Not a Spirit of Slavery
JUNE 7TH, 2009 — TRINITY SUNDAY
DEUT. 4:32-34, 39-40, ROMANS 8:14-17 , MATTHEW 28:16-20
Dear Friends,
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Trinity. I love the depth of our triune understanding of God... a God who Creates, who entered into our human condition and became Flesh in our World, and a God whose life-giving Spirit breaths holiness into each of us and into all creation. It seems that often the richness of this theological construct is held hostage by the institution who seeks to share its wisdom and shape the faith of we who believe; but our reading from Romans this Sunday reminds us that "we did not receive a spirit of slavery!" This reading below by Edwina Gateley challenges us to consider what happens when we mistakenly 'imprison' this creative, fleshy, Spirit alive God, and in her inimitable way, Edwina invites us to set our God free in our own heart and soul, and in our Church:
God Ran Away
God ran away
when we imprisoned her
and put her in a box named Church.
God would have none
of our labels and
our limitations
and she said,
"I will escape and plant myself
in a simpler, poorer soil
where those who see, will see,
and those who hear, will hear.
I will become a God — believable,
because I am free,
and go where I will.
My goodness will be found
in my freedom an
that freedom I offer to all –
regardless of color, sex, or status,
regardless of power or money.
Ah, I am God
because I am free,
and all those who would be free
will find me,
roaming, wandering, singing.
Come, walk with me –
come, dance with me!
I created you to sing — to dance –
to love. . . ."
If you cannot sing,
nor dance, nor love,
because they put you
also in a box,
know that your God broke free
and ran away.
So, send your spirit
then, to dance with Her.
Dance, sing with the God
whom they cannot tame nor chain.
Dance within, though they chain your very guts
to the great stone walls. . . .
Dance, beloved,
Ah, Dance!
when we imprisoned her
and put her in a box named Church.
God would have none
of our labels and
our limitations
and she said,
"I will escape and plant myself
in a simpler, poorer soil
where those who see, will see,
and those who hear, will hear.
I will become a God — believable,
because I am free,
and go where I will.
My goodness will be found
in my freedom an
that freedom I offer to all –
regardless of color, sex, or status,
regardless of power or money.
Ah, I am God
because I am free,
and all those who would be free
will find me,
roaming, wandering, singing.
Come, walk with me –
come, dance with me!
I created you to sing — to dance –
to love. . . ."
If you cannot sing,
nor dance, nor love,
because they put you
also in a box,
know that your God broke free
and ran away.
So, send your spirit
then, to dance with Her.
Dance, sing with the God
whom they cannot tame nor chain.
Dance within, though they chain your very guts
to the great stone walls. . . .
Dance, beloved,
Ah, Dance!
(by Edwina Gateley)
If you are seeking a "community of believers" to journey with you in a deeper way... maybe even to "dance with you"; one where every voice is heard, and women and men are unafraid to acknowledge the equality of women and men; and to embrace feminine as well as masculine... and beyond... images of God, we invite you to join us at Spirit of Life. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."
Wishing you Joy in the freedom and grace of God's Spirit,
Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.
