Images of God: Mother
Today’s scripture: Isaiah 66:12-13 and Isaiah 49:14-16 (NRSV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (David Squire):
When I was first introduced to the concept of “inclusive language” — maybe ten or twelve years ago — it made me angry. I wasn’t going to let some man-bashing, militant lesbian tell me how I had to think about God! God the Father, forever and ever, amen!
I’ve mellowed a bit since then. Two things helped change my understanding.
The first was Bert Conreaux. She was a wise old woman I met at Jesus MCC, who usually began her prayers with “Mother, Father, Creator God…” Shocking — almost blasphemy — to my sensitive, Baptist-trained ears. And yet, lightning and brimstone never fell from heaven when she prayed. Quite the opposite. It was clear to me that her relationship with God was rich and genuine.
It was also about this time that I came out to my own mother — and that didn’t go well, at all. In all the pain that followed my coming out, it sometimes felt to me that I had lost my mother, and that was almost unbearable. I came to see that God can fill that gap, that empty spot that had once been filled by my mother on earth. God had become like my mother to me.
Things between mom and me have improved a hundredfold since then, but I’ve still held on to my understanding of God, my mother. It’s quite a comfort.
Marsha Stevens wrote and sings a powerful song that paints a vivid picture of God as Mother, called Mommy’s Song. Take a listen:
[audio:http://www.jesusmcc.org/bestill/audio/mommys-song.mp3]If you like what you hear, you can get more here.
Thought for the day: Sometimes we all need our Mommy.