That Is What You Are

Chad told me about a particular Buddhist exercise, which uses the "I am not" format to cast off unhealthy (or rather, untrue) attachments.

I rather like this idea, so I'm going to try it.

Please, please, please add to the list!

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I am not my bank account.

I am not my car.

I am not my grades, or my tuition or my transfer credits.

I am not my university or my house.

...or my church.

I am not my mother.

I am not my father.

I am not my skinny arms.

I am not my nice legs.

I am not my hair, which some days I love, and some days I despise, and some days I realize is not at all goddamn important.

I am not my computer.

I am not my clothing, or my cologne the shoes I wear.

I am not my piano, or the playing thereof.

I am not my writing, or my camera or my homework.

I am not my photographs.

I am not the people who don't like me.

I am not my cell phone, or my Facebook profile. Or my blog.

I am not my books.

I am myself,

...and I belong to God.

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells within you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy -- and that is what you are. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17, 21-23

Saints Alive

Some have suggested that Fr. Andrew White, who represents the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Middle East, and Iraq in particular, may be the next individual added to the kalendar of Saints.

Article here.



Another piece about Iraqi Christians here.

Lord God,

you hold both heaven and earth in a single peace.

Let the design of your great love

shine on the waste of our anger and sorrow,

and give peace to your Church,

peace among nations,

peace in our homes,

and peace in our hearts,

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Weekend at the Monastery

This Saturday I went with some folks from church to visit St. Anthony's Orthodox monastery. It's a beautiful campus, situated eight miles outside of Florence, AZ. Florence is a tiny town about 40 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Ringing the call to Vespers: