While on retreat at the SSJE monastery last month the brother with whom I was receiving spiritual direction suggested that I consider taking some time to live with passivity, not activity. What? Be passive? Not active? I had no idea how to express this idea, much less live by it. Then he gave a card with this message
After immense activity one passes into a phase where passivity is the only way. I pray that you may be finding this passivity as—the way in which the soul serves GOD, not by doing this or that but by passively receiving the great stream of His love and compassion.
-Michael Ramsey (Archbishop of Canterbury)
It has taken me a month to ease my way into this idea of what passivity might mean for me. To even consider being passive, doing nothing, is a challenge. And yet, I rather like the possibility, offered to me by two Christians that I respect and trust. So why not give it a try--sit and be. How's that for a start? A form of meditation.
After immense activity one passes into a phase where passivity is the only way. I pray that you may be finding this passivity as—the way in which the soul serves GOD, not by doing this or that but by passively receiving the great stream of His love and compassion.
-Michael Ramsey (Archbishop of Canterbury)
It has taken me a month to ease my way into this idea of what passivity might mean for me. To even consider being passive, doing nothing, is a challenge. And yet, I rather like the possibility, offered to me by two Christians that I respect and trust. So why not give it a try--sit and be. How's that for a start? A form of meditation.
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