Hildegard, the 12th Century mystic whose work we
are exploring until Advent, was deeply convinced that we needed close friends,
esp. someone who can be a soul friend, an anamchara,
to affirm us in our gifts and help us grow into our truest self in God.
Stop to consider
who you would consider a soul friend, someone who always encourages and pushes
you to greater things. You might want to thank that person.
Once Hildegard wrote, “no
creature, whether visible or invisible, lacks a spiritual life…those who long
to brings God’s words to completion must always remember that, because they are
human, they are vessels of clay, and so should continually focus on what they
are and what they will be…may God make you a mirror of life.”* Her words
remind us that although all creation is part of God, we as humans have the
greater responsibility. We are formed by God "of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2) In Romans, Paul notes, “For we know that the whole creation groans
and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first
fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly
for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23) We are
formed from clay, in the image of God and with God’s breath, but until we are
fully redeemed, we are not complete.
Part
of that completion and growth can only happen when we work together with one
another. Even if we are not ‘soul friends’ with everyone, we need to recall
that we are still part of the created whole. Ann Voskamp in her blog
recently talked about our desperate need to remember that “Being enemies is not an option. Being human beings who
belong to each other is the only option.”
Each one of us is called Beloved by God. Yet we often withhold our fellowship
because of hurt feelings or disagreements. When we don’t get along, we are not
the ‘mirror of life’ that Hildegard suggests we should be.
Stop and think
about someone you might need to forgive. Is there anything you can do to start
the process of reconciliation?
Casting Crowns has a song, Who Am I (see below) that captures the frailty of humanity, and yet
our Beloved-ness. God calls each of us “Mine” and knows our name. Jesus told
his disciples, and us, “I call you friends, because I have made known to you
everything…love one another.” (John 15:14-17)
Stop to thank God
for calling you Beloved and Friend. How can you and I work to see each other as
beloved fellow children of God?
Next time, we’ll look at Hildegard’s views on Justice and Virtue.
Who am I by
Casting Crowns
Who am I, that the
Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?...
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours….
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours.
*Praying
with Hildegard of Bingen by Gloria Durka
