Within Arms Reach

Right now, I'm comfortably ensconced on a love seat in my living room, wrapped in a favorite blanket, with a pillow nearby (should the possibility of napping arise). I'm settled in for an afternoon of reading, study, writing, and relaxing. I have, within arm's reach,

• a tall glass of water
• the rosary I purchased in Rome
• my cell phone
• the remote controls for both my television and dvd player
• my laptop
• 2 commentaries on John
• 2 commentaries on Luke
• "Wrestling with Angels" by Carolyn Arends
• five pens
• my journal
• my laptop
• my bible
• "Everybody Wants to God to Heaven But Nobody Wants to Die" by David Crowder and Mike Hogan
• "The Gift of Pain" by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand
• "Studies on the Go: John" by Laurie Polich

All the ingredients for a happy afternoon!

The divine hours of lent

I've been reading Phyllis Tickle's Lenten blog, and thought I'd share her post from Thursday... it plays into some things that have been part of ongoing discussions I've been having and things I've been reading and thinking about as this Lenten season has been going on...

You can find the post here.

Saturday

I woke up way too early again. From a dream again. (at least it was a better dream this time).

My roommate is out of town until tomorrow afternoon, and I plan to take full advantage of an empty house today.

I need to do some studying. I'm teaching a story in Sunday School tomorrow that fascinates me. I want to draw as much out of it for myself as possible before I teach it tomorrow.

I'm going to cook. Because it's nice to sit down to a real meal, instead of something pre-packaged and easy.

I'm going to write.

I'm having coffee with my mom, and going to the farmer's market.

I'm mailing a card for a friend.

I'm going to consider the merits of a nap.

I'm going to catch up on email.

I'm going to enjoy the quiet.

International Women's Day Tomorrow

In December 2005 I first posted a piece of poetry that I'd encountered in one of my church history classes titled, "The Woman's Creed." Written by Rachel Conrad Wahlberg in 1978, after a time of reflecting on the Apostle's Creed, I continue to find that it speaks to my heart each time I read it. In honor of tomorrow being "International Women's Day", and because it speaks deeply to a number of topics that have come up in various ongoing conversations I've been having, I thought I'd once again bring this piece forward for your enjoyment. (I've reproduced it, including the asterixed comment, from the original that was given to me in class.)

I believe in God
who created woman and man in God's own image
who created the world
and gave both sexes
the care of the earth.

I believe in Jesus
child of God
chosen of God
born of the woman Mary
who listened to women and liked them
who stayed in their homes
who discussed the Kingdom with them
who was followed and financed
by women disciples.

I believe in Jesus
who discussed theology with a woman at a well
and first confided in her
his messiahship
who motivated her to go and tell
her great news to the city.

I believe in Jesus who received anointing
from a woman at Simon's house
who rebuked the men guests who scorned her
I believe in Jesus who said this woman will be remembered
for what she did -minister to Jesus.

I believe in Jesus
who acted boldly
to reject the blood taboo
of ancient societies
by healing the audacious woman who touched him.

I believe in Jesus who healed a woman
on the sabbath
and made her straight
because she was a human being.

I believe in Jesus
who spoke of God
as a woman seeking the lost coin
as a woman who swept
seeking the lost.

I believe in Jesus
who thought of pregnancy and birth
with reverence
not as punishment - but
as wrenching event
a metaphor for transformation
born again
anguish-into-joy.

I believe in Jesus
who spoke of himself
as a mother hen
who would gather her chicks
under her wings.

I believe in Jesus who appeared
first to Mary Magdalene
who sent her with the bursting message
GO AND TELL...

I believe in the wholeness
of the Savior
in whom there is neither
Jew nor Greek
slave nor free
male nor female
for we are all one
in salvation.

I believe in the Holy Spirit
as she moves over the waters
of creation
and over the earth.

I believe in the Holy Spirit
as she yearns within us
to pray for those things
too deep for words.

I believe in the Holy Spirit
the woman spirit of God*
who like a hen
created us
and gave us birth
and covers us
with her wings.

*the Hebrew word for Spirit is feminine

Being Free to Love - Henri Nouwen

I received this reflection from the Henri Nouwen society about a week ago, and have been mulling it over a bit this week...

Being Free to Love

Jesus came to help us overcome our fear of God. As long as we are afraid of God, we cannot love God. Love means intimacy, closeness, mutual vulnerability, and a deep sense of safety. But all of those are impossible as long as there is fear. Fear creates suspicion, distance, defensiveness and insecurity.

The greatest block in the spiritual life is fear. Prayer, meditation, and education cannot come forth out of fear. God is perfect love, and as John the Evangelist writes, "Perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). Jesus' central message is that God loves us with an unconditional love and desires our love, free from all fear, in return.