A worship service from your heart to ours, Diana. I am so glad for the measure of rewarding nurture I receive from the Cottage....and all because I was drawn to the Freeing Jesus retreat last Spring. O happy day. What Joy is understanding! What a portion you hospitably share with us. Thank you. I’ve been at the table, an equal fellow/member when I read your Spirit filled words.
As an ex-evangelical, I struggle with Holy Week and Easter. Every year. I still have memories of a sermon that I heard as a child/youth that detailed the suffering of crucifixion, and atonement theology was hammered into me so strongly that I have a really hard time replacing it with anything else. And yet part of me longs to recapture the joy of resurrection. I appreciate your work and really love the story of your daughter and open arms. Thank you for that. Universalism is the only theology of God that makes sense to me, so I'm hopeful that in time I can come to your vision of running toward an open-armed God of love, and, if a miracle occurs, finding peace with my struggle with Easter.
I have a Master’s degree in Christian Education with thirty years working in churches and more as s volunteer, but I have never gotten this insight before about the crossbeam. Thank you so much! I loved your writing about it.
In early January, after visiting some of the squalor of Bogotá, I stood beneath the huge statue of the Lady of Guadalupe with her outstretched arms. And wept.
Wow Diana! You really hit that one out of the park! I realize this is a sermon you preached some years ago, but it's my first time seeing it and I can tell you it is, without question the very best Good Friday sermon I have EVER read or heard! (I'm ordained 25 years so I've heard a lot of said sermons too, believe me... and preached more than my share...but nothing like that!) And I just love the imagery that you bring to it, especially the birthing imagery. Again, after centuries of male preachers and theologians, a woman's voice is a welcome relief. Thank you so much for the extremely thoughtful and thought provoking meditations this Holy Week. You've made my journey this year oh so much richer. Blessings to you as we move towards resurrection.
Your story about your daughter running to you with open arms reminded me of a recent example I had with my 14 yo grandson. I was waiting for him in a restaurant and he greeted me with outstretched arms. Boy, that was nice.
I AM SO SO MOVED TO TEARS WITH YOUR SHARING HERE.I WILL TREASURE THE OPEN ARMS STORY, HAVING HAD SUH EXPRIENCES FRM MY DAUGHTER AND YOUR CONNECTING TO THE OPEN ARMS OF CHRIST AND TE FATHER. THANK YOU FOR A HIGHLIGHT OF MY GOOD FRIDAY.
Some instances of insisting Jesus was impaled on a stake notwithstanding, the earliest depictions of Roman crucifixion - not made by Christians - do feature the patibulum. Romans "improved" on the ancient method, perhaps from Persia, wanting to prolong the agony. The patibulum did that, especially if a "sidele" or seat for the crotch to rest on was provided. The whole idea was for the victim to slowly suffocate from the inevitable sinking of body weight. If Jesus were to have chosen when to die, he could have just let his weight drop. An heroic way to circumvent Roman designs which might elicit a Roman soldier on-looking to remark, "Surely, this was a son of a god", of course, without the theological notion. But who knows? Perhaps an eyewitness passed something along worth embellishing upon. And John's Gospel writer would have loved it. Not Jesus the helpless victim, but in charge all along. For that matter, Jesus shouting out the first line of Psalm 22, whether or not Mark's literary device, requires reading that psalm all the way through. It was not a cry of abject despair, at all. Jesus, still in charge.
I am 85-1/2 years old, and I am struggling with the task of 'aging out of life'. I meditate every day on the assurance that death in human terms means transformation and resurrection into the Divine.
Thank you for your words about your life. And the hymn is one I didn't know. Yes, life is transforming us in Christ by grace. May abundant blessings be yours now. Peace.
My soul is downcast seeking to be set free from teachings etched into my soul from my childhood that bow me low and make me weep with dispair. This offerings helps me breathe in Thanksgiving for your creative work. Perhaps by grace I shall rise now. I hope you will make available your other cross visions.
Thank you for this piece. I needed this today. So beautifully written! I’m in a struggle with my son as he asserts his independence and this helped me with that as well as with my struggle of the cross. Blessings.
Thank you, Diana! Thank you for giving me some new ways to re-imagine the cross (especially in an area where blood atonement is the focus). I have focused more and more over the years on the cross as an instrument of imperial control over the masses at any cost.
Your image of your daughter reminded me of the time when my son was a toddler and I would come home from a day of work at the base where I was stationed. As soon as the door opened he would come running and shouting “Daddy!!” What a blessing, especially on those days when I had been dealing with the aftermath of suicide and sexual violence on the base.
A worship service from your heart to ours, Diana. I am so glad for the measure of rewarding nurture I receive from the Cottage....and all because I was drawn to the Freeing Jesus retreat last Spring. O happy day. What Joy is understanding! What a portion you hospitably share with us. Thank you. I’ve been at the table, an equal fellow/member when I read your Spirit filled words.
Crossbeam
I found a crossbeam, inside a black hole.
Bottomless spiral, desperate plunging, but somewhere in the endless falling I fell upon a crossbeam.
It slowed me.
It broke me.
It sifted me.
I found God stretched out on a crossbeam somewhere inside the hole in my soul.
He was there laid bare, abused, neglected.
I knew he had spread Himself in my way, outstretched, disrupting oblivion.
It stunned me.
It reached me.
It turned me. After a long dark night of the soul, I wrote the poem above. Your Friday reading touched me deeply. Thank you.
As an ex-evangelical, I struggle with Holy Week and Easter. Every year. I still have memories of a sermon that I heard as a child/youth that detailed the suffering of crucifixion, and atonement theology was hammered into me so strongly that I have a really hard time replacing it with anything else. And yet part of me longs to recapture the joy of resurrection. I appreciate your work and really love the story of your daughter and open arms. Thank you for that. Universalism is the only theology of God that makes sense to me, so I'm hopeful that in time I can come to your vision of running toward an open-armed God of love, and, if a miracle occurs, finding peace with my struggle with Easter.
I have a Master’s degree in Christian Education with thirty years working in churches and more as s volunteer, but I have never gotten this insight before about the crossbeam. Thank you so much! I loved your writing about it.
In early January, after visiting some of the squalor of Bogotá, I stood beneath the huge statue of the Lady of Guadalupe with her outstretched arms. And wept.
Wow Diana! You really hit that one out of the park! I realize this is a sermon you preached some years ago, but it's my first time seeing it and I can tell you it is, without question the very best Good Friday sermon I have EVER read or heard! (I'm ordained 25 years so I've heard a lot of said sermons too, believe me... and preached more than my share...but nothing like that!) And I just love the imagery that you bring to it, especially the birthing imagery. Again, after centuries of male preachers and theologians, a woman's voice is a welcome relief. Thank you so much for the extremely thoughtful and thought provoking meditations this Holy Week. You've made my journey this year oh so much richer. Blessings to you as we move towards resurrection.
Thank you, Diana.
Your story about your daughter running to you with open arms reminded me of a recent example I had with my 14 yo grandson. I was waiting for him in a restaurant and he greeted me with outstretched arms. Boy, that was nice.
Julian of Norwich would no doubt trigger the theobros with the talk of God's motherhood. Happy Easter to you, Diana!
And to you, Holly!
I'm happy to trigger them. :)
I AM SO SO MOVED TO TEARS WITH YOUR SHARING HERE.I WILL TREASURE THE OPEN ARMS STORY, HAVING HAD SUH EXPRIENCES FRM MY DAUGHTER AND YOUR CONNECTING TO THE OPEN ARMS OF CHRIST AND TE FATHER. THANK YOU FOR A HIGHLIGHT OF MY GOOD FRIDAY.
Thank you, Diana. You've reminded me of how rich with meaning the cross is. And how rich in love.
Some instances of insisting Jesus was impaled on a stake notwithstanding, the earliest depictions of Roman crucifixion - not made by Christians - do feature the patibulum. Romans "improved" on the ancient method, perhaps from Persia, wanting to prolong the agony. The patibulum did that, especially if a "sidele" or seat for the crotch to rest on was provided. The whole idea was for the victim to slowly suffocate from the inevitable sinking of body weight. If Jesus were to have chosen when to die, he could have just let his weight drop. An heroic way to circumvent Roman designs which might elicit a Roman soldier on-looking to remark, "Surely, this was a son of a god", of course, without the theological notion. But who knows? Perhaps an eyewitness passed something along worth embellishing upon. And John's Gospel writer would have loved it. Not Jesus the helpless victim, but in charge all along. For that matter, Jesus shouting out the first line of Psalm 22, whether or not Mark's literary device, requires reading that psalm all the way through. It was not a cry of abject despair, at all. Jesus, still in charge.
I am 85-1/2 years old, and I am struggling with the task of 'aging out of life'. I meditate every day on the assurance that death in human terms means transformation and resurrection into the Divine.
Simon the New Theologian in his Hymn 15 writes :
---Then open your heart to Him.
And let yourself receive the one
Who is opening to you so deeply.
For if we genuinely love Him,
We wake up inside Christ's body
Where all our body, all over,
Every most hidden part of it,
Is realized in joy as Him,
And he makes us utterly real.
And everything that is hurt, everything
That seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful,
Maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged
Is in Him transformed.
And in Him, recognized as whole, as lovely,
And radiant in His light,
We awaken as the Beloved
In every last part of our body.
Thank you for your words about your life. And the hymn is one I didn't know. Yes, life is transforming us in Christ by grace. May abundant blessings be yours now. Peace.
My soul is downcast seeking to be set free from teachings etched into my soul from my childhood that bow me low and make me weep with dispair. This offerings helps me breathe in Thanksgiving for your creative work. Perhaps by grace I shall rise now. I hope you will make available your other cross visions.
Thank you for this piece. I needed this today. So beautifully written! I’m in a struggle with my son as he asserts his independence and this helped me with that as well as with my struggle of the cross. Blessings.
Thank you, Diana! Thank you for giving me some new ways to re-imagine the cross (especially in an area where blood atonement is the focus). I have focused more and more over the years on the cross as an instrument of imperial control over the masses at any cost.
Your image of your daughter reminded me of the time when my son was a toddler and I would come home from a day of work at the base where I was stationed. As soon as the door opened he would come running and shouting “Daddy!!” What a blessing, especially on those days when I had been dealing with the aftermath of suicide and sexual violence on the base.
I love this. What a gift of understanding on this Good Friday. Thank you❤