Cold descended this week as a reminder we’re in the darkest days of winter now. I’m currently typing in front of my fireplace as the wind whips through the open space between my apartment building and the one just across the parking lot. Temperatures for next week are fluctuating between highs of 30 to highs of single digits. I don’t love the cold, but I prefer a cold holiday season and a dark and moody Christmas morning to a balmy, sunny one. Cold darkness seems fitting.
Thank you for the reminder to embrace our humanness rather than running from it or seeing it as something terrible and sinful. Regarding Mary's humanness, only once in my time growing up in church did I hear a pastor talk about the cultural pressures and isolation that Mary faced when she was pregnant. That sermon challenged what I had been taught before about Mary happily accepting God's will with no other details until the inn. What strength she had to carry Jesus in a society where she was likely shunned and judged harshly for being pregnant and unmarried.
“Maybe his muteness was more gift than punishment, a period for silence and contemplation to consider this miracle of miracles.”
I never considered this anything besides a curse. I appreciate the way you always remind us readers of the gifts and beauty within our humanity. as someone who is rediscovering what it looks like to actually be honest with the range of my emotions it is always refreshing to hear that they are not my enemies.
“ We are not obsolete or only useful when we cast our humanness aside. It is our physicality and limited capacity that makes us worthy. Our divine reflection makes us beloved.”
I’ll be chewing on this this weekend. What would it look like to see my humanity as truly divine? Take care ☺️
Beautiful post, Sarah. I love that you embraced the messiness and discarded our sanitized versions of Jesus's origin story. I actually published a related post this morning exploring how asking questions about Jesus's paternity can enhance our understanding and appreciation of both Mary and Jesus. Thank you for reminding us of the human sides of these stories.
Thank you for the reminder to embrace our humanness rather than running from it or seeing it as something terrible and sinful. Regarding Mary's humanness, only once in my time growing up in church did I hear a pastor talk about the cultural pressures and isolation that Mary faced when she was pregnant. That sermon challenged what I had been taught before about Mary happily accepting God's will with no other details until the inn. What strength she had to carry Jesus in a society where she was likely shunned and judged harshly for being pregnant and unmarried.
What a poignant and reflective post! Thank you for reminding us that being human is also part of being sacred.
“Maybe his muteness was more gift than punishment, a period for silence and contemplation to consider this miracle of miracles.”
I never considered this anything besides a curse. I appreciate the way you always remind us readers of the gifts and beauty within our humanity. as someone who is rediscovering what it looks like to actually be honest with the range of my emotions it is always refreshing to hear that they are not my enemies.
“ We are not obsolete or only useful when we cast our humanness aside. It is our physicality and limited capacity that makes us worthy. Our divine reflection makes us beloved.”
I’ll be chewing on this this weekend. What would it look like to see my humanity as truly divine? Take care ☺️
Beautiful post, Sarah. I love that you embraced the messiness and discarded our sanitized versions of Jesus's origin story. I actually published a related post this morning exploring how asking questions about Jesus's paternity can enhance our understanding and appreciation of both Mary and Jesus. Thank you for reminding us of the human sides of these stories.
Klaus 🥺😢😭💔❤️🩹