I’m back!

I’ve been on hiatus for a couple of months, but now I’m back.

What I’ve been reading in the interim includes: Tony Hillerman, author of great mysteries that feature a Navajo detective; N. T. Wright, author of Simply Christian and Mark for Everyone. Also books about Celtic spirituality by Esther de Waal and others.

Celtic spirituality is very exciting. I’ve begun to recite St. Patrick’s breastplate every morning, the classic 8th century prayer.

Wright describes a powerful metaphor for our age, that is the age we’re just emerging from: the dictator has paved over every spring, every well, every river – in short every source of water. He requires people to drink from authorized pipes only, and puts additives in the water at will. Now, however, water bursts through the concrete; muddy water floods everywhere.

Water represents spirituality. Since the Enlightenment, people in the West have been trained to ignore matters of spirit, except those coming through authorized channels, the mainline churches, which often present a tame version of spirituality. Since the mid-60s, however, people have been seeking for all things spiritual, often without discerning that some are positive and some are not.

Wright’s metaphor is compelling to me. People are hungry and thirsty for spiritual truth, but as the song says, they are “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

Well, it’s good to be back. I promise to write regularly. Please comment to let you know you’re there. Shalom!