Once again, a phrase within Mount Shoop's writing bring out the depth of adventure that is the life of the body of Christ.
The ambiguity of the body has generally been something that the church has either ignored or feared. Moral purity is often left unbalanced by substantive attention to the body's fragmentation and the promise that fragmentation holds. Ambiguity, like holy mystery, has life-giving capacity and shows traces of God's image in us. Feeling shows us that ambiguity is part of the created genius of our bodies. Dispositions of adventure do not try to erase the ambiguity, but welcome it with the confidence of faith. Dispositions of adventure embrace the capacity of the body to be a helper in our spiritual journey, not simply a distraction or, worse yet, only a liability. The phrase that grabbed me was simply the note about how we are to deal with ambiguity -welcome it with the confidence of faith. Too often religious people run away from ambiguity. It is as though there is something within these moments and times that will overwhelm us or conquer us. And yet, that is quite unbiblical. Never were the people of Israel or the disciples or the first followers of Jesus to be deterred by the stuff around them that seemed to be down right out of control and - at best - confusing. Rather, they walked with a confidence of faith. We must remember that. Walk with a confidence of faith. We do not need to be known as a people who seem to be afraid of the world around us or troubles that may be towering over us - but that is quite how the church is viewed by many people. We often look as though we are trying to control the world and control it in such a way that only one view of life is able to 'work.' We must remember that within days of chaos God's whirling wind of life makes a people - a simple, common people - into saints who boldly engage whatever is around us. We engage it all knowing that nothing - can separate us from the love of God. Connection: Ambiguity is not comfortable for many folks. Therefore our God promises to be present - with us - in and through all the messes that may spill over into the day. We may do best to trust that this is so and watch with open hearts for how God's Reign will open up around us. When you draw us into the faithful adventure of life, O God, we have our ways of stuttering and moving slowly and often turning to run away. Continue to pull us and inspire us that we will walk with you through all things. Amen. |
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