I went to Colorado last week for a retreat/learning opportunity hosted by Larry Crabb and New Way Ministries and I was infected with something called Perichoresis. I think it might be contagious! This might be troubling to you, unless you knew that Perichoresis can not be found in any Medical Journals...it's theological term!
Now, I'm no theologian, and my explanation might drive the experts crazy, but the way I understand it, Perichoresis is the way the Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) relate to each other. It's a term regarding their perfect relationship and further, their perfect community. It's the way they enjoy and regard themselves and they way they invite us to enjoy and regard them and each other.
Wikipedia does a nice job in giving an overarching interpretation of the word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perichoresis. But I think that it's good to press in a bit and further explain that the key element in understanding what I'm talking about is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, expressed as the absolute perfection of God's nature. As a believer (one who has seen the reality of my sin, found that the only way to be absolved is by the blood of Jesus, restored to relationship with God and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit by faith) the only way to relate meaningfully to my God and to my world is by catching this Perichoresis and experiencing God as He pours out His Spirit to me (often through others) and through me (often to others.)
It will take me years to unpack all that I learned last week. More than anything, I want to enter into relationship with God and others in the way Larry described it over and over again....it's like a dance. We've been invited to the party, and have moments here on earth to experience small tastes of the dance. I pray that I will be used for the glory of God as He gives you a taste of this glorious dance!
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