The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · July 18, 2021
LIVING DISARMINGLY IN AN UN-EGOTISTICAL MANNER By the Rev. Carolynne Williams, Retired Canon Associate It can be fun! It’s the same as not taking oneself so seriously that they, perhaps “we” forget how to be joyful and love. Especially love one another as we pray that GOD LOVES US! When this idea becomes a movement, an opportunity for action, an adventure to experience, a point of directing one’s energy, or a goal to reach for the day, we often find ourselves in a place that is unencumbered, a place of mutual respect and perhaps discover where we are in our feeble attempt to consider “other.” “Other,” meaning whatever fills that category for you and me on a particular day, or week or the past few months and a year. It is and provides a place of action, if only for a moment, we find we are more at peace with ourselves, we actually ask someone, “How is it going?” “What’s happening in your world?” or whatever greeting, passing comment you may have that works with and for you… whatever it may be… as long as we recall and quickly reflect upon the line in our creed which states, “Respect the dignity of every human being,” we are reaching in rather than reaching out or avoiding or having a blind eye or tightening our armor or whatever one's defense may be just to maintain a sense of self; we can and will continue to build a place for others in our lives, if only for a moment or we may discover a new set of eyes to reflect upon what we have seen in terms of the essence of that person. Is it worth the risk? Absolutely! Thus, we become more aware of the presence of the holy within others as we are called to do. That is to recognize the humanness of another human being, who breathes just like we do. The breathing is of note because it is what keeps us going. It is connected to our life’s blood and how we move and live and have our being. A new challenge is presented for those who may be called to serve others. Being who we are called to be, yet, serve others has many settings, possibilities, unwritten rules, qualifications, and requirements. Being a Christian and living as a Christian is the goal of those who care about their neighbor and have a desire to love others as we believe God loves us. Living as a Christian has always been controversial and defined with different actions and movements. Historically speaking, reviewing the lives of those who believed that they were serving God during the first century, from the crusades back in the first century A.D. to today, on many different levels is what we have inherited. We have had to stand in a manner in which the disciples over two thousand years later were being judged. Being and living as a Christian is still a point of pause for many who identify as postmodern Christians being called a Christian OR viewed as a Christian, especially for those who are listening to the inner voice and can continue to be life-changing. Think about it for a moment. Consider what and where we are as a people, Christian people on this earth who are making a difference, one way or another or not at all. The guardian of this all is built into our relationship with one another. How we treat one another in the midst of it all. We have a choice. We always have a choice that is not taken from us when it comes to who we are following and why. Many Christians and those who have yet to think about the presence of the holy are involved in complex, challenging, and ethical accountability for doing the work that they believe, that we believe as “Children of God,” we are called to do. Especially for those who have that possibility of thought within oneself. I’m told that the journey of faith, takes a lifetime. I believe that. That is why I also believe the words of the psalms, the good and the not so good, when it comes to serving the goodness in others, whether we are loved and cared about by others. God and God alone is the judge where it matters. Eternally. continued on back page...