In his book, Radical Grace, "The Other Side of Sadness: Naming Despair," Richard Rohr writes:
Spiritual growth is the willing surrender of images in favor of the True Images. It is a conversion that never stops, a surrender that never ceases. It is a surrender of self-serving and self-created images of self, of others, of God. Those who worship the images instead of living the reality simply stop growing spiritually. In this light, the First Commandment takes on a whole new power and poignancy: "You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth or beneath the earth. You shall not bow down before them." (Exodus 20:4-5)"
As i read these words, i was emboldened in my desire to move beyond the favored and accepted images of g-d, in search of more inclusive ones that address, acknowledge and name the feminine face of g-d. There are many who will cling to their masculine only images, citing a literal reading of the scriptures, but to them i respond with wondering how and when an extreme literal reading is bent and dismissed as contextual" when it does not suit their purposes. We cling to images that make us comfortable, to understanding that make sense to us...and i wonder if these moments we are not guilty of the graven images condemned in Exodus. G-d The Creator is beyond understanding and comprehension by the created mind. If we are to truly encounter G-d, we must set aside our golden calf and look at the revelations that mystify and confuse us and engage in a journey of faith that acknowledges far more than the eye will ever see, or the mind will comprehend, as the Indwelling Holy Spirit reveals Truth to us.
This is not an attempt to dismiss or challenge the authority of scripture, it is simply a broadening of the voices we bring to the text and wondering at the validity we give their interpretations and readings, especially when they differ with ours, or the time worn ones in the commentaries that line the our seminary shelves.
I found a new image today - here http://newliferising.blogspot.com/2005/04/in-my-mothers-garden.html#comments
In my Father's house, in my Mother's garden. Also. O have been thinking of onbe of the last scenes in Thirteen - the daughter out of control, with scars from cutting herself, and the mother holding her with full presence and kissing the scars of the cutting. I, too, want more than Goddess worship, and want more than womb worship - I want a taste of the fullness of what you call G-d, not as translated by those who could nto see the beauty of feminity, and not as claimed by those who are blind to the beauty of masculinity, but the beyone gender full expression of That in whose image, male and feamle, we are made. More later!
Posted by: anj | April 19, 2005 at 08:17 AM
Once again the broadness of God is evident, and our desire to humanize this Being for our own comfort level exposed. For myself, the amazingness of God is that there is no way to understand His wholeness, (God made flesh through Jesus to help us understand certain characteristics of God not withstanding), yet the very personal love He bestows to each and everyone of us, whether we believe it or not.
You always challenge me to expand my relationship with God at the same time Suzie, you present Him in such a way that the truth of His love for such "small" beings as ourselves awakens in me a desire to know, love and worship even more. No longer do I worship out of obligation or even gratitude, but out of awe for such a love as He has for us, that we should be called sons of God.
Posted by: Karyn | April 20, 2005 at 01:18 AM
Once again the broadness of God is evident, and our desire to humanize this Being for our own comfort level exposed. For myself, the amazingness of God is that there is no way to understand His wholeness, (God made flesh through Jesus to help us understand certain characteristics of God not withstanding), yet the very personal love He bestows to each and everyone of us, whether we believe it or not.
You always challenge me to expand my relationship with God at the same time Suzie, you present Him in such a way that the truth of His love for such "small" beings as ourselves awakens in me a desire to know, love and worship even more. No longer do I worship out of obligation or even gratitude, but out of awe for such a love as He has for us, that we should be called sons of God.
Posted by: Karyn Taylor | April 20, 2005 at 01:20 AM
Once again the broadness of God is evident, and our desire to humanize this Being for our own comfort level exposed. For myself, the amazingness of God is that there is no way to understand His wholeness, (God made flesh through Jesus to help us understand certain characteristics of God not withstanding), yet the very personal love He bestows to each and everyone of us, whether we believe it or not.
You always challenge me to expand my relationship with God at the same time Suzie, you present Him in such a way that the truth of His love for such "small" beings as ourselves awakens in me a desire to know, love and worship even more. No longer do I worship out of obligation or even gratitude, but out of awe for such a love as He has for us, that we should be called sons of God.
Posted by: Karyn Taylor | April 20, 2005 at 01:21 AM
i've been reading rohr most mornings for 2 years - whoa
Posted by: Bob C | April 20, 2005 at 10:43 AM