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Intimatic Christianity, a term coined by this writer and spiritual teacher for a new movement of emerging unitive consciousness within the true, spiritual Church of Christ; living with, in, and through the Christ, expressed as the longing of our common Source and in fulfillment of the Gospel of John 17.20-22:
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
*Gospel of John 17.20-22 (NLT)
Wisdom Sayings
22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
*Christ, in the Gospel of Mark 14.22-23 (NLT)
I want to make myself an empty room:
Quiet whitewashed walls with a slant sunshine
And a fresh breeze through open windows.
*Deng Ming-Dao. 365 Tao.
Comments
When Jesus the Christ gives the Disciples~and us~Bread and Wine, he teaches us an important lesson. The only way for Grace to be becoming part of our being and to move through us each is in a posture of open receptivity.
This is what being an "empty room" with clear, unadorned walls and open windows means. Emptiness allows the freedom of inflow and outflow.
How can Grace fill me and move through me to bless others, when I have filled myself up with my ideas, my plans, my regrets, my loves, my hates, my resentments, my demands, my dogma, my religion, my spirituality, ...? This is the False Self, and this self blocks the Grace-Flowing.
Receptivity means "I am open!" I have not predetermined my life. I am willing to be willing to receive and allow to move through me as blessing whatever the Divine Wisdom knows is best.
When does the Flow shut down? The moment I shut down on Grace, the Grace~Flowing stops.
When does the Flowing flow? Any moment I am open, receptive, and willing to surrender more thoroughly into the Divine Wisdom. I am given, then, the will to be one with the willing of Wisdom for the larger good. Then, I am free~only then.
Quote and Suggested Reflection
When does the Wind cease blowing in, within, and through us?
Only when we close the windows.
What are ways you close the windows to Divine Inspiration? What are ways you open the windows for Divine Inspiration? How do you keep Inspiration flowing? What is the Wind? What does it mean to be receptive? How can you tell when you are open to the Grace-Flowing? How can you tell when you have shut down to the Grace-Flowing?
Rejoice!
See next page for details on OneLife Ministries, Brian's book An Ache for Union, and material pertaining to sources used in the writing.
Feel free to submit a query. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
See next page for Invitation to writer's contemplative village, purpose of OneLife, data on ordering author's book and upcoming devotionals 2008, and material on citations.
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