Week 4 of the CTSD Lent series was introduced by Kevin
Taylor who noted that Anglicans are particularly specialist in reflective
prayer, opening with the song
Be still
for the presence
Our speaker has been thinking about wisdom; he said that the church is blessed
by having a predominance of older people. He
recognised how age may bring wisdom and recognition of the mistakes we make.
All the ancient and new books are sources of wisdom; today, social media and
the internet may appear to be at the top of the ‘Wisdom Pyramid’ while, at its
base still lies the foundation stone of the Bible.
Luke 2.52 describes how Jesus increased in
wisdom and in years and in divine and human favour.
We can't just build incrementally from where we are. There are ways in which we may see how we
grow in wisdom; John described how a snake sheds its skin and how vulnerable it
is in the process. We change physically as we go through life and we also change spiritually. We do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4.16-17
The direction of our life changes as we get older; the high point of our
achievements typically comes near the middle of our lives. In the second half
of our lives we focus less on going higher and more on going deeper. Richard Rohr describes this as falling
upwards.
In the normal course of things is not about climbing, it's more about
broadening, particularly for us Christians. Do we do what we say we believe in? Or is life about letting God in to shape us?
John offered five characteristics of the second half of life:
Ego - Turning 50 he heard that he should be far less concerned about what other
people thought of you. Time to let go of role, power, status or possessions and
come to a point where we lose any desire to prove.
Expansively - accepting weaknesses uncertainties and hurts as part of being who
I am, taking delight in discovering alternative perspectives and people whose
experience is different, no longer dividing the world into ‘them and us’ and no
longer needing my group beliefs to be completely right. On Mothering Sunday, it may be appropriate or
better to acknowledge that not all mothers were wonderful.
It may the time of life to learn how to have good disagreement between us and
to not get angry about our differences.
Should we use ‘non-‘ to describe others?
Being right is not as important as being kind. Our speaker suggested that he had ‘put his foot
in it’ several times. Living ‘non
dualistically’ means realising that between black and white there is a full
spectrum of colour - rather than greys. It’s
a time to celebrate more and judge less, reflecting more and analysing less
resulting in feeling more grateful and less upset. Matthew 7.1f It’s good for us to be alive and realise that God is in all of it,
having a sense of oneness with God and Creation.
In the second half of life some find it easier to live prayerfully; we may have
read about it but there may be a greater desire to do it. Prayer nurtures a first-hand reality that is
neither known by the senses nor obvious to the mind. Getting there may mean living more simply and
we have to clear away some of the clutter of our lives where the noise of our
lives drowns out the quieter, subtler voice of God. There may be a yearning to experience wonder,
joy and peace. John described his time on
silent retreat with just a Bible; after the first 24 hours the retreat was
amazing – ‘Just me and God and not anyone else’.

What stops us from this life? We are to
take action from a
still centre. Far
better to engage with people who challenge me with compassion enriched by joy,
sadness and compassion and to challenge injustice not by expressing anger but
by firmness, patience and quiet determination, possibly influencing others
unknowingly by openness, grace and joy. The
example was cited of Anthony who sought solitude in a cave and yet the people
came out of the city to sit at his feet; the further he went, the more the people
came.
Reflective prayer
* Sit comfortably, move to another seat if you need to
* Breathe slowly and steadily
* Hand to God the concerns for the day
* Repeat silently be still and know that i am God
* Rest in the stillness of God
* Read
Luke 2.25-36 Simeon
* In silence reflect on the story -picture the scene – remember what was said.
* Listen for what God is saying to you through that story
Image of Simeon &
Anna with Holy Family at the presentation in the temple, copyright details awaited