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Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a way as gives us breath;
Such a truth as ends all strife,
Such a life as conquers death. - George Herbert
The Blessing Bowl
Throughout Lent we will use a Blessing Bowl as a visual focus for our retreat. Today, you may wish to put a feather, or other symbol of life, in or new your bowl.
O Beloved
O Darkness
O Light
O soil of life
O water of healing
O fire of longing
O air
O host
O guest
O threshold where we meet
O Beloved
O Darkness
O Light
O Holy One
You call us (Catherine Smith, 2016)
Focus:
“I myself am the Way -
I am Truth,
and I am Life.
No one comes to Abba God but through me.” (John 14:6)
The Longer Story: John 14:1-14
The Saying: I Am the the Way, Truth, Life
By Janice MacLean
I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.
If we hear this only at the level of the mind
then it sounds exclusive.
Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only life
and no one comes to God except through the doorway of Jesus.
And heard like this, it so often points to eternal destiny,
reward for right belief
and not source of everyday relationship.
Come, my Way, my Truth, My Life
Read these words again, out loud.
Pray them softly on your breath.
Feel the shift?
Deep calling to deep.
Come, my Way, my Truth, My Life.
In George Herbert’s poem
the words are a love song
beloved speaking to beloved
heart calling to heart.
Douglas Klotz, in his book, The Hidden Gospel
acknowledges the troubling history of these words when used to exclude.
He invites us to consider them love language,
Words from within a particular household of faith
and shared among and between those who love each other.
And never meant to be applied to all.
I understand it like this.
Our partner might be our Everything.
“You are my Everything,” we say fondly.
But we don’t insist our loved one is Everybody’s Everything.
Jesus is my Light, my Feast, my Strength.
Jesus is my Joy, my Love, my Heart. (Herbert)
When I hear Jesus speaking this I am,
I hear him speaking of relationship with the God of his understanding.
“I myself am the Way -
I am Truth,
and I am Life.
No one comes to Abba God but through me.” (John 14:6, Inclusive Bible)
They are words evoking a relationship between friends
and hearing them
with our heart
they change everything,
everyday.
There are many ways
many paths
many truths
to Life.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a joy as none can move,
Such a love as none can part,
Such a heart as joys in love. (Herbert)
And, as Jesus himself said
In God’s house (the Wholeness of the Whole)
there are many dwelling places.
And many paths arriving there.
Journal/Reflection Questions
Read through all the questions. You might choose to spend your time with one or two.
- Janice’s reflection may be inviting a new way to engage this saying, what have you heard that’s new, and how does it sit with your understanding?
- Reflect on George Herbert’s words: “Come, my way, my truth, my life” by writing a “Found Poem.” I can’t remember where I got the idea of creating a “Found Poem”, but I love the invitation to gather words and make a poem with them. Collect old magazines, newspapers or books. As you look through them, cut out words that call to you or inspire you. Arrange them in a poem by making a collage of your found words.
- Here is a quote. Read it slowly then linger with it.
“If we could really experience all that we really are, sitting here right now, just the way we are, we'd all experience God loving us into our chair, loving us into the present moment, breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat. And we would then bear witness to that realization by the way we treat ourselves, the way we treat others, the way we treat all living things. This is the way, this is the great way."
- James Finley
What invitation is in these words for you this week?
- Matthew Fox published a book called, One River, Many Wells. It gathers truths from many sources. What spiritual riches from other traditions have shaped your way, your truth? You may want to choose a reading from another faith tradition and reflect on it.
- Lent is a time “to learn more about The One who is Easter, and who we really are,” (Godly Play, The Mystery of Easter). What are you learning as you consider the “I Am” sayings so far?
Way, Truth in Daily Life
Here are suggested spiritual practices for this week. Choose one or two that resonant or seem to call to you.
PRAYING WITH MUSIC
Music can lead us to the deepest places in our being. It invites us to rest in awareness of divine presence. This week you may want to listen to TAIZE music. This meditative music invites listening and waiting. We often carry the music, or it carries us, from the quiet of prayer into daily life. See Interesting Links for an online playlist.
THE FAREWELL DISCOURSE - The Gospel of John, chapters 14-17
You might want to spend time with these intimate words spoken with urgency. Read them with the eyes of your heart.
POINT OF PURE TRUTH
Thomas Merton speaks of the “point of pure truth” that is in each of us. This is the glory of God deep inside us. It is a point of pure truth, a spark, which belongs entirely to God. It’s just in us. We can’t earn it or destroy it. You might want to try this prayer our congregation shared last Sunday.
“Close your eyes if that is comfortable to you. Feel your heartbeat. You might want to put your hand on your heart. Be aware that deep in your heart is a spark, a divine spark, the image of God in you. And nothing can separate us from the love of God. This week our prayer is to know: We are God’s and to God we belong. And to Love we are called.”
CREATING OPENINGS
What are some patterns or practices that bring life to you? Perhaps there is a place you like to walk/visit and you can make time to go to this life-giving space this week. Perhaps there is a person you haven’t seen in a while who inspires you? Maybe you can re-connect by phone, mail or a visit.
The Art of Blessing
Blessing is an art. Some would say, a lost art. When we bless we are present in a deep way not only to what we are but that we are. We are present to our own wholeness and to the abundance of gifts around us.
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