Friday, March 07, 2008

Shrine Mont Farewell


Part II of a two part series. Part I is here.

8 comments:

Anam Cara said...

Poor, BabyBlue. You seem to me to be forever trapped in the mourning stage (see Monday's post).

How I wish you could move on to Freedom! I really think you'd like it there.

You need to let go of the past. I can hear the longing in your voice. It's like the people of Israel to Moses: "Take us back to Egypt! We had food there! Why have you led us here?"

You need to remember what you said yourself. Your trust is in the Lord - not TEC, not CANA, not any person, no matter how "holy" or well intentioned. Those will ALWAYS disappoint us one way or another. Only God is faithful.

I am learning that to get past the mourning stage (I am working on a different lost dream) you must forgive. And that forgiveness is not what most people believe. It isn't saying, "Oh, that's okay. I forgive you; let's go on like before." It is saying, "That was WRONG! But I forgive you." And then you can walk away in peace.

It's a hard lesson. And I confess that I am having to go over it several times. But I see that each time I forgive properly, I am closer to that Freedom that is so beautiful. I realize that if I can learn to properly forgive, not only are the past hurts healed, but it is easier to face the ones who hurt me in the past knowing that they have no power to do it again.

I have found the way to Freedom! I can forgive and walk away from the pain.

You still refer to yourself as an Episcopalian. You need to realize that your idenity is not in the Episcopal church. You seem to think that is somehow important to identify yourself that way. I don't understand your thinking. It also isn't in CANA or at Truro.

Your idenity is in Christ! In Christ alone! You are a Christian first and formost and above all. Say it to yourself over and over again until you convince yourself that it is more important to be a Christian than to be an Episcopalian. Then say to TEC, "You hurt me, you lied, you (fill in the blanks). That was WRONG! But I forgive you." And move on in your idenity with Christ and not TEC.

You have so many talents, so much you can do for the Lord, It is such a shame that so much of your life is consumed by TEC when you could be serving God. You could be making videos that help teach. You could spend your time edifying rather than coming up with parodies of the View. How do parodies like that help promote the Kingdom? I am afraid that TEC has done more than "steal your church," It has distracted you from your calling. You have forgotten Phil 4:8 in your concerns with TEC.

Step into Freedom and use your talents for God. You will find peace and joy there!

Tregonsee said...

One of the most important things about Hamlet is that finally, eventually, he did take action. Otherwise, the endless ruminating would have finally become merely tiresome. While I took a different path from Anam Cara, what has been most important is that I did take a path. In truth, there are few bad ones, so low has TEC sunk. If you chose to stay, then stay. If you chose to leave, then leave. But please, chose something, for your sake, and His.

Anonymous said...

2 Corinthians 5:17

Anonymous said...

BabyBlue,

Just so you know, I think your honest grieving is perfectly appropriate, I don't see you having a lack of forgiveness, I don't see you "trusting in TEC," and if you're an Episcopalian, then of course you should refer to yourself as an Episcopalian, since it's the truth. Nor do I see that your referring to yourself as an Episcopalian implies that somehow you think that simple descriptive noun is more important than your identity in Christ.

Further, you seem perfectly free [though mourning], and it seems as if you are clearly using your talents for God, and yes, serving God, even though some people seem to have an idea that you should be "serving God" by their definition which appears to me to be oddly pietistic.

Keep up the good work, and God bless you,

Sarah, an Episcopalian whose identity is elsewhere, but still . . . an Episcopalian

Unknown said...

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus


Written by Michael W. Smith

Anonymous said...

My essential question remains. Is this about Peter Lee's very own, independently created malevolence or Peter Lee's PW acquiescence to the Force of TEc's Purple Haze?

I'm betting on KJS. PJS hasn't the stones to do this on his own.

Anonymous said...

Oops! PJS + Peter James Lee.

Kevin said...

In a way I feel like a hypocrite writing anything here. I do have strong feelings that CANA should not go to the DioVA cathedral nor DioVA allow CANA rent its cathedral. I really don't care about Rick Allen's question, folks can't have their cake and eat it as well, they can't be in broken relationship and accept benefits as well. The relationship need to be repaired first. However, I did just return from my parish retreat this weekend and had an complete blast!!

Truro can still do smaller retreats, such as gender or ministry specific, but after this weekend, I do have more empathy for BB. I used to be a part of Kairos the youth adults at TFC and go on their retreats. I had more fun going on a retreat with a parish filled with young adults. There is a huge difference, I think much came in packages about three feet tall.

Yet, Shrinemont is just a place. It happens to be a place where you had fun and is +Lee's seat. Our parish was in large bunk type sleeping with facilities that folks complained about this year we were at nice place that I think Truro's women have used in the past. I remember both years with joy. I'd go back to the one last year in a second if the rest of my parish would be there ...

One thing about not having a building and sometimes having to meet in WCF instead of COSC for Sunday service, I've learn Church is made of living stones.