But what did you see, Paul?

Johan Christoph Weigel
1695

I must needs glory, though it is not expedient;
but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago
(whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth),
such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

And I know such a man
(whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
how that he was caught up into Paradise,
and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 RV

I awoke this morning with a strong sense of Paul. Like I had spent some time with him, or he had been around me. An unusual occurrence by any rate; moreso because I have not spent any time studying his writings.

I know why I had this feeling. I have been reading The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, in which the above quote is spoken of.

I have had a very difficult time with Paul. Many of his diatribes about women etc have left me thinking he was a bit of difficult man. Yet this quote is very close to my thinking.

Was Paul a mystic? Does he here speak of receiving divine revelations? Out of body experiences? His conversion was certainly a mystical experience:

And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus:
and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
cts 9:3-4 RV

How can it be that the writer who to me, most epitomises the orthodox position, can express something that even 1 John only hints at?

I believe in religious experience. To read them mentioned in the "super straight" Paul has been a minor revelation, and one that makes me aware that I while I am not orthodox, not only is there a place for people like me within the Church, we have scriptural backing for our experiences.

Now, how can I get John to hang out in the morning?

Tongues of Fire

Pentecost
2008

I took this photo on Monday.
I have noticed before the way the 12 o'clock sun goes through a section of the stained glass,
a red hits the door that is so vibrant and glowing. I noticed on Friday during the service, but it had disappeared by the end. I used my phone camera.

When I started to work with the photo at home, the above came out quite quickly, but the red has lost it's vibrance, but it has gained shape. The surrounding lights only appeared after I darkened the image.

Here is the unaltered photo:

12 pm Monday 9th May 2008
Chapel, St John the Evangelist, Dee Why

It wasn't until I looked at this again that I noticed the hooded figure in red with arms outstretched in the bottom left corner. Wow!

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder,
like as of fire;
and it sat upon each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:2-4 RV