It's Okay to Upset the Internet
Words on why I chose to call God "she" this week. And why I won't take offense when this offends (as it did).
It was late last night when I wrote the controversial post on a gendered God, beloveds. Waiting on an arrival proclamation from my husband and son (who were traveling East through storms), I found myself in the middle of my bathroom with two jars of skin care and a whisper in my heart. It said something like, I’ve been here all along. Making my heart smile. Making my life smile. We have seen some hard days as of late.
Gooding & God
Here - in my home - we gather on the edge of the earth in hope for calm and ease each day, darling souls. Parachutes on in case the floor beneath us quakes. An umbrella of hope holding us close to something - a Maker, Creator - who points us to the good that never stops gooding.
My thoughts on a gendered God continue to evolve. You can find the post here. I wrote them as simply as I could (as I have before) in terms of she and he and they. I cannot fathom that I sprang forth from a Love that did not know my gender. That you might have somehow come to exist without there being some source of you in the ethers. God in us, God as us.
I will never pretend that faith hasn’t been a complicated space. My last note to you may have reconciled and/or shattered any illusion that I am a person who knows the solid ground of anything other than that God exists and good persists. And also, this is the most beautiful season of my entire life. Nearing 40 years on earth and content in discontent. The mystery isn’t just embraced at the surface; in fact, my bones bear the marks of how mystery has moved through me. Grooves where there were none as the Spirit left notice, I am here, I am here, I am here.
A Creative God
Way back in 1994, Thomas Finger, a professor of systematic and spiritual theology shared some words I found in my recent studies that seem timely. On The Book of Wisdom, and Sophia (whose name, an alternative for wisdom in the Greek) being shared in a Christian event that year he says,
We live in a society where people's awareness, shaped by the news and entertainment media, is dominated by conflict. Only disagreements seem to get attention. This atmosphere demands that individuals align themselves quickly with one of the warring camps in every dispute, and live thenceforth in dread of the demonic designs of the other.
In an atmosphere in which everything seems "black or white," we may overlook the fact that new worship forms involve creativity, and hence risk.
Is our worship of God as everything and in all forms creative? Yes. And, God is creative. Is it risky to worship God in this limitless capacity? The answer is yet again, yes. Also, doesn’t it feel just as risky to not see God in all of us?
I cannot bear the burden of not loving us all exactly where we are, always and always.
One of the humans I often enjoy loads (on the worldwide web) is David Hayward, known as The Naked Pastor. In 2020, he spoke to a small group of writers - myself included. He introduced us to his Sophia. And he gave me hope in a world that was quickly becoming even more divisive than I had ever known it to be.
When we embrace all of us this reflects in the way we live in this world. I’m still thankful for this conversation. You can find David’s work here.
I will end here, today… with more inspiration for us, perhaps?
"As long as we do not see each other as fully the image of God we cannot love each other as Jesus commanded us to love." - Wilda C. Gafney, Hebrew Bible Scholar and Episcopal Priest
Darlings, on my path… I aim to step outside of the wound and the wounding. To rest a while inside the womb of our God. To speak from this space. And while I know feminine imagery won’t work for everyone, it is the safest expression of God that I have yet to experience.
I remain in honor of the safest and most relatable expressions of God in your life, beautiful humans. Always and always.
Squeezes,
J. 🌻 @thebarefootpreacher
New here? Reclamation is a newsletter and conversation-starter. We are a safe, progressive Christian space with interfaith honoring. Here we meet caregivers of all kinds - from parents to pastors - to question complicated lives and also, claim & claim again supernatural peace here on earth. I’m so glad to spend more time together!