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the Paschal Mystery
Special friends visited today. I call them special because they unknowingly come with impactful words for me. They don't realize they carry messages from God, but He is clear in His conveyance of admonitions to "hear this".
They sprinkled today's conversation with comments about a book, Death by Suburb which their pastor had highly recommended. Even though I have not yet had the opportunity to read the book, I do have strong feelings about the plasticity of the suburban world killing a person's soul. So many years I considered the suburbs my home and had no desire to live anywhere else. I was aware of some of the simple rules: no sitting on your porch or being seen messing around in the yard, always painting with colors which harmonize with the neighborhood, always looking like your neighbors. I did not recognize the dulling of my senses, the loss of independent action, of creativity, until I left the suburbs and came to live in the city.
The author of the book, David L. Goetz, has his blog on the site I've given as a link above. In his blog, he speaks of the Paschal Mystery—"the mystery of suffering and how it transforms us into the likeness of Christ. The art of all true spirituality is the art of letting go of self, of power, and my notions of what constitutes the good life."
To be able to let go of the power which affords the comfortable lifestyle, the freeing of self from the rigidity of the plastic world while remaining in the suburbs, is a mystery to me. A better person than I may have no problem transforming themselves into the likeness of Christ in comfortable surroundings, but I had to move into a world where real people suffered through real situations in less than supportive surroundings.
I proudly wear the label "eccentric" as I passionately pursue a greater understanding of the God who came to earth for the sole purpose of dying for us all.
Life is good; it is very good.
Jane Mullikin
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