God has a change of heart?

Genesis 9:8-11

Then God said to Noah and his family, “I hereby establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you—birds, cattle, and the earth’s wildlife—everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I hereby establish my covenant with you: All flesh will never again be swept away by the waters of the flood; never again will a flood to destroy the earth.”

When I see a rainbow I’m reminded of this Noah’s Ark story.

How do we hear this story? Is this a literal story of a time when God tried to drown creation? Or is it a nostalgic story from childhood? And really, does this story have much to say to us today?

What if I use my approach of reading a story backwards? For instance, this story is written as if God had the power to wipe people off the face of the earth then later decided not to do that ever again. Many people believe that God behaves that way by sending floods or typhoons or diseases to punish particular groups.

However, what if the story isn’t about God but about people’s changing view of God? People began to realize that when there is a flood, it isn’t the action of God trying to drown people. Instead, God wants to form a positive relationship with all peoples and all creation and has never sent floods or typhoons or diseases to punish people. The story is a simple way to express people’s realization that God desires relationship with all creation. Rainbow imagery simply sealed the deal.

One way God has changed for me is a realization that God’s activity can be seen and experienced through all creation and through just actions. I try to make that real when buying Christmas presents. I support the Because I Am a Girl program. Family members have goats and chickens bought on their behalf,

Because I am a Girl is a campaign that aims to transform the lives of the world’s poorest girls. Every year from 2007 to 2015 Plan will be producing a report that looks at the different ways girls around the world are affected by discrimination. Plan believes that girls access to education and legal rights can break the cycle of poverty and discrimination that girls face around the world. Check out their site: HERE

The Because I am a Girl song highlights the challenges girls face across Africa, where millions of teenage girls are forced out of school because of early marriage, gender-based violence and discrimination.

Produced by some of the leading African musicians, South Africa's Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe and Suzanna Owiyo from Kenya, the song was released to celebrate and promote the global launch of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign marking the first UN International day of the Girl, on 11 October 2012: HERE

Our Advent Exploration question for today is: How has your understanding of God changed?

You might have a story to share about how your understanding of God has changed over time. Feel free to add a comment, a doodle, photo, poem, or a thought.

Here is my illustration of a multifaceted God:

God is Near

Matthew 24:32-35

And Jesus said, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that God is near, at the very gates.”

Fresh figs are so delicious. Add a drizzle of honey and a dollop of thick yoghurt for an even lovelier taste. Or, dried figs are yummy on their own or in fig newtons. And I read that ½ cup of figs has the same calcium as ½ cup or milk.

Fig trees are symbols of abundance, fertility, and sweetness. Perhaps Jesus was considering this symbolism. Certainly, tradition has Buddha sitting under a Bodhi tree, a large and old sacred fig tree when he achieved enlightenment. Angelica Mae Ryder, an Australian artist painted this sumptuous image of a fig ripening. 

But is this text just about figs? Actually, it’s about seeing signs of God being near, as near as our gate, or in our more contemporary context, our front door.

As I think more about God being as near as my front door, I wonder whether God is outside waiting to be let in.

Or, is God inside waiting for me to share with others and the world.

I wonder how I lock the door to hold back possibilities of rejoicing in the nearness of God.

Joseph Campbell, mythologist and writer, said, “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” That sense of a door opening to the universe is beautifully depicted by Rollin Kocsis.

And so I wonder, what gifts is God or the universe willing to offer when I’m willing to be open to the nearness of God and God’s Spirit?

Our Advent Exploration question for today is: How do you experience the nearness of God?

Walking in the light of God

Isaiah 2:4-5

God will judge between the nations, and render decisions for many countries. The people shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation will not raise a sword against another and never again will they train for war. Come let us walk in the light of God!

A reading that begins “God will judge” is off-putting. However, I’ve learned to read backwards, from the last sentence to the first. I find that Old Testament texts carry the important message in the final sentence, in this case, “Come let us walk in the light of God!”

And why do we walk in the light of God? Because that light is a vision of peace.

Here are a few signposts to navigate the rest of the reading.

Just in case you don’t know what a “plowshare” is, here’s a

photo: 

It’s a cutting edge that cuts through the earth. The photo shows a hand-held plowshare. Other types attach to a plough drawn by person or horse, like this one:

And to complete our image bank, here is a pruning hook:

Images help us to make large ideas, such as peace, more concrete.

Chris Ranes offers us an artistic interpretation of the reading. Ranes was born in Paris in 1929 and narrowly escaped death in Poland and Germany during World War II. She lived in Palo Alto, California as an artist and her portfolio included many paintings on themes of peace such as: Beat Our Swords Into Plowshares,
 a 1998
 Mixed Media and Oil on Paper
16" x 16":

Another artistic expression is found in The Peace Art Project Cambodia that was launched in Phnom Penh in 2003. Weapons were gathered from thirty years of war and turned into works of art and furniture. Artist Sasha Constable and small weapons specialist Neil Wilford founded the project. Students used scrap metal and recovered weapons to create everything from small sculptures to furniture to large monuments like this elephant:

Living peacefully is our way of walking in God’s light. That walk involves people all around the world who embrace varied spiritualities. Let’s enjoy listening to singers who express their yearning for a light-filled, peaceful walk. Ted Pearce sings to a Jewish congregation: HERE

Maher Zain expresses his deep love of Allah: HERE

Mwamba Children’s Choir sings Siyahamba: HERE

Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos

We are marching in the light of God

Come let us walk in the light of God!

Our Advent Exploration question for today is: How do you express your yearning for peace in your daily life?

Feel free to add thoughts and comments to encourage a conversation.

What to expect

Beginning on Sunday, Dec 1, our Advent Exploration will begin.

Each day you will find a new post for your reflection.

Shalom, Abigail

What We Need for the Journey

We each travel differently. 

Some like to research where they are going, shop for special clothing, read about the sites to see, pack a few bags weeks in advance of the trip.

Some are happy to grab a toothbrush and a change of underwear just before heading to the airport.

Travel in whatever way feels comfortable to you. Or try something new.

Each day in Advent a reading from an ancient text will be posted followed by prompts.

Prompts will be offered to encourage your reflection on the text, such as:

• an image or photograph
• a word or question
• a reflection or song, and so on

And you get to respond. If you like to write, write. If you are inspired to draw or doodle or sing or move or simply sit, do whatever you wish.

If you’d like to post a thought, an image, or a comment, feel free to post.

Enjoy your trip!

Abigail