Diana, I read your excellent article after hearing from a friend that her parents were listening to an Apocalyptic prophet who is advising them to invest in bunkers and stockpile food so they can survive. My heart sank! So much fear, anxiety and paranoia. I grew up in a church where I heard specific predictions of the final Judgment Day and was terrified. My grandmother followed Herbert W. Armstrong and his son Garner Ted, who asked her to sell her house, give the money to the church, and move to Guinea to avoid the Tribulation. My great grandmother followed John Adam Battenfield to a remote area of Arkansas to avoid the Tribulation. Their prophet was later hospitalized for mental illness, paranoid schizophrenia. We must find a way through this madness. Did anyone in your religious circle talk to you about the failed predictions of prophesy you experienced?
Thank you, Diana! Rupture. Repair. Possible. I still believe we're living through a Transformation period with the Spirit in the midst of this waiting for us to see and respond.
I read this the first time around 6:30 AM. I was thankful I had read the lessons for today. I also read eagerly. Ever since you and others have pointed out the ruptures we have been living through; the Bible readings assigned in the lectionary have made more sense. But the wondering continues," what am I called to do, be, at my past retirement age? My answer has been to reimagine the world and hopefully find a way to help those coming behind to reimagine . I have a framed keepsake of a visit to Kilauea, Mauna Loa Volcanoes erupting. The sky on one side is pure blue, the ocean water is mostly black and steaming from hot lava. Fires are burning green trees- in the middlle of the picture is a green bird, maybe singing. Hope in the middle of rupture!? This is what your writing does for me today. Happy Advent 2021!
I love your columns, Diana, but I have one complaint. The two "ruptures" you picked were both in the US. I know you think globally. Acknowledging our global connections whenever we can is so important,--especially in these days.
Actual trust, the vital faith that rests with confidence in the universal life force and birthing power of love arrives in the midst of turmoil and chaos, pain and confusion, doubt and despair. Instead of rescue, the distorted concept of rapture as escape morphs into the rude awakening of being required to go through the flames to reach the other side. The crucible for necessary change is not our design, but the creative genius of a Great Mind that knows the easy way out we read into the story is not the plan. So we kick and scream against what is until we are exhausted and then fall into the arms of That which has always been holding us. And Christmas comes again to remind us that even though we feel abandoned because things are not the way we want, there remains the miracle of new life in the midst of suffering.
Thank you so much,Diana! This was so relevant and seasonal. I always thought that Christians are to stay awake and watch, so that they may go through the birth pangs of great transitions, not be taken out of them but transformed by the cataclysmic events of the era."For a time such as this!" from the Book of Esther. Blessings for a light filled Advent! Mimi
Lord, may we all see with new eyes - this time of so much hurt and destruction so we can become new again - reborn. Amen
Diana, I read your excellent article after hearing from a friend that her parents were listening to an Apocalyptic prophet who is advising them to invest in bunkers and stockpile food so they can survive. My heart sank! So much fear, anxiety and paranoia. I grew up in a church where I heard specific predictions of the final Judgment Day and was terrified. My grandmother followed Herbert W. Armstrong and his son Garner Ted, who asked her to sell her house, give the money to the church, and move to Guinea to avoid the Tribulation. My great grandmother followed John Adam Battenfield to a remote area of Arkansas to avoid the Tribulation. Their prophet was later hospitalized for mental illness, paranoid schizophrenia. We must find a way through this madness. Did anyone in your religious circle talk to you about the failed predictions of prophesy you experienced?
Thank you Diana, a great article. On a side note, the song “I Wish We All Been Ready” was written and performed by Larry Norman.
Such a "meaty" article. Thank you
Thank you, Diana! Rupture. Repair. Possible. I still believe we're living through a Transformation period with the Spirit in the midst of this waiting for us to see and respond.
This is so good Diana. So much to ponder. As I was reading I went from feelings of dread to having hope renewed.
I read this the first time around 6:30 AM. I was thankful I had read the lessons for today. I also read eagerly. Ever since you and others have pointed out the ruptures we have been living through; the Bible readings assigned in the lectionary have made more sense. But the wondering continues," what am I called to do, be, at my past retirement age? My answer has been to reimagine the world and hopefully find a way to help those coming behind to reimagine . I have a framed keepsake of a visit to Kilauea, Mauna Loa Volcanoes erupting. The sky on one side is pure blue, the ocean water is mostly black and steaming from hot lava. Fires are burning green trees- in the middlle of the picture is a green bird, maybe singing. Hope in the middle of rupture!? This is what your writing does for me today. Happy Advent 2021!
Thank you Diana for coming back to words and writing. This will last me at least all of Advent I week to ponder and reflect.
I love your columns, Diana, but I have one complaint. The two "ruptures" you picked were both in the US. I know you think globally. Acknowledging our global connections whenever we can is so important,--especially in these days.
Actual trust, the vital faith that rests with confidence in the universal life force and birthing power of love arrives in the midst of turmoil and chaos, pain and confusion, doubt and despair. Instead of rescue, the distorted concept of rapture as escape morphs into the rude awakening of being required to go through the flames to reach the other side. The crucible for necessary change is not our design, but the creative genius of a Great Mind that knows the easy way out we read into the story is not the plan. So we kick and scream against what is until we are exhausted and then fall into the arms of That which has always been holding us. And Christmas comes again to remind us that even though we feel abandoned because things are not the way we want, there remains the miracle of new life in the midst of suffering.
Thank you so much,Diana! This was so relevant and seasonal. I always thought that Christians are to stay awake and watch, so that they may go through the birth pangs of great transitions, not be taken out of them but transformed by the cataclysmic events of the era."For a time such as this!" from the Book of Esther. Blessings for a light filled Advent! Mimi