20 February 2006

In "The Covenanted Self" Walter Brueggemann considers three zones of covenanting by way of exposing a relation to the other who gives us life.

First and most importantly, of course, our task (like that of ancient Israel) is to come to terms with the covenantal faithfulness of Yahweh who engages in mutuality with God's people. It is clear, if we consider Israel's normative text seriously that the God of this people is not the God of scholastic theology, that is, not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. Equally clear, this God is not the warm fuzzy of therapeutic consumerism. Rather this God is an endlessly live, demanding, surprising, problematic other in Israel's life. And Israel's life consists in coming to terms with this other who refuses to be slotted, in the strange transaction of mutuality and incommensurability.

It would be interesting to writes some hymns about this God who is not "omnipotent" and not "fuzzy." As I write this I realize that some of the hymns are exactly what Brueggemann picks up in the paragraphs following this quote. They are called the psalms. This is the God who engages us within the everyday dynamics of life and therefore this is the God with whom we get angry and then again simply praise as a the other who brings us life in it fullest. I find this God as the other that brings some kind of transformation into each day. We must be willing to get down and wrestle with the the one that pulls us beyond ourselves or we will likely stay in the place we are rather than move into the life that comes as part of the promises of our God. In reading about the many characters within the Scriptures, this "live, demanding, surprising, problematic other in Israel's life" is the genesis of the marvelous stories that grasp us and help us to imagine how present and real God can be even when we find that our lives do not appear to be open to such a real life other that will not let us alone.

Connection: Imagine yourself in the routine of he day and there...with you...is this other who will take you into a new dimension of life. Then in this act of imagination, begin to let yourself be swept up into the image of God that is always bidding us to come and find life and meaning and hope.

Come, O God of All the Days of Our Lives, and as you walk with us and surprise us with the way you are present with us do not let our fears push you away. Send your Spirit to give us ears to hear you word of grace and eyes to see the life that is always coming to meet us through your presence. Amen.