The Jesuits vow to differ from other monastic orders by getting out from the cloister in order to "be in the World but NOT to be of the World." We, too, are agents of God; we are on-call to do his business in the world and are authorized to act as his presence on the ground; on site and "live."
During our small group discussion these three things came up or were triggered in my own mind.
(1) Prayer experiences by several in our circle were shared in which some result was noticable, although not always as one hoped or expected. Reflection: perhaps the act of praying clears one's mind and places one is a correct posture in order to perceive and receive what is already present, but because of one's anxiety or preoccupations has been invisible. In other words, God's solutions are all around us; the past and the future merge into one place (the seed and the flower coexisting).
(2) Loving God and loving one's neighbor (as oneself) is a two-way process involving a giver and a receiver. Sometimes it feels harder to accept another person's offer of help, kind words or other expression of love. And yet by allowing that person to express their love, in fact both parties gain.
(3) Striving for more of the World (status, power, wealth, respect) versus living in the moment, sufficient with what is in one's hands right now: reckoning the value of one's earthly life, merit or worth in God's eyes is not based on mortal logic, so perhaps a kind word or helpful deed is just as valuable as creating a social service or community joy. Perhaps the one-on-one accomplishment is as valuable or more valuable than the headline goodworks like Carnegie Libraries donated to towns across the country. After all, the story of the Widow's Mite (2 pennies in the money plate) teaches that significance is scaled to the person. Therefore no matter how small the kindness, when scaled to the individual spirit and heart, these opportunities to do a kindness should be seized upon.
Later in the week, I began to reflect on the premise of the book's title, What's the least you need to believe to be a Christian. On the one hand the state of being a Christian is a persisting condition that you are immersed in. So, yes, you have arrived at a "destination." But perhaps more importantly you never arrive there since it, like Faith itself, is a dynamic condition that is always in process; emergent; soon to be, however not yet. Accordingly, a better title might be ...to believe to BECOME a Christian.
Taking a different angle to rewriting the title, the "need to" gives one the feeling that this bar is set low, and that to jump over this bar will yield the full reward. Alternatives include:
"What's the least I should/would/could/must believe to be a Christian"?
Each of these variations shifts the emphasis or focus:
--should means that it is strongly advised, although not necessarily required.
--would means that I myself can define the boundaries according to my will and commitment.
--could means that I take an experimental approach [could as 'hypothetically']; a related meaning is could as 'capable of doing' within my own limitations.
--must means that it is imperative; as essential as food and water are required to live.
