La obediencia
In Clowning Around in Rome, Nouwen writes:
"...let us become obedient. The word obedience comes from the word audire, which means to listen. Contemplative prayer calls us to listen with our hearts for the voice of Love. Let Love speak when and where it chooses and do not try to manipulate it. Let Love guide us and let us give up the control. We are frightened of giving over the control because it may mean that God will say what we aren't expecting or what we might not want to hear. But if we listen deeply, God is revealed to us as a soft breeze or a still, small voice; God desires communion and comes to us in gentle compassion. Without our obedience, this listening to the God of our hearts, we remain deaf and our life grows more and more absurd. The word absurd includes the term surdus, which means deaf. The absurd life is the opposite of the obedient life" (103).
Know the Word.
Obey the Word.
This summer I heard this phrase and thought of the Word just in terms of the verses of the Bible, knowing God's story and instructions for us. However, as Nouwen takes us deeper, knowing the Word is knowing the Love, the Trinity, the intimate Father, Son, and Spirit. In taking time to be alone and quiet with the Love, we become aware of what God is saying, through feelings and thoughts that seem deeply rooted. Just hearing God is not enough; we must obey what He is saying, as difficult as it may be.
Most days I want control, and a lack of control and fear are greatly related. A former missionary and now missionary "consultant" said the following, more or less...
"...let us become obedient. The word obedience comes from the word audire, which means to listen. Contemplative prayer calls us to listen with our hearts for the voice of Love. Let Love speak when and where it chooses and do not try to manipulate it. Let Love guide us and let us give up the control. We are frightened of giving over the control because it may mean that God will say what we aren't expecting or what we might not want to hear. But if we listen deeply, God is revealed to us as a soft breeze or a still, small voice; God desires communion and comes to us in gentle compassion. Without our obedience, this listening to the God of our hearts, we remain deaf and our life grows more and more absurd. The word absurd includes the term surdus, which means deaf. The absurd life is the opposite of the obedient life" (103).
Know the Word.
Obey the Word.
This summer I heard this phrase and thought of the Word just in terms of the verses of the Bible, knowing God's story and instructions for us. However, as Nouwen takes us deeper, knowing the Word is knowing the Love, the Trinity, the intimate Father, Son, and Spirit. In taking time to be alone and quiet with the Love, we become aware of what God is saying, through feelings and thoughts that seem deeply rooted. Just hearing God is not enough; we must obey what He is saying, as difficult as it may be.
Most days I want control, and a lack of control and fear are greatly related. A former missionary and now missionary "consultant" said the following, more or less...
- God is breaking down the self-sufficiency. Until God empties us, we cannot hear His voice.
- God breaks down our pride so He can speak into our life, and we can hear Him.
- We have to be willing to let God lead.
- No person can be God. God has to be God for me.
- Call my fears what they are. Fear is an emotion I feel when I recognize my "out of controlness."
- The fear of God is letting God be in control, which changes the object of the emotion. Allow the fears to be an out of controlness to a sovereign God.
- The fear of God leads to worship. Return the focus to Him.
- We don't have to be in control of the future. Trust the God who is.
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