The following guidelines for “practising resurrection”- for living fully, hopefully and creatively as possible- are not prescriptive, telling us what we should do or be- but descriptive.  Like the Beatitudes (“Blessed are the poor in Spirit”, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” etc.), they describe how, when we adopt a certain disposition or attitude, in life, we can actually experience life, joy, peace, love and hope.  Such dispositions suggested over the coming weeks focus essentially around an openness which allows us to wake up to the reality of grace.

The dispositions, offered here, or as they are sometimes called transcendental precepts, arise out of an inner necessity of the human spirit and open up the possibility of self-realisation and human authenticity.  They point to a way where we come to our true selves by going beyond ourselves, discovering who we really are through awareness, love, responsibility and commitment.

Practising resurrection: an invitation to enter into a way of life that leads to life. It is not about trying harder: it is not about achievement or success. These precepts are practical and practised ways of living in a grounded and real way, and they include the following ground-rules:

Is, not should: reminding us how deadening the “should” and “oughts” in our lives can be

Drawn, not driven: hinting at the authentic and gentle movement of the Spirit of God, rescuing us from the tyranny of our addictions and compulsions

Now, not then: moving us away from the grip of regret about the past and anxiety about the future 

What, not why: helping us focus on the reality or the facts of life rather than being lost in the endlessness of the often futile question “why?”

Me, not you:  allowing us to move away from competitiveness and defensiveness into the grace-filled responsibility of learning to live out of our truth.