Blog 11: Love steps in…
A metaphor of compassion from James Finley:
“Here is yet another way of putting it: Our egocentric self sets out with an egocentric understanding of the spiritual path. This egocentric understanding is that of having to jump over a bar set so high that only the most finely tuned spiritual athlete could ever hope to clear it. Our struggles with distractions, sleepiness and indifference bring us to the point of near despair. We begin to fear that our doubts were true concerning our inability to master such a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
Then just as we have become exhausted and spent in our futile efforts to rise above our own limitations the saving event happens. Compassion steps out and places the bar flat on the ground! Approaching the bar, bewildered by the unthinkable simplicity o the task, we trip over it and fall headlong into God, waiting to reveal to us that we are precious in our fragility and strangely whole in the midst of our fragmentation.”
This image utterly changed my understanding of God. I return to it again and again and always it breaks my heart open with love, a love that overtakes me and awakens me to that Infinite Love that loves all sentient beings through and through.
Finley J. (2004) Christian Meditation. San Francisco: Harper One, p.281-282.
Contemplative Compassion 
Kim, I’m sitting in the airport waiting for my 3 hour delayed flight, missed connections and all that. And here is your blog with the same beautiful story Jim just told us yesterday in our final session with him. What a joy to be reminded of it.
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Yes, it was a good reminder for me yesterday. Then traveling one almost needs to be reminded through all the challenges. Hope you get home safely. I’m heading to Portland in an hour.
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I love this quote/image!
Erin Richardson
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