Dear Brian,
I have been struggling with defining 'hope' in any real way just recently.
Your poem(s) came at the right time to envision me.
There is a beautiful children's book entitled 'One Wintry Night' and as
Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden, the author, Ruth Graham Bell' writes
'God himself had been their true'home',
Now all was lost.
Adam and Eve were the world's first homeless people.'
Although very simple these words are very significant for me-the concepts of home and hope are always about relationship. I believe only those who have been without hope can really appreciate what a vital thing it is.
Hope you are feeling so much better Brian.
Maria
Maria James
Senior lecturer in RE
School of Education
St Marys university College
Waldegrave Road
Strawberry Hill
Twickenham
TW1 4SX
Telphone 0208 240 4155
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Room E221
________________________________
From: Practitioner-Researcher on behalf of Brian wakeman
Sent: Mon 31/08/2009 17:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Inclusion of the Abyss
(Recently I spent several days in bed with a hospital acquired nasty infection, and irregular heart rhythms)
My dictionary comments
'Abyss'; Latin abyssus: bottomless;
A deep chasm; it laments
A catastrophic situation likely to occur.
Here is a reflection on the 'abyss',
Possible meaning in catastrophic situations,
On the transforming power of light and hope:
Hope
(on reading 'Beyond Homelessness, (1) and 'Hope in Troubled Times'(2).
Is there just cold, blind indifference
To our questions and striving
For meaning and coherence,
Any answers mere contriving?
Hope is the confident expectation
Of a future good in imagination,
Looking for the real possibility,
Longing for the coming reality.
Imagination, faith and desire
Combined in a vision to inspire.
In my research , even if there is some distortion,
Efforts misdirected , want of proportion,
And some actions remain unimplemented
Focus changes before plans are cemented,
Hope drives us on to endeavour again
Not to submit to despair, "It's all in vain".
I feel called to 'love justice, do mercy',
To renew my mind, to work righteously,
Improve my service, do good to all
Reverse the corroding effects of the Fall,
Strive for God's will to be done on Earth
Now and in the future World's rebirth.
[1] <http://us.mg41.mail.yahoo.com/dc/blank.html?bn=1358.27&.intl=uk&.lang=en#_ftn1>
________________________________
<http://us.mg41.mail.yahoo.com/dc/blank.html?bn=1358.27&.intl=uk&.lang=en#_ftnref1> 1. Beyond Homelessness, Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement.
Bouma-Prediger S, Walsh .J. 2008. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Eerdmans
2. Hope in Troubled Times. Goodzward B., Vander Vennen M., Van Heemst D, 2007. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Baker Academic
Brian
________________________________
From: Alan Rayner (BU) <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, 31 August, 2009 9:18:01
Subject: Inclusion of the Abyss
Dear All,
I have just this minute added the following to the 'why it matters' page at www.inclusionality.org <http://www.inclusionality.org/> :
For many, fear of this receptive space as the 'void' or 'abyss' may make them shy away from inclusionality, seeking the safety of a sharp horizon where darkness ends and light begins, only for this imaginary discontinuity to suppress creativity and induce conflict.
Deep inclusional wisdom springs from the transfigural ability to include oneself dynamically in the abyss and the abyss in oneself.
Warmest
Alan
PS I wonder if you can hear a dark belly laugh emanating from Jack?
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