"The narthex, the outer boundary, is connected to the church but is separated from the harvested field of the nave. The narthex contains the world of sojourners, strangers, philosophers, dreamers, spiritual but not religious observers, pagans who look within and find light, penitents seeking mercy in their darkness, the dying reaching for a thread of a garment with an unclean hand in desperation."
Can I steal this?
Your writing is very refreshing to me. I followed the narthex link and read the attached article. I often experience a sort of Orthodox fundamentalism among those in my multi-parish community north of Seattle. After 12 years I feel the most comfortable in the narthex, if you know what I mean. This narthex-threshold experience is not new for me. I've always felt the most free and alive out here on the edge. I'm not sure what to make of it. I tend to be more judgmental of "religious" types than I am of those you describe in the narthex.
In your drawing I noticed that the periphery of each circle does not pass through the center of the other. Is that on purpose? The most natural way to do that drawing is to create the second circle by placing the point of the compass on the edge of the first circle.
I just cracked up at the last line -- so very Steve! Another beautiful, beautiful post. Maybe time for another book, essays perhaps?
"The narthex, the outer boundary, is connected to the church but is separated from the harvested field of the nave. The narthex contains the world of sojourners, strangers, philosophers, dreamers, spiritual but not religious observers, pagans who look within and find light, penitents seeking mercy in their darkness, the dying reaching for a thread of a garment with an unclean hand in desperation."
Can I steal this?
Your writing is very refreshing to me. I followed the narthex link and read the attached article. I often experience a sort of Orthodox fundamentalism among those in my multi-parish community north of Seattle. After 12 years I feel the most comfortable in the narthex, if you know what I mean. This narthex-threshold experience is not new for me. I've always felt the most free and alive out here on the edge. I'm not sure what to make of it. I tend to be more judgmental of "religious" types than I am of those you describe in the narthex.
In your drawing I noticed that the periphery of each circle does not pass through the center of the other. Is that on purpose? The most natural way to do that drawing is to create the second circle by placing the point of the compass on the edge of the first circle.