Season Two of Low in the Water
Benedictions Ahead!
Season Two of Low in the Water, the Eugene Peterson Center’s weekly “benediction” podcast and monthly extended good conversation (bona colloquia) started recording today. It was so good to be back with these friends.
The same voices are joining me for season two: Brian Keepers, Andrea Taphorn, David Wollan, Eric Peterson, Winn Collier, and Mandy Smith. Also, more musical and producing beauty from Jonathan Gabhart and Michigan IO.
We will soon have an updated website, but find out more here.
I love the little lyric in our constitutional poem from Pastor Eugene that goes:
Low in the water, this contemplative
loon is an icon for living present
but detached.
“living present, but detached.” Incarnational life is being present with people, but detached from managing, fixing, controlling, or manipulating them. This is also descriptive of Christ’s gracious life and (hopefully) the church’s gracious life in the world.
This kind of presence in the world forms a new kind of speech in it—benediction—eulogos. Otherwise we are left with curses for curses, trolling for trolling, a race to the bottom. Benediction is the language of the kingdom. The language of the eschaton. The heavenly language that can already be spoken and understood.
The writer to the Hebrews in Chapter 1114 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
People of faith speak futurese and understand it too.
When the community at Vicovaro tried to poison St. Benedict, Gregory wrote, “with a calm face and a tranquil mind [he] said to the gathered brothers, “Brothers, may almighty God have mercy on you! Why have you wished to do this to me? After this you cannot have me.” They cursed. Benedict absolved and blessed and moved on. Benediction is not denial, nor is it a codependent response.
When faced with the devil’s meddling, Benedict didn’t even curse the old enemy, but “came at once, prayed a blessing” and the heaviness of the tempter’s power was raised as if it was nothing at all. (from The Life of St. Benedict by Gregory the Great: Translation and Commentary by Terrence G. Kardong). Benediction is not pious inaction, but powerful sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6.17).
Benedict benedicted. It became his adopted tongue. Our little band is also practicing benediction. Come join us weekly this year. Like and subscribe and share and all the good things if you want to help spread benediction.