Greetings Dear Reader,
The cants and responses of daily life become
routine it too many ways. Even the expressions
of love between our family members take on the tone of an empty soulless liturgy at times. We say the words that society expects but do
not really engage with each other.
It is in this Liturgy of the Common Man that
our passion is lost. The daily effort to
fit in wears away our individuality and joy.
We hide what delights our hearts in order to espouse the “right” answers
in our public congress. Speaking honestly
becomes dangerous because the responses no longer fit the common cant.
We end up compromising who we are and denying
who we are intended to become. The
Father designed us to be people of love and joy. His desire is that we put our faith in him
and then in honest humble communication with each other. We are meant to speak the truth in love to
each other. We are designed to function best
when we are good to each other.
The Liturgy of the Common Man asks us to
take up offenses, to be insulted and injured by things outside of our faith and
following. Anger, insult, and offense are
not what we are supposed to embrace and intone.
Instead of responding to the cants of this liturgy, we can choose to
voice unique and beautiful responses of love, grace, kindness, and mercy. We can choose to not take offense at the
failures of others to be the same.
If we respond to hatred with love, to anger
with grace and kindness, and to offenses with humble mercy, we will stand out
in the liturgy. We will impact others
with our genuine words and actions that stand out from the common
responses. Others will ask the reasons
why we do not join in the liturgy.
When they ask, the answer will either draw
them or anger them. We must not expect
everyone to be pleased with our choice.
The liturgy would not draw so many were it not providing false
comfort. I will step outside of the
cants and responses where they do not match the call to love and peace. I will
develop responses of my own that speak to the Father’s cants with love for him
and my fellow humans.
What I will do Dear Reader is learn to be lovingly
unoffendable. I hope you do not see this
as a challenge. I expressed once to someone
that he could say what he needed to say to me, as I have caused him great
offense by my failures. His response
was, “then prepare yourself.” This was
the first inkling that I must be willing to listen to anything without becoming
offended. As we turn toward other things
this year, we will build on our foundation of love the capacity to let offenses
roll off of us. You are welcome to walk
with me and ask anything you wish. I
cannot promise that my answer will fit your expectations as I withdraw from the
Liturgy of the Common Man.
Empty Cages
– Dan Fogelberg
Waiting in the wings your courage sings before you falter...
It's just another way to say what's there but never shows.
It's just another day to lay your sins before the altar.
And where it's going to end this time around nobody knows.
Every time it seems that you have gained an understanding
Those devils at your heels reach up and try to tip the
scales.
Waking from a dream you see it's all been done without you.
And every vain attempt to make it stay is destined to fail.
Fury rages through your restless days
Shades of time that's gone before
Empty cages where the prisoner plays
'Til the door swings closed behind forevermore...
Evermore...
Evermore...
Long before we come of age we yearn to leave the garden
And wrestle with a myth the hand of fate has faintly drawn.
But somewhere on the way, we feel our hearts begin to harden
And see just as we learn to turn around the garden is gone.
Fury rages through your restless days
Shades of time that's gone before
Empty cages where the prisoner plays
'Til the door swings closed behind forevermore...
Evermore...
Evermore...
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That
is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe
is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great
treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis Thorn:
#aramisthorn
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