This will probably be the last blog I shall post on this forum. In past times this has been an excellent blog. Jessica’s original intentions have been maintained by chalcedon. In no way does my decision to leave reflect on him. I’ve enjoyed posting various articles and contributing to discussions. However I want to apologize for two recent departures and an explanation. My apologies.
Recently there’s been a narrowing and hardening of what was in the beginning a larger vision. Flexibility is vital in ventures such as this, but rigidity is a constant danger.
A receptive modesty gives birth to a wisdom of feeling the rhythms of the world, and attending to them in awe and thankfulness
The Judeo-Christian Scriptures are full of reminders that we are limited beings who cannot understand God or the totality of the universe. Our absolute systems of thought and belief only make us look absurd if we take them too seriously, for with God, all is yet unfinished and undisclosed. Even St Thomas Aquinas, the learned doctor admitted –
“All that I have written appears to be as so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me. …. For it does not admit of exposition like other branches of knowledge; but after much converse about the matter itself and a life lived ..”
Ideas that are fashioned out of a conviction that God agrees with our take on things are pale imitations of what he might really think.
The God to whom we relate may only be partially understood. Its why I remain open to reality as it unfolds in my life. Words like Orthodox, Conservative or Liberal mean little to me. They tie one up in knots and severely limit one’s personal freedom of choice.
God can never be fully understood, but he is always present, always in relationship, no matter how vague or shadowed, orthodox, liberal or even heretical.
He seeks from us not rigid dogma but connection. This always demands of us flexibility and the ability to live with contradictions and paradoxes.
I’m reminded of a remarkable verse in the Tao Teh Ching by Lao Tzu.
When a man is living, he is soft and supple.
When he is dead, he becomes hard and rigid.
When a tree is living it is soft and tender
When it is dead it becomes withered and dry.
(Translation by John C. H. Wu)
As Christians we should learn to question more, to question as a ritual, and as explanation of grace rather than as a search for certainty.
All Along the Watchtower 
Will you write elsewhere? I got much from your posts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know where else would be suitable. But thanks for your kind thought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God’s Eternal Word is not published as John’s Gospel tell us. He tabernacles with us,
He pitches his tent next to ours. He sets up camp along side us. But not so that we can know him fully and pin him down like a dead butterfly and pride our selves in what we believe and know what other’s don’t, but so we can relate to him, begin to understand him through prayer and learn how to love him.
LikeLiked by 2 people
so soon have I known thee
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry to see you go, Father Malcolm. I would also like to express my personal thanks for the spirit of open-mindedness you have displayed here as well as the beautiful, palpable, and sincere mysticism you brought with you that is absent from so many parts of the church. Peace be with you.
LikeLiked by 4 people
And peace with you Nicholas. I’ve always enjoyed your posts…especially as we wiew truth from a reformed tradition. I hold no bad feelings about any poster, but realize that sometimes the honourable course is to withdraw. Its counterproductive to continually be on one’s guard against upsetting cherished ecclesiastical beliefs of individuals. Anglicans in common with Lutherans, Calvinists, Presbyterians and Methodists have their own unique flavour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, and like you I’ve been through some storms. I suppose it’s testimony to what we are as human beings: “knowledge puffs up”, but love builds up other people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And, if I may interject, this is why it would be a retrograde step if your voice was not here, Malcolm.
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re very thoughtful chalcedon. To be honest I’m in two minds. Perhaps a break might be in order.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perhaps write as you like – and only respond as you like too? 😊
LikeLike
Malcolm, it appears you have made an excellent case for precisely why you should not go. I have noticed in reading blogs that there are those who excel at pontificating with numerous words and they seem to brook no dissension no matter how well considered or tenderly presented; then there are others who lay bare their hearts and minds imbued with the tender love and mercy of God. Both types of writers are simply coming from different perspectives and expect different kinds of responses to what they write. Perhaps there is room for both approaches.
Malcolm, you are the latter kind of writer with so much to offer. Please don’t go.
LikeLiked by 3 people
When I read the generous and thoughtful comments such as yours ccconny it makes me reconsider things.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fr Malcolm, I completely understand, and find myself in the same quandary, as I have told C. And yet, as he replied to me, and to you, if you go, that narrowing will occur, and don’t think it a good thing. This is, and always has been, at its bedrock, an Anglican (albeit) conservative blog. C and I both think that voice to be crucial to its tone, which is why we were so pleased with your return, and will mourn your departure,
I hope you’ll stay with us. For that matter, I hope I can find it in me to stay as well.
LikeLiked by 3 people
It would be terrible to see you go, NEO. You have a wise head on your shoulders and you are a crucial part of the Protestant voice here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So you (and C.) say. I often wonder though if we do any good at all. In the end, I think I’ll stay, but the tone of the blog again troubles me, as it does Malcolm.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree with that assessment. I don’t think I can offer any rational comment. All I can say is I would miss you – just as I miss Jess.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, and thank you for wildly overrating my contribution. And yes, I would miss all of you, as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
NEO, please Brother, you must not leave because of me. That would be sad, after all I’ve only re-appeared over the last two months or so. You are a profound and very mature contributor to this forum. Your comments are always very balanced and well thought through which is more that can be said of mine. I’m too emotional.. Don’t be too hasty as I may well change my mind. I didn’t expect so many encouraging comments to my farewell post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Malcolm, my brother, those are very nice things to say to and about me, and I believe you mean them. If I leave, I rather doubt I will at this point, it will not be because of you, at least specifically, but because I share your feelings on how the discussion here is narrowing, still again. I think I can say that this is some part of why Jessica retired, as well. I’m a realist, it’s not that I don’t have emotions, mine are sometimes overpowering. This site, and Jess’ friendship brought me back to the faith, and to many other things, including Walsingham. If it gets to the point that they interfere with those things, well… I hope they don’t.
I, like you, I suspect, may simply need a break, we will see. It may be a few days, or a bit longer, or I may be back tomorrow, or never. I simply don’t know, but the very thought of it troubles me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Neo, I couldn’t resist posting on chalcedon’s most recent post on T.S.Eliot a few moments ago. Eliot’s Four Quartets has had a profound influence on my life and I know parts of it by heart.
Old men ought to be explorers
Here or there does not matter
We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, it is also one of my favorites – still another thing Jess brought me to, and you as well, when you quoted from it after her pilgrimage. I assume you’ve seen this, and I note that Jeremy Irons read it on Radio 4 recently, but I’ve only been able to find “Little Gidding”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Eliot has the most clear and resonant diction, but I think that Jeremy Irons has the edge over him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do as well.
LikeLike
https://jeremyirons.net/2014/01/18/jeremy-irons-reads-ts-eliots-four-quartets/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You intolerant idolaterous female deity worshipers have run off the only other person whose message is just like mine. Seek Jesus and then look to help others. Then you all cry out to have me banned. But your own actions have banned the only gentile man of god to grace these idolatrous pages. This isn’t the first time you vipers have destroyed a friendship. Good brother David Moniker was the poster boy for Catholicism, and you teamed up to humiliate him, for some unknown reason. Good brother Malcolm is the only person on earth that i havent exchanged hostile words with. Even on good brother Damiens crucible. Its impossible to find fault with good brother Malcolm. I know all of you aren’t guilty, but the ones that are should be hung up to dry. but you all seek to have me banned. I don’t go away because of my undying friendship to good sister and good brother Chalcedon. I don’t care what people think of me. Especially people who bow befor stone and wood.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve always had a deep affection for you Bosco.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s well and truly named Bosco, because he’s a clown. But darn it, he’s our clown, and I like him, a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I think. Ive always liked you good brother Neo. I love everyone in here. And I admire good brother Neo for hanging around this site even though the new owner thinks protestants are going to hell. If you ask the cathols, they will be honest enough to say that non cathols are separated brothren. That’s a politically correct term for someone they think is going to hell when they die. That’s what I love about cathols. They are sliding down in a fast and furious way to hell and all the while they think they are doing god a favor and everyone else is going to hell. All they have to do is crack open the bible and find out whats going on. But their fearless leaders have told them not to look to the scriptures because only the costumes can understand them. That should keep the devotees from asking hard questions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always say when you’ve reached base, there’s nowhere else to go but up again.
LikeLike
Please stay Malcolm. Don’t go. Thank you for all your posts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And thank you Annie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t have the courage to write on my blog but put pieces of interest that I find on the web up on it. You might like the last piece I posted to it “A Pilgrimage to…”
LikeLike