One way to feel centered and in-tune with the Creator is to begin with the physical layers of one's body: visualize bones (solid), then overlay the circulating blood (liquid), and then overlay the steady breaths in and out (gas). To this physical self then also tie in to the living force of things all around of the natural environment and wider cosmos beyond. Lastly, and given this charged sense of being in the world, listen as God calls your name as one who knows you well; better indeed than anybody else can do.

Image in the late afternoon May 30th sunlight: I pedal past the Catholic church and pass parishioners moving toward the doors in their modest and colorful summer clothing in time for the Saturday celebration of mass. Then I wonder: compared to the primitive Christians who met in one another's homes, having a big organization and prominent location makes for a different experience as leader and as follower.

    Being in the margins and also subjected to persecution --first from orthodox temple Jews, and later from Roman occupiers-- perhaps limited the scope of ambitions and options for engaging the powers that be, and perhaps it caused believers to be ever vigilant and survival oriented. On the other hand, being at the center of what it means to be proper, respectable and surrounded by beauty, eternity, holy righteousness leads to a different experiential impression and the resulting worldview. Being part of the powerful things can be corrupting; can lead to some complacency and perhaps lead to confusion between the organization's glories and the message that Christiantiy carries.

    How then to have the best of both: the hunger of the desperately seeking and the ease and generous heart of those who have arrived at some stability and ease?

Communion - always fresh

My experience of the communion celebration varies from one occasion to another; sometimes because of the form it takes (served at railing by officiants, individual portions passed from plate across all pews, tearing own piece of bread to dip into wine, rustic or camping experience of make-shift elements). Other times it is not the form it takes or the setting in which conducted, but rather depends on the focus or lack-of-focus in my own mind.

    Today I was mindful of several things - the symbolism of the purpley-red juice pressed from grapes (blood as God's; not to be shed by men; something polluting and also sacred; the thing that stands for Christ's living force that was given for all of us), but also the natural beauty and living fruit of the farmer's hand (that synthetic juice would never be as rich and deep as the real thing created from grape, soil, sun and water), as well as being mindful of the humble heart of the recipient of this wonderful creation of God's world held her in the small plastic cup before me. On other occasions different facets of the celebration are foremost in my mind; for example, the preamble words that hearken back to the original communion feast in the Upper Room, the many sided ways that communion is carried out in the many denominations, languages and periods of history among the great and the small. Still other prominent themes that have come into my mind at other times include the awareness of the utter humility with which one should accept the unconditional love carried in the communion action 2000 years (100 generations?) ago; or the specific worries or burdens one may have on a given occasion for things past or things impending.

    No matter the particular mix of motives and attention brought to the taking of the elements, those same words and actions have the power to take on different meanings, time after time.