I stumbled upon an article on celibacy while casually reading at Boundless.org the other day (hopefully this whets your appetite so that you go on to read it too!). Perhaps you scoff or laugh at the concept of celibacy, as someone did when I mentioned I found an amazing article on the topic. You think it means a denial of sex, and that just seems like a stupid thing to even think about pursuing. Well, if you would permit me, I'd like to share just a few thoughts that leaped out at me and caused me to re-consider what celibacy at it's core is all about.
Check these quotes:
- “Sex is the energy inside of us that works incessantly against our being alone.” - Celibate priest Ronald Rolheiser, in his book, The Holy Longing
- “Sexuality ... is about overcoming separateness by giving life and blessing it. Thus, in its maturity, sexuality is about giving oneself over to community, friendship, family, service, creativity, humor, delight and martyrdom, so that with God, we can help bring life into the world.” - Rolheiser
- People...need to have a healthy sexuality and channel it in life-giving ways.
Unfortunately, our society has misconstrued sex and sexuality such that we have a hard time thinking of healthy sexuality that is not only about the act itself. God created each of us as sexual beings and intercourse is not the only outlet for our sexuality. If we allow ourselves to think about it, Jesus lived a healthy celibate lifestyle. In how many of the miracles Jesus performed can you remember that He touched people? Quite often. Think of a leprous person, shunned from the world and any intimate associations with other human beings. Besides the fact that Jesus healed him, can you imagine the magnitude of the impact another person freely touching him meant? If that's not love, I don't know what is. And, that is exactly the point - our sexuality is meant ultimately to bring life and love to others. Two men who were becoming priests told the author of the article that “Marriage is good, but celibacy is also good, because when you’re not tied to a specific person, you can open up your arms and embrace the whole world.”
Therefore, whether celibacy is for a season or life, I want to channel who God has made me to be to pour into and tenderly embrace in love the world around me. Ultimately, our end goal is spiritual union with God, which trumps anything expressed in our sexuality here on earth, single or married. May the passionate life-giving love God has bestowed on me be the source for all that I give back to Him and others.
So, celibacy... yeah, it's definitely a beautiful thing.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What's below the surface
Wisdom teeth. In one word a nuisance. Sitting silent, at random they choose to make their appearance. Whether they press through or not, they may be the source of pain, or infection that spreads to surrounding teeth. In America, most dentists recommend their removal as a prevention for all the complication that could or do arise from their presence.
Why am I writing about this? What does it have to do with anything worthwhile? Having firsthand just gone through all four of my wisdom teeth being removed I have lived to tell about it. But, why it matters is that it caused me to think of spiritual implications. What's below the surface in our lives, our hearts? Is there a sin or impurity lying within, perhaps without our even noticing, yet that could cause problems at any moment? If it comes out on it's own, pain and problems are sure to follow. If it lies below the surface, it could start wrecking havoc on all that surrounds it, slowly but surely. So, does "prevention" and "removal" have anything to do with our spiritual lives? I would argue that these words apply, that self-examination is necessary, and should even be a regular aspect of our lives.
Self-examination is a necessary, though admittedly painful, process for selfish, proud creatures. A thought from J. Wesley particularly struck me this week: "humility includes the awareness that we all live with a well-practiced ability for self-deception." Pride, a root of all sorts of sins, is something we are continually in need of rooting out. A constant reminder of who God is, and in turn who we are, should help us in riding us of ourselves. Any sin lying below the surface needs to be recognized and rooted out. If allowed to stay, unhindered growth and spiritual life will be affected by sin's presence. I'm thankful for a gracious God, who helps us in this process, healing us, transforming us more into the image of His dear Son. So despite the pain or discomfort the removal of sin may create, it's worth it to live in the freedom Christ purchased for us and desires for us to walk in!
Why am I writing about this? What does it have to do with anything worthwhile? Having firsthand just gone through all four of my wisdom teeth being removed I have lived to tell about it. But, why it matters is that it caused me to think of spiritual implications. What's below the surface in our lives, our hearts? Is there a sin or impurity lying within, perhaps without our even noticing, yet that could cause problems at any moment? If it comes out on it's own, pain and problems are sure to follow. If it lies below the surface, it could start wrecking havoc on all that surrounds it, slowly but surely. So, does "prevention" and "removal" have anything to do with our spiritual lives? I would argue that these words apply, that self-examination is necessary, and should even be a regular aspect of our lives.
Self-examination is a necessary, though admittedly painful, process for selfish, proud creatures. A thought from J. Wesley particularly struck me this week: "humility includes the awareness that we all live with a well-practiced ability for self-deception." Pride, a root of all sorts of sins, is something we are continually in need of rooting out. A constant reminder of who God is, and in turn who we are, should help us in riding us of ourselves. Any sin lying below the surface needs to be recognized and rooted out. If allowed to stay, unhindered growth and spiritual life will be affected by sin's presence. I'm thankful for a gracious God, who helps us in this process, healing us, transforming us more into the image of His dear Son. So despite the pain or discomfort the removal of sin may create, it's worth it to live in the freedom Christ purchased for us and desires for us to walk in!
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