Stirrings

I was raised in a home saturated by love. My parents married very young. They adored each other. They meet  in the summer of 1952 one balmy  holiday weekend in  Grand bend. My Dad and some of his pals were staying in a cottage. Apparently  they were making something that required sugar and hadn't any. My dad wandered over to the cabin next to theirs to see if he could borrow some. My mother answered the door. And as they say the rest was history. 

It was love at first sight for both of them. Their song was 'They Call It Puppy Love' by Canada's own, Paul Anka. Mom was 18 and Dad was 19 when they married on the first day of  August, 1953.

 As my brothers and i entered the scene we became the fortunate recipients of our folks warm and affectionate home life.Growing up in the Culver household was a gift, grounding us in unconditional love. I just instinctively new my parents would stand with me no matter what. 

Around age 12 we moved to Hespeler, which would shortly amalgamate with Galt and Preston to become Cambridge. It was around this time i awoke out of a slumber that had been  fueled by imagination and wonder. When the  childhood  dream scape dissolved my naive and inquisitive  heart was  jettisoned  into the turmoil  of the bubbling cauldron that was the  60's. 

The flickering black and white images of the evening news stick with me to this day Khrushchev pounding his shoe on a desk in the UN yelling 'we'll bury you'. John John Kennedy stoically saluting his father's horse drawn casket. Oswald murdered before my eyes. Civil rights protesters attacked by snarling police dogs and water cannons in Birmingham Alabama .The violence and in justice of the Vietnam war.  To top it all off the eminent annihilation of human kind pronounced each time we practiced duck and cover. These were the touch points that set the stage  Each a violent poke in the ribs of my conscious being.

It was then I began questioning the ethos of the world i inhabited... my conscience being stirred...Simultaneously something deep within started churning.

My bed was situated in such a way that as i drifted off to sleep each evening i could gaze out into the Cosmos. Starring at the night sky had a strange effect on me... I became overwhelmed with the vastness of the universe and would begin to contemplate eternity and beyond ... frankly this would sometimes scare the living crap out of me. A deep awareness of the eternal was triggered and i couldn't resist it's beckoning. Each night i returned to that window and pondered life and beyond.

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i wanted to live
in solitude, un-bothered
love bade me mingle
in the busiest places

tried to hide
in a forgotten corner
love sent me out
trumpet in hand

cloistered my heart
in the monastery of convenience
love thrust me out
and surrounded me with need

bc 10/97

Thin Places

"On this arid summit, where the winds blow hard, where no root takes hold, where distance seems infinite and heaven close, the spirit is tested and replenished ... the pilgrim has reached a thin place."
Micheal Mullen: Croagh Patrick, a perspective

What is a thin place? In simple terms a ‘thin place’ is where the veil between this world and the Other world is threadlike. The Unseen world being nearer. This meaning assumes the existence of a world beyond what we know through our five senses. Since time memorial fascination with the "Other world" has occupied human minds. A thin place is where connection to that world seems effortless and almost palpable.

Thin places should not be confused with those moments of transcendence we've all experienced, such as the birth of a child, the return of a loved one, reconciliation with an enemy a spiritual awakening. A thin place is simply a location where the veil is thin. The place itself calls you. Draws you in and transports you into the presence of the world beyond this world.

Describing an encounter in a thin place is like trying to describe, making love, the feeling of holding your newborn child, communion with God. All attempts are feeble and words are inadequate. Understanding marries experience and full understanding is almost never achieved.

In the Celtic tradition a thin place is where the veil between this temporal world and the "other world " of eternity is sheer like gossamer.

In Genesis, Bethel where Jacob had his dream of angels ascending and descending on a ladder was a place of an open heaven, a thin place.

In the Celtic world view the human heart can be the thinnest place of all.

SETTING THE TONE (part 3)

I'm a Christo-centric Trinitarian convinced
the universe is centered in relationship, the eternal Three fold Friendship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Love is simply not just an attribute of God. God is Love it's self.
The early church fathers reffered to the perichoresis or the "Great Dance of God." When a mother cradles her child close to her breast, willing to sacrifice all for that tiny new life.. where does that love come from.... the bond of love between a grand parent and grand child... a group of people banded together to save a beached whale... why would a person on the other side of the planet sponser a aids child in Africa... where does that compassion come from... it all flows from the swirl of the Great Dance of God. We were created for the great dance... the invitation is there for us to partake and to share.
Aaron and Kartikka's love for each other and their desire to declare it publicly, (Jesus loves parties), is part of the great dance...
We experienced: a blessing that day... two families coming together...an occasi0n to learn... an opportunity to simply live out the life of THE ONE i desire to follow....and an opportunity to join in His dance...
God loves us, wants us to love each other and center our lives in THE WAY...who is also the Lord of the Dance...

SETTING THE TONE (part two)

Aaron and Karttika sought out a priest to preside over the Hindu portion of their Wedding. They came across Drupida. Initially he called me with a bit of trepidation. You have to understand that his previous contact with "Christians" had been confrontational to say the least. Drupida and I made an instant connection.We cordially agreed that there would be no proselytizing at the celebration.

Aaron and his beloved live in BC so all the arrangements had to be made long distance. Karttika's family would take care of the feast. This would be easier all the way around due to their dietary codes. The Culvers' would organize the rest.

Things came together beautiful. It was a family affair. Everyone pitched in where they could. Our middle daughter and her husband would host the gathering at there place, a gorgeous Victorian Manse with a massive yard in a small rural town. A perfect setting.

About an hour before the ceremony, Drupida asked if I would do the honor of aiding him with the Vedic portion. I was overwhelmed. I'll have to pray about it and get back to you was my reply.You have to understand, most of our family are Christians and i didn't want to stumble anyone.I confirmed with my wife and one of our other son's, after praying about his request I felt to go ahead.

We had some wonderful dialogue about faith. I was very familiar with the Vedic ceremony. It is full of beautiful symbols and types. When it comes to the wedding ceremony, all the Bible is clear on is the sacredness of a covenant between a couple before God, the rest that comes down to us is tradition.

The Vedic tradition opens with a purification right. A brass spoon is used to place three drops of water on the palm of the right hand which are slushed away. Three more drops are placed , then lapped up from the palm.

"Father Son Holy spirit cleanse me. Father, Son Holy Spirit, Living Water" I remarked to Drupida as we discussed the proceedings that morning. He looked at me quite excitedly and replied "you got that out of the purification rite. "Yes.. Jesus is all over your ceremony", I countered. "The only thing I can't do with a clear conscience is chant Hari Krishna and repeat the prayers. Would you have a problem with me doing it "My Sweet Lord" style... while your chanting I sing Hallelujah" I inquired. "Fine by me", was his reply.

SETTING THE TONE (part one)

It seems fitting that the birthing of this blog would be on my eldest son Aaron's fourth wedding anniversary. Besides the fact that he and Kartika gave us our 4th grandchild a year ago this past December, a little girl... Love the three of ya.

When Aaron was younger he was positive that he would never marry or date a "hippie". If you know my wife and I you would be able to put that statement into context. Suffice it to say are still refered to as that "hippie couple". To be honest, now it's "old" hippy couple.

As the warning goes, never say never. Aaraon meet Kartika, and Darn, if she didn't turn out tobe the sweetest little "hippie chick" one could imagine. Her back ground is Hari Krishna. Her family lived in a Temple during her formative years.

By the time they meet Aaraon had wandered far from his faith heritage. Kartika was instrumental in encouraging him back to his faith roots. Challenging him to hounour the "Lord"with his life. I love this little girl.

It had always been Kartika's dream to have a traditional Vedic Wedding. I was relatively familiar with the cerimony having lived in India and having dear friends who are involved with the Christ Bakti Movement.

Aaron approached me and asked if I would participate in an interfaith Wedding Cerimony. He desired a Celtic Christian expression in tandem with the edic Vedic cerimony.. I responded in a hearty affirmative.