Visit the Welcome Page or Read Others Posts for Seekers and Skeptics

8 Comments

4 Ways to Harness the Power of Preaching

Published by Father Goodrich on
A musician playing the cello. Preaching can be likened to playing music.

The pulpit. Your local church may have one, it may not. Those that preach in your local church may use the pulpit, they may not. Yet, the formal proclamation of the Christian faith, rooted in the Holy Scriptures, is a mainstay of most Christian congregations.

I use the word pulpit to distinguish the kind of preaching that happens during a service from other types of Christian proclamation that may happen outside of worship. 

There is a particular power to this kind of formal preaching. A power rooted in the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Scriptures, and the dynamics of a particular community of Christians gathering at a particular time for worship. 🙏

            Dr. Thomas Long, long time professor of preaching writes in one of his books,

            “God calls the whole church to proclaim the Gospel, and every disciple of Jesus Christ is a part of this calling. The whole church proclaims the gospel, and the preaching of sermons is but one part of this larger ministry.”

The Witness of Preaching

It is important to remember that preaching is one part of the Church’s larger ministry of proclaiming the mystery of God. Still, preaching can inspire, equip, and energize individuals and congregations in the way of Jesus. A way that can transform lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. 💨

Here are four ways to harness the power of the pulpit for consideration by listeners to sermons, preachers, as well as lay and ordained leaders of congregations.   

1. Take preaching seriously as an individual

Preaching is important not because of the preacher, but because of you. If you are part of a local congregation preaching is one of the most regular forms of instruction and inspiration you receive in the faith. Are you taking advantage of the sermon? Do you give it serious attention and consideration? Are you reflecting on it later that day or week?

Here are some ways for you as an individual to harness the power of preaching:

Read the Scriptures that will be preached ahead of time. This could be the night before or before the service begins. Strive to pay attention. Ask God to help you stick with the sermon even when the preacher does not hold your attention.

You may discover a truth about the faith, an insight into a Bible passage you would have missed had you not made the effort. Find opportunities to discuss the sermon with others. The discussion could be two sentences on the way to lunch. The discussion could be a lively conversation with your family at home.

⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Talk to the preacher about their sermon. (Wow. I know talking to a preacher. It will be ok. Try it!)

2. Take preaching seriously as a congregation.

As a congregation takes preaching more seriously, preaching will become more helpful to individuals.  If the proclamation of the Word of God is important then congregations will organize themselves in ways that highlight the importance of this ministry. Certainly, this is not the only ministry that should be highlighted but it should be one of them.

Here are some ways for your congregation to harness the power of preaching:

Post the assigned texts for a given sermon ahead of time. Point people to a webpage that lists the readings for the coming Sunday. Provide some instruction and discussion about sermons.

People are not always clear about the purpose of sermons or what they should be listening for or doing in response to them. If our congregations do not provide this sort of instruction then we are limiting the power sermons could have in our individual and collective lives.

⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Invite your congregation to respond to a sermon within the service itself. (This can work with smaller churches and larger churches.)

3. Allow your pastor to take preaching seriously

Parish pastors and preachers know they should take preaching seriously. A serious commitment to studying the Scriptures and proclaiming them are explicit in most vows of ordination. No doubt a small number of pastors choose not to take preaching seriously, yet two challenges confront even the most diligent of preachers. The challenges of time and encouragement.

Here are some ways to allow your pastor to harness the power of preaching:

Have an expectation as a congregation for a solid, thoughtful, and faithful pulpit ministry. Then support your pastor in taking significant time each week for prayer, study, and preparation. Give your pastor positive and constructive feedback.

Many preachers become discouraged because they deliver sermons week after week and receive little meaningful feedback. “Good sermon, Father,” is nice but not always meaningful. Also, allow others to preach occasionally so your pastor is not on every week. These breaks will improve their preaching.

⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Have a continuing education fund for sermon workshops, books and resources. (Also, encourage your pastor to use the fund!).

4. Take preaching seriously in candidates for ordination

Not every minister, priest, or pastor is gifted in preaching and teaching. Yet, every minister, priest, or pastor should have proficiency in preaching and teaching.

The knowledge and skills used in sermon preparation and delivery are used by all ministers, even if they are not regulars in the pulpit. A candidate’s potential as a preacher should be explored early in the ordination process.

Here are some ways to harness the power of preaching through ordination:

From the beginning of the process encourage potential ministers to develop their public speaking abilities. More opportunities for ministers in training to receive positive and constructive feedback about their sermons is essential.

Give sufficient time and attention to preaching in the curriculum, whether in an academic institution (e.g. seminary, theological college) or an alternative program (e.g. diocesan school of formation, local pastor program, etc.)

⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Encourage future pastors who are proficient but not gifted in preaching to allow others to regularly preach in their congregations, including developing an in-house preaching team. This will often mean well prepared lay preachers. (In fact, a team approach can benefit any congregation).

 The Dominican friar, Humbert of Romans, writing in the 13th century, declared:

The sound of preaching must have as many different tones and variations as singing does.

Treatise on Preaching

May it be so in Jesus Name. May we by faith, with the gift of grace, harness the power of preaching as a symphony of praise to God. Let the Holy Spirit use our preaching as an orchestra of instruction and inspiration for ourselves and our congregations.

May the preaching from our pulpits sound through our lives, in word and deed, far beyond the doors of our churches, “to the ends of the earth.”

Visit the Welcome Page or Read Other Posts on Ministry and Leadership

4 Comments

5 Ways To Grow in Prayer

Published by Father Goodrich on

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life. The Christian life can be thought of as a great voyage across great waters that begins in this life and continues in the life after. A voyage with high points of adventure and danger.

A voyage interspersed with stretches of sometimes tedious and sometimes hard labor. If you have ever rowed a boat across a lake you know what I am talking about. 🚣‍♀️

(I began writing this on a rowboat.  Tragically, a loon startled me, sending me and my laptop overboard. I confess that I provoked the bird. As it swam past I said several times, rather sarcastically, “Lost your mind have you?” It then flew at me.)

Prayer is a way we navigate this voyage. It is how we harness the tremendous power of the spiritual winds of the Holy Spirit for this voyage. Prayer is a strengthening to keep us on course during this voyage.

Perhaps, most importantly, prayer is how we come to know the one who voyages with us along the way, the Heavenly Captain, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here are five ways to develop your life of prayer, whether you are a just beginning your spiritual voyage or whether you are an experienced spiritual seafarer:

1. Set Your Course Each Day through Prayer

Find a time to pray exclusively each day. By exclusive I mean a time you set aside only for prayer and devotion. A time you set aside each day, at approximately the same time each day, to meet with the Lord. An opportunity to be strengthened for the voyage ahead.

An opportunity to pray over your day. A time to pray for the people in your life. A time to listen to God. An opportunity to reset the course of your life.  🧭  

This quiet time could be for two minutes. It could be for twenty. For most people this will be in the morning, but for others it will be before they go to bed. The time of day is less important.

What is important is developing this as a daily habit. This daily appointment sets the sail of your soul, inviting God into the details of your life and releasing spiritual power into your day.

2. Pray to Adjust Your Sail Each Day

St. Francis De Sales, the 16th century spiritual director and guide said:

“Sprinkle a seasoning of short prayers on your daily living. If you see something beautiful, thank God for it. If you are aware of someone’s need, ask God to help…You can toss up many such prayers all day long. They will help you in your meditation and in your secular employment as well. Make a habit of it.”

Introduction to the Devout Life

These little prayers can adjust the sails of your soul to meet your day’s dosage of choppy waters. These prayers will usually be brief, maybe nothing more than a quick, “Thank you God” or a frustrated “Lord give me patience to help this person!”

You can season your day with these little prayers even without words, simply by pausing with prayerful intention toward God. 🙏    

3. Pray As a Member of the Crew  

Pray regularly with other members of the crew. This means worshipping at your  local church. It can also mean praying in smaller groups with friends and family. We are all members of the great fleet of God’s people.

Even when you feel lost at sea and far from any friendly shore or ship, you are connected by the power of the Holy Spirit with other believers. (Just be on the lookout for loons).

Praying regularly with others strengthens your awareness that you never pray alone. Praying regularly with others strengthens your own ability to pray, especially when the storms of life threaten to throw you off the ship of faith into the cold waters of despair.

Thankfully, prayer when offered with others can become a faith saving rope, securing you safely on deck.  🦺

4. More Than Petitions to Reach New Destinations

The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer lists several kinds of prayer:  

       “The principal kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession and petition”

Petition is prayer you offer for yourself. Intercession is prayer you offer for others. Some spiritual writers use these terms interchangeably. In either case they are “asking prayers.”

Christian prayer is relational. In a trusting relationship it is appropriate to share our concerns, our needs, and even our wants.  Yes, there is a place for petition in your prayer life.

However, if you desire to reach new destinations in your spiritual voyage, you need to regularly practice other kinds of prayer: prayers of confession,  prayers of thanksgiving, and  prayers of praise.

You may learn to pray with Scripture or to pray with beads. As you grow in prayer the Spirit will grow in you a greater awareness of God love’s and a greater ability to love others (Matthew 22:36-40). 🧾

5.Persist Whatever the Conditions with Prayer

The most faithful thing you can do and the most helpful thing you can do to cultivate a regular prayer life is to persist in praying. Whether your voyage is presently turbulent or presently serene and whether you “feel” like praying or not, the key is to keep at it.

Sister Miriam Pollard, O.C.S.O., in her book, The Laughter of God writes:

“The most important part of prayer technique is to keep at it, to give it a daily place in our lives. If we are faithful to a daily amount of prayer, we will want to pray at other times during the day, in our various needs and activities. Even if the prayer time seems to be more than a refined nuisance, it is giving life to the rest of our day.”

(Excuse me, I just received an email from the Canadian Association for the Advocacy of Loons. In response, I attest that no loons were harmed in the research or writing of this article. Several jokes follow from here but let us finish up for now.)

 The Christian life is a great voyage, a high seas adventure of the soul. The heavenly Captain, Jesus Christ, has promised to be with us (Matthew 28:20).

So we will sail on faithfully through storm and sunrise until we arrive on that heavenly shore. In the meantime, with your Captain and crew, persist in prayer. Adventure awaits. Anchors away! ⚓   

Visit the Welcome Page or Read More Posts on Spirituality and Living

17 Comments

5 Ways to Embrace the Challenge of Vital Christianity

Published by Father Goodrich on
Cross with dead and growing leaves.

These are exciting times to be laboring for a vital Christianity. The decades of social shifts in our societies continue to push the Church in the Western world to the sidelines. The sidelines of power, culture, and relevance.

How far down will depend on where we live and who we are. Some have been on the sidelines a long time, but increasingly that is where all of us will find ourselves as followers of Jesus.

Christianity in the West: Moving to the Sidelines

Christian influence is still visible in our countries and will continue to be, albeit in less familiar ways. Large numbers of people today see Christianity as part of our society’s past and not something with mainstream value for the present.

Where we still have influence, and we still have much, we should use it wisely with an eye toward the future.

The biggest opportunities before us lie in embracing our new location on the sidelines. The Church began on the sidelines over 2000 years ago. This is familiar territory to our ancestors in the faith as well as many of our fellow Christians today.

This is an opportunity for everyday Christians, congregational leaders, as well as for bishops and other denominational officials.

5 Ways to Meet the Challenge of Vital Christianity

1. Make spirituality, formation, and discipleship central to all we do.

In a secular age people of all ages will need more, not less formation in the faith to persist in faith. Adults with a vibrant faith will lead to children with a vibrant faith. Faith formation must become central in every church.

Our goal being to invite people into a faith that weaves into their everyday lives. In a secular age helping adults develop a thoughtful understanding of their faith is key.

This means our churches must be more than communities of lowest common denominator niceness or barely baptized versions of political ideologies, left or right. We have 2000 years of spiritual riches to draw from and to invite people to experience.

People are interested in spirituality today, but most of them do not perceive the Christian Church as a place of deep spirituality. Let’s change that.

This is exciting because it means we can major on what we have to offer the world. Encounter with God . A community, a family, sustained by the Spirit. A Gospel anchored in the life and teachings, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. Do not assume that social justice and outreach will be our salvation.

In a secular age people will be glad when the Church does good in the community. They will be glad when the church joins them in advocating for a particular cause. If the Church lacks a vibrant inner life, those attracted by our outreach may applaud our involvement but never get involved with us.

The work of justice must be complemented by vital prayer, spirituality, fellowship, worship, and teaching.

In most of our communities there are many secular organizations that individuals, couples, or families can get involved with that are meeting human needs or addressing matters of justice. We need to partner, as appropriate, with these organizations, while offering people something these organizations do not.

This is exciting because it frees us to engage in outreach and social justice in distinctively Christian ways. Knowing that we have a unique contribution to make as much as by who we are as people of faith, as by what we do and how we do it.

3. We exist for the purpose of serving those around us.

We often conduct ourselves as if our primary purpose is ourselves and only secondarily others. In a secular age if we intend to survive and thrive as the people of God we must embrace with an enthusiasm of time, talent, and treasure Jesus own words about himself,

“The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.”

Mark 10:45

This means our churches serving the needs of our local communities. It means the Church, often through joint efforts of many congregations, putting hands and feet to work for justice.

This means giving at least equal weight to the preferences of those we are trying to reach (and having some idea of who those people are) in terms of how we organize our worship services, programs, and buildings.

This is exciting because as we focus on how we can serve others in Jesus name’ our own faith and that of others is energized, resources unleashed, and our tendency to major in minors, gives ways to concerns about how we can love our neighbors.

4. We labor for a Church larger than our congregation and denomination

Our cultural landscapes vary from Western country to Western country and from region to region within our countries. Yet, as Christians and Christian communities we face many of the same challenges and opportunities. Most importantly, despite our disagreements, we are

“the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

This means we should learn from each other. Learn from others successes, failures, and experiments. Learn from others experiences of being God’s people from the sidelines of our society.

There are best practices we can learn from one another. Tested ideas for nurturing the faith of our children , serving the needs of our neighbors, and bringing new life to struggling congregations.

This is exciting because however small or large our part of the Body of Christ may be we know we are part of something bigger. We have sisters and brothers facing the same challenges that we can celebrate with, serve with, and pray with.

5. Proactively reshape our institutions for mission from the sidelines.

We’ve inherited structures that were designed for a Church closer to the center of society. A Church that was richer in financial resources and people. In a secular age we need to ask if the ways we are organizing ourselves are serving us well as the people of God.

We need  to embrace a variety of structures, from traditional churches with buildings and staff, to house churches with no buildings or staff.

The model of a full-time staff pastor serving one church will continue, but is just one option among many for a large minority of churches, but not THE model for all churches. This has implications for the development and deployment of lay and ordained ministers.

This is exciting because our task is to retrieve ways of being the Church from the past that might meet our present needs. As well as to preserve the best of the present, while innovating faithfully as guided by the Holy Spirit in order to be vital churches visibly serving our local communities.

Vital Christianity in the West: An Exciting Time

These are challenging and exciting times to be a Christian. The biggest opportunities before us lie in embracing our new location on the sidelines. The Church has been on the sidelines of society before.

In fact, it began there and from that location flourished under the most difficult of circumstances. This is our heritage. A reason to labor in hope for a vital Christianity and a vital Church in the West. 

Visit the Welcome Page or Read Other Posts on Ministry and Leadership

5 Comments

Life Change: Three Effective Ways With or Without God

Published by Father Goodrich on
Man running down road.

In seekers and skeptics posts, I write specifically for those outside of the Christian faith. I know some will be considering the faith, some will be exploring spiritually, and some will come to any consideration of Christian claims with considerable suspicion.  If this describes you at all, I’m glad you’re here. Welcome!

Speaking of life change. “Rogaine changed my life!” If you ever happen to find yourself standing behind me, you will instantly discover two things.

First, I never tried Rogaine, which promises to treat baldness. Second,  I appear to be a good candidate for Rogaine. As ubiquitous as cockroaches in a rundown apartment complex are the advertisements on our screens promising life change.

(Ok. Ok. I tried Rogaine once, for a day. It felt stupid and I threw all the icky bottles away. Back then my balding spot looked like a monastic tonsure style haircut, so I went with it. I got TONS of compliments at the local convent of sisters, “Who cuts your tonsure, Father?” I was pretty hip, NOT. As is not one compliment… 🙄)

We make fun of these advertisements, dismiss them as gimmicks and get on with our day to day lives. Yet sometimes we want the gimmick because we want our lives to change. At best the gimmick usually gets us going for an enthusiastic or often merely aspirational start at getting our acts together.

“This time will be different!”

Gives way to

“Eh, maybe next time”.    

Do These Three Things:

1. Change your Daily Schedule

2. Change your Weekly Schedule

Life change is a massive pile off nails, stacks of wood, and a big red box of tools. There are enough materials to build an impressive two-story house. A house is built in stages, from the foundation to the exterior, to the interior, to furnishing, and finally to the decorating. Before you begin you need to have some idea of the kind of house you want to build. 🏠

Sketch out the “house” (the kind of life you want) define your goals, and make an action plan; then, with right tools for the job (and maybe you need someone to show you how to use those tools properly) get to it. Great, you probably knew all of that. There are tons of books and blogs in the self-help category to help you scaffold your schedule for life change.

For all the affirmations, dreaming, and scheming, at the end of the day if you want to change your life you have to change your schedule. If there is no time carved out in solid stone in your week to pursue your goal then your plan will fail. How often? Pretty much every single time.

How ‘s that for motivation? Want to change?

Then your change your schedule!!!

Here’s The Third Thing to Do To Change Your Life

3. Change Your Circle of Influence

From Scripture to social science to social media we know that our motivation is massively maligned or massively magnified by the people around us. However, most of us cannot and should not simply dump our present circle of friends, family, and co-workers to “upgrade” our circle of influence.

Beware the lie! 😲

There is a a dangerous idea that floats around our lives, the “only if” lie.

“Only if I looked like her, only if I was married to him, only if I was single, only if I had money,  only if I was younger, older, only if I lived somewhere else, only if, etc.”

The “only if” lie is a terrible influencer. Why? Because of instead of motivating you to look at the materials you have to work with and getting busy building, it slumps you on the couch of unhelpful comparison and sometimes, dangerous resentment.

Sure, you may need to step back on some relationships that are less than helpful or set firm boundaries with negative people, but you can begin to change your life right now in your present circumstances. Often, if you do that, not only will you change for the better, but you will lift up the people around you, too.

Changing Your Life Can Help Others Change

Will others always be lifted up? No. But more often than the “only if” lie says.

(Only if my bald spot didn’t continue to grow. Only if I hadn’t used a chainsaw to trim the rose bushes. I know. I know. Bad idea. Let’s move on.)

How do you change your circle of influence right where you are? Connect with new people, especially offline. Also, read and listen to the kind of people who are living the change you want to be.

Without a positive circle of influence you will find it hard to show up each day to the worksite of self-improvement. Eventually, you’ll  probably stop showing up all together.

The God Factor

Positive life change is often an advertised consequence of sincere religious commitment.  Does life change follow a choice to become a Christian? It often does and should.

History is full of women and men whose lives were changed , sometimes instantly, sometimes gradually over years, after coming to faith or after beginning to take their faith seriously for the first time. 

The fact that Christians often fail to live up to the high ideal of Jesus’ teachings about sacrificial love, service, and forgiveness should not be surprising. We are human, too. In fact, we should be among the first people to admit our faults, because that is a requirement of our faith. To many of us settle for a casual commitment to our faith, instead of one that transforms our lives.

I could go into details how being a Christian gives you several new sets of power sources, tools, motivations, and, circles of friends to approach your goals for life change. All of that is valuable and I think you can make some of those connections on your own. 💡

A Warning about Life Change and the Christian Faith

WARNING! Faith is not a magic wand to getting everything you want. Faith is not a magic wand to side stepping sorrow. Faith is also a journey. You do not know where you will be led once you accept Christ or begin taking your Christian faith more seriously. God will challenge you in ways you may resent at first, and you will have to deal with considerations others do not.

The Good News is that the house of your life that God has in mind for you is more marvelous, more enchanting, and more gratifying than anything you could conceive or achieve  on your own. It’s not that as Christians we stop dreaming or stop having plans for our lives; hardly, rather our dreams and our plans are offered up to a greater dream and a greater plan for the sake of God and the sake of others.

The results will often be surprisingly, the way often hard, but the life, abundant.

(If you’re not ready for Religion yet, that’s ok. Try Rogaine instead.)

Visit the Welcome Page or Read More Posts for Seekers and Skeptics

4 Comments

14 Ideas for Living the Christian Year at Home

Published by Father Goodrich on
Picture of Bible, prayer rope, and a cup of coffee.

Elsie Gibbs, in her 1939, hymn, “Christ’s Year” likens the observance of the Christian Year to a,

“wreath of praise, plaited of our Christian days.”

The Church Calendar, also called the Christian Year and the Liturgical Calendar, is a delightful way can connect our lives to the colorfully textured tapestry of devotions observed by God’s people for over 2000 years.  

The Christian Year Can Spark the Flame of our Faith

The seasons of the Christian year can ignite our spiritual lives if we take them home with us and not leave them on the Sunday pew. The Christian year observed regularly, not perfectly, can be used by the Spirit in igniting and sustaining the flames our faith. One of the best ways we can spark faith in the children in our lives is by observing the year with them. Try and see!

(Sorry to interrupt, I received a complaint from a Fire Station near Auckland, New Zealand. Please understand readers, I mean sparking and igniting our lives spiritually not literally. 🔥)

Fr. William Syndor, an Episcopal priest, offers some wise words in his book, Keeping the Christian Year. Regarding home observances he says they:

“must never be a meaningless activity in which everyone must participate, or a new regulation to be imposed. Christian Year observances are meant to be enjoyed, not endured.”

Each season has its own rich liturgical spirituality, traditions, and customs, but here are 14 ideas for observing the Christian year to get you started:

Advent

The beginning of the Christian year. A time for preparing for Christ’s coming.

1. Host a New Year’s Eve party on the evening before the first Sunday of Advent. A fun  activity for those in attendance would be to create Advent Wreaths.

2. Eat your evening meals by candlelight (perhaps by your wreath) for the whole season as a reminder that the world was waiting in darkness for the Light of Christ to be revealed. 🕯🕯🕯🕯

Christmastide

The celebration of God come among us, Emmanuel.

3. Earlier in Advent, set up a creche, but have Mary and Joseph “travel” to Bethlehem through your home, not arriving until Christmas Eve or Day. Place the baby Jesus in the crib after your attendance at Christmas worship at your local church.

4. Sing a Christmas carol on each of the twelve days of Christmas after the main meal of the day. Hold off on Christmas music during Advent but enjoy it during the 12 days.

Epiphany

The celebration of Christ’s manifestation to all peoples.  

5. Keep your Christmas decorations up through this feast and mark it by singing “We Three Kings of Orient Are”. The three Kings can “travel” through the home during the twelve days of Christmas, arriving this day.

6. Invite your pastor over to bless your home. Include a group of friends and or family. Share food and fun, call it an Epiphany Party.

Lent

A forty-day period of repentance and self-examination in preparation for Easter.

7. Commit to taking something on and giving something up. For example, taking on the practice of daily Scripture reading and giving up meat on Wednesdays and/or Fridays. 🐟

8. As an individual, family, or group of friends, volunteer to serve the poor.

Holy Week

9. Observe the Triduum,  (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday)  by reading aloud the primary Scriptural passages appointed for the day followed by a silent meal or period of silence for somber reflection. You could do this morning or evening.  

Eastertide

10. Host a meal or party with friends and or family. It need not be elaborate but is an opportunity to celebrate the Resurrection with good food and good friends. Begin with prayer and each person reflecting briefly on their Lenten and Easter Sunday experience.

11. Eastertide lasts for fifty days, walk in the power of the Resurrection by scheduling more time for celebration and fun with friends and family.

Ordinary Time  

The longest season of the Christian year

12. Add at least one devotional reminder to your home.

A physical reminder of your faith is important, because as the old saying goes “out of sight, out of mind.” Different Christians denominations and traditions use different devotional objects for domestic use. Here are some examples:

A Bible prominently displayed, a prayer book on your nightstand, a cross above your bed, Scripture verses displayed in the living room, one or more icons of beloved saints, a crucifix on the wall,  a signed and autographed picture of me, a home altar, a statue of saint, a book of devotions in your workshop, or a hymnal on your piano. 🎹

(Yes, that was a joke about my picture, just making sure you are reading carefully. To receive your autographed picture send your check to….just kidding! I would never stoop to supporting my ministry by autographing pictures for checks. For cash, yes. Again, just kidding!!!)

13. Display a devotional object in your car and workplace. At work it may have to be small or kept out of sight (e.g. in your desk) but will still be a reminder of God’s presence and your call to follow Jesus wherever you may be. Similar advice could be given about worn or carried objections of devotion (e.g. crosses, rings, prayer cards, t-shirts, snakes, etc.) 🐍

14. Snakes Day. Saints Day are great opportunities for observance. For example, offering special prayers of thanks for your pets (e.g. snakes) on St. Francis of Assisi’s Day (October 4) or having an after-dinner music concert with family and friends at home on St. Cecilia’s Day (11/22).

The Christian Year: A First Step For Bringing the Faith Home

The simplest way to bring the faith home is to pray at home. The easiest way for most individuals or families to begin to do this is by prayers of thanksgiving at meals and before bedtime. When first introduced prayer may feel odd, but over time will become a normal part of home life. Couples can develop the habit of praying together for each other daily.

There are warehouses of activities and customs for the Christian year.  An internet search, resources from your local church, as well as asking your Christian friends will reveal creativity as well as simple faithfulness in observance. Do not wait to get all fancy, just begin to incorporate this “wreath of praise” into your daily life in simple ways, you and others will be blessed.

Visit the Welcome Page or Read Other Posts about Spirituality and Life

7 Comments

What is Mysticism?

Published by Father Goodrich on
man walking the beach at twilight suggestive of the journey of mysticism.

Mysticism is a mystery. For some mysticism means an ocean of sparking spirituality found outside the narrow bounds of the darkened pools of religion. For some mysticism means the  purest waters at the very source of their religion. The mystics have been a great help in the pilgrimage of my life. For me, they have been lifeguards along the shore.  

There is an old story about a medieval peasant. The peasant sat in the back of the church day after day, hour after hour. This led to someone asking him what he was doing sitting in the back of the church every day the peasant replied,

“I gaze at him and he gazes at me.”

Perhaps that peasant was a madman. Maybe he was a mystic. Whoever they are, peasant or prince, physician or plumber, a mystic possesses an unusual awareness of God.

(I was going to ask you whether I’m a madman or mystic. I thought better of the idea and decided to move on. 😊)

What is a Mystic?

Evelyn Underhill in her book, “The Mystics of the Church,” writes,

“The Christian mystic is one for whom God and Christ are not merely objects of belief, but living facts experientially know and mysticism for him becomes, in so far as he responds to its demands, a life based on a conscious communion with God.”

The Apostle Paul had mystical experiences.  For instance, the experience he had during his conversion. In Acts 9 Paul loses his sight and hears the resurrected Jesus speak,

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me.”

Paul’s visionary experience as recorded in 2 Corinthians 2:12 is a mystical one,

“I know a person who was caught up into Paradise” (12:3).

Some mystics report extraordinary experiences of prayer. For example, extraordinary encounters with God in the form of extraordinary phenomena, such as miracles, visions, and voices. Over the centuries the great teachers of prayer warn us that that focusing on the extraordinary aspects of prayer will usually hurl us off the mountain of genuine mystical experience. 🌄

[I thought about mentioning my extraordinary ability to use the word extraordinary, but again, moving on.]

What is the Goal of Mysticism?

The primary goal of the Christian mystics has been not the possession of extraordinary powers. It has not about the accumulation of extraordinary experiences. The primary goal of the mystics has been possession by God. The mystic desires union with God, not merely knowledge about God.

Therefore, spiritual graces or gifts the mystic receives while pursuing union with God are incidental. Such gifts might even be distractions from the mystic’s relationship with God and neighbor.

Some, like the Apostle Paul, became mystics unexpectedly. The majority of mystics have sought to crank open the cottage windows of their souls to the warm sunglow of the Holy Spirit. How have mystics done this? By loving their neighbors, meditating on Scripture and praying, with and without words. Prayer has been the ordinary threshold into the deeper waters of God.

Walter Hilton, the 14th century English mystic, writes,

“Then ask from God nothing but this gift of love, which is the Holy Spirit. For of all the gifts that our Lord gives, none is so good or so profitable, so valuable or excellent as this; for there is no gift of God that is both the giver and the gift, except this gift of love”

(The Scale of Perfection, 2:36).

Mysticism Rooted in Jesus Christ

Hilton, like many mystics, finds the garden gate to God in Jesus Christ. Not all mystics locate their mystical experience in Jesus Christ. Some speak of their mystical experience in terms of unknowing, an ineffable experience difficult to translate into words. The goal is to go past intellectual knowledge of a theological claim. To go past knowing about the claim that “God is love” to experiencing that claim in relationship with God.

“I gaze at him and he gazes at me.”

Great! Some individuals experience their relationship with God in profound ways. Ways that you and I probably do not on a regular basis. We call them mystics. This is true. Their witness to the warm waters of God’s love tells us that there is more for us to explore and experience in our own lives of faith and prayer. They can be for us lifeguards along the shores of a deeper spirituality.  🏊‍♀️

Wait? Are All Christians Mystics?

Hold that thought…

Contemplation is part of mysticism. In the general sense, contemplation is a set of practices as well as posture toward life that make space for and facilitate an ongoing awareness of God. All Christians engage in contemplative moments. Some Christians are called to the contemplative life. 

A contemplative life can be lived in a monastery. It can, with some care, be lived elsewhere. The witness of history has been that most of us as Christians are not called to the contemplative life. Most of us are called to what has been called the active life. The active life focuses less on deep prayer and more on relationships and responsibilities to other people.

Back to that thought: Is every Christian a mystic? Or should they be? One perspective on that question was offered by theologian and writer, Karl Rahner S.J.

“The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he will not exist at all.”

If Father Rahner meant that in the face of increasingly secularization, only those who have experienced the reality of God will persist in their faith, I agree that experience of, not just facts about faith, is important.

If Fr. Rahner meant that every Christian in the future must have extraordinary mystical experiences with God to persist in their faith, I disagree. Through the best and worst of human history, from times of prosperity, to times of persecution, Christians have persisted in their faith. Usually, they have persisted in their faith by loving God and loving others without any report of extraordinary mystical experiences.

[Notice the masterful inclusion of that word again. You might say my talent for it is, wait for it…extraordinary  Oh, never mind! 🙄 ]

Mysticism: An Active Question

Spiritual theologians and teachers of prayer disagree whether contemplative living and mystical experiences are for all Christians. The Church and the world is sustained and strengthened in ways beyond our limited comprehension by those who commit themselves to seeking union with God through deeper states of prayer. Their prayers lift us all.

Mysticism is a mystery. For the Christian it is an immersion into the lifegiving waters of God’s love. Mystics are spiritual swimmers seeking the swift currents of the Kingdom of God. In baptism, maybe all Christians splash into the mystical depths of the ocean of grace, no matter how quickly they swim for the dry land.

Visit the Welcome Page or Read More Posts about Spirituality and Life

10 Comments