How do you "lean against the wind"?

[pmcleanj]

Decades ago my Religious Studies professor quoted Francis Schaeffer as having said "the church, to be of witness to the world, must lean against the wind". It's a powerful statement, all the moreso because I had just finished reading Schaeffer's "the God who is there" and found it very much LESS than convincing.

Does anyone know in what essay or book Schaeffer made this statement? I've never been able to confirm the reference, for all that I have the greatest faith in Dr Hexam's reliability.

But regardless of the source, I believe the statement is true. We are, by virtue of our Christian calling, counter-cultural. In what ways do you lean against the wind of social conventions and worldly norms? (Not, obviously, by eschewing the internet, the greatest cultural "wind" of modern times:cool: )

[karen freeinchristman]

(Not, obviously, by eschewing the internet, the greatest cultural "wind" of modern times:cool: )


^_^



Good question, Pamela! In trying to think of an answer, I've decided that I probably don't actually lean against the wind enough. I mean I think I do it in many subtle ways and not many overt ways...

[AngCath]

here is a way i lean against the wind:
i build my day around the daily office.

[JasonV]

here is a way i lean against the wind:
i build my day around the daily office.

Not an easy thing to do brother.....and believe me I'm trying!

[AngCath]

Not an easy thing to do brother.....and believe me I'm trying!
i hope i didn't make it sound easy. it is most surely a discipline and a challenging one at that.

[Colabomb]

Decades ago my Religious Studies professor quoted Francis Schaeffer as having said "the church, to be of witness to the world, must lean against the wind". It's a powerful statement, all the moreso because I had just finished reading Schaeffer's "the God who is there" and found it very much LESS than convincing.

Does anyone know in what essay or book Schaeffer made this statement? I've never been able to confirm the reference, for all that I have the greatest faith in Dr Hexam's reliability.

But regardless of the source, I believe the statement is true. We are, by virtue of our Christian calling, counter-cultural. In what ways do you lean against the wind of social conventions and worldly norms? (Not, obviously, by eschewing the internet, the greatest cultural "wind" of modern times:cool: )



Our fundamentalist brothers are often criticized for "leaning against the windmill". But honestly it is one of the things they do well to emphasize (although i sometimes disagree with HOW they choose to do so)

I abstain from premarital sex, i tell my non religious friends about my religious beliefs, i follow my conscience and avoid situations that could damage my witness.

For example, some of my friends have been involved with drugs in the past, but never around me, and they knew i would leave if they began to do so.

One of those friends is now clean.

[Finella]

My counter-cultural thing now is how I use resources to raise my daughter. Cloth diapers, home-made baby food, hand-made clothes or hand-me-down clothes are our norm. I want to do what's best for "planet Earth... our island home."

[pmcleanj]

My counter-cultural thing now is how I use resources to raise my daughter. Cloth diapers, home-made baby food, hand-made clothes or hand-me-down clothes are our norm. I want to do what's best for "planet Earth... our island home."

I love that Eucharistic prayer.

[higgs2]

here is a way i lean against the wind:
i build my day around the daily office.

I would like to hear more about how you do this, if you feel like sharing, AngCath.

[AngCath]

Well, one thing is I never schedule anything for 8AM or 5PM, I maintain a half hour for each for MP and EP. If I am at a conference or something I make necessary adjustments of course, but barring extraordinary cases those are inflexible parts of my day.
I also keep my Diurnal in my messenger bag for any open moments that occur during my day for the "small hours."

[higgs2]

Well, one thing is I never schedule anything for 8AM or 5PM, I maintain a half hour for each for MP and EP. If I am at a conference or something I make necessary adjustments of course, but barring extraordinary cases those are inflexible parts of my day.
I also keep my Diurnal in my messenger bag for any open moments that occur during my day for the "small hours."

How has this affected you since you started doing it? Did it take a while for it to become habit?

[ReadingForOrders]

AngCath
Hi!

Do you pray each of the hours daily?

Tom

[AngCath]

the discipline is is about 4 years old now with the ups and downs you would expect with a spiritual discipline.
the most obvious way it has affected me is that it provides a peace filled and strengthening rhythm to every day. it is a tangeable reality of resting in and relying on God.
I pray Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer as a minimum, but if i have time i include the small hours. if i'm on a retreat then i shoot for all 7.

[AngCath]

that being said, i don't want this thread to be hijacked by my experiences with the Daily Office. if you have any more questions you can pm me.