I begin.
Born Elizabeth Ruth Broyles, I am a Companion of Mary the Apostle--Mary Magdalene, that is--and am co-founder (with Shane Phelan) of this new Christian Community. It is residential and opening soon to members who hear themselves in our Charism and live our Covenant where they are. Sprung up from Episcopal roots, we are ecumenical. We are open to people of all genders who wish to explore whether being a Companion is calling them. Visit http://companionsofmarytheapostle.org to begin your own ponderings!
It is a bit strange to me to post this title--"She pondered these things in her heart,"-- which harkens back to Advent and Mary the mother of God so close to Holy Week. I am, however, learning that things ripen when they ripen.
My heart has been pondering deeply as I encounter life through a newly-minted vocation as a monastic, a 20 year journey as a priest and--perhaps most relevant--the life long way of becoming human. "The Glory of God is the human person fully alive," claims Ireneaus. I have lived with this quote for some years and sought to be guided more and more by Christ, the Truly Human One, in my becoming.
I find great blessing and challenge as I discover the heart of the faith of my birth and choice. A lifelong Episcopalian, the Christian Way has been compelling for as long as I can remember. Exploring my faith has led me to pray for periods with Pentecostals (whose passionate prayer, love of rousing song and focus on scripture have fed me); Roman Catholics (almost like home) and Quakers (their sacred times of silence fed me when I could not get to my beloved monastery--Holy Cross in West Park, NY).
The Christian path has been powerfully and beautifully illuminated for me through encountering the practices and traditions of other spiritual paths. I have loved discovering the common ground and the differences. I have cherished exploring Buddhist, Hindu, Yogic and Shamanic paths--some to greater, some to lesser degrees. Each brought me back to realize that the Church--the Mystical Body of Christ--is home for me. I continue to be immensely enriched by the wisdom of other traditions' writings and especially their poetry. Their roots all tap into the deep underground river of God which both quenches and incites thirst.
"Quest by Question," is one of the retreats I lead. I love engaging the questions that come with aiming to live fully, even knowing that I will encounter more questions than answers if I am faithful. Sometimes I love the new questions, others not. Answers are attractive to me as much as the next person. Occasionally one comes, even if it only fits for a time. I find life at its best, though, when I can let go of my desire for certainty and closure, engage mystery, and see what arises.
My whole being is engaged in this practice. The mind and heart are one, not two. The more human we become, the more we are one, unified self: body, mind, heart and soul with Source and End in God. Each one is, in turn, deeply connected to every other one and we all live in the One who is All in All.
When I say I will share the ponderings of my heart, it is with the hope that I may write from a center that finds speech when "the mind descends into the heart," as Eastern Christian contemplatives teach. Another teaching--letting the mind be in service to the heart--also informs me. Both have nurtured an understanding that neither intellect nor affect alone will suffice for journeying faithfully with questions. Together they are not even enough. God's loving, life-giving, often course-correcting Spirit is critical for me and countless others.
My heart is quite tender these days. Strong and tender is what I would say. The more I journey this amazing path of the Way of Christ, the more people I meet along the way who are committed to living a spiritually grounded life. This life may express itself in being obviously loving, or peace-producing, or truly joyful, or love-and-justice centered--or all of the above and more. It is not necessarily expressed in god language, yet that is my language. I am taking a deep breath right now as I seizeI the opportunity to share it here.
In the midst of this unfolding adventure, I often feel like yelling "HANG ON! WE'RE GOIN' FOR A RIDE!" to those who are with me or witnessing.
I hope you will come along with me, and join your ponderings with mine.
Elizabeth
When I say I will share the ponderings of my heart, it is with the hope that I may write from a center that finds speech when "the mind descends into the heart," as Eastern Christian contemplatives teach. Another teaching--letting the mind be in service to the heart--also informs me. Both have nurtured an understanding that neither intellect nor affect alone will suffice for journeying faithfully with questions. Together they are not even enough. God's loving, life-giving, often course-correcting Spirit is critical for me and countless others.
My heart is quite tender these days. Strong and tender is what I would say. The more I journey this amazing path of the Way of Christ, the more people I meet along the way who are committed to living a spiritually grounded life. This life may express itself in being obviously loving, or peace-producing, or truly joyful, or love-and-justice centered--or all of the above and more. It is not necessarily expressed in god language, yet that is my language. I am taking a deep breath right now as I seizeI the opportunity to share it here.
In the midst of this unfolding adventure, I often feel like yelling "HANG ON! WE'RE GOIN' FOR A RIDE!" to those who are with me or witnessing.
I hope you will come along with me, and join your ponderings with mine.
Elizabeth
