I have followed your work for some time, including on Twitter. I especially appreciated your piece on Sunday Musings, September 4: “The Pro-Choice God.” Not only for the theology – which is desperately needed in these times when Christian fascism is blatant and on the rise; but also because you use the RCL, and consider all the readings in the RCL for the Sunday. You probably never heard of me, but I wrote a 3-volume critique of the RCL during the GW Bush years, which was reviewed and endorsed by Westar Institute scholars Art Dewey and Robin Meyers. In that series I called for a revisiting/revising of the RCL, and updated the interpretations of scripture from traditional orthodoxy to present-day relevance. I revised the Year of Luke in 2018, but do not plan to revisit the rest of the project. The political times have changed, and others such as you, are at last pushing the theological envelope.
Thank you for your vital work. If you would like to look at my work, here is the link to my Amazon page.
Absolutely insightful offerings! I am changed for the best in merely reading and imbibing them, Thank you!!!! There is a calming in my psyche for what you have presented. Thank you for the Tess Gallagher offering as well.
Diana, Thank you for the fresh new look of palm139. Living with one’s choices and accepting the choice that others make can be very hard. But somehow you have given this a new breathe of understanding. That God is with us All with every choice & mistake in a gentle & loving way. There is no judgement just unconditional love.
I REALLY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHOICE THEME. I RESIST THE PRO LIFE FOCUS ON THE PSALM AND AFFIRM OUR CHOICESI REALLY CONNECTED TO GODS GOING WITH US IN OUR BAD AND GOOD CHOICES. I CONNECT TO THE PHILEMONIC RESPONSE AND HOW IT CAN LEAD TO CHOOSING RELEASING SLAVERY AS A CHOICE.
I have made some very poor choices in my life with ongoing consequences. I feel a Divine presence helping me make wise choices as I deal with those consequences. Because of that, Psalm 139 has always been a comfort to me. Thankfully, I have not allowed the so-called pro-lifer's ruin it for me with their narrow, black/white interpretation. Even so, because I have a lot of self-judgment that hasn't yet been healed, I do sometimes experience being watched and judged. I know this is part of my neurosis, but it is uncomfortable when it asserts itself. So, Rabbi Wolpe's saying this is God helping us make better choices is helpful. And discerning when I'm destructively self-judging and when I'm being helped to make a better choice is very helpful. And that that is wisdom only makes sense. I didn't know about "kidneys" and love that. Thank you, again, for bringing the Word alive in meaningful ways.
To be forced to bear children by the dozen, to live in poverty, or in mental illness to abandon his 11 living children as my grandfather in poverty did, IS insanity at it’s worst and needs republicans to expand the welfare state at it’s best. And reality demands the right to bear only children you & the earth’s overpopulation can afford!
From one new beginning to another, choice upon choice is the very nature of the freedom graciously bestowed upon the human. Are we made in the image of God? If so, the ongoing evolution of our souls will always have the inherent freedom of choice separate from the dictates and ideas and views of collective movements of bias and judgment. The reasons behind every choice are many and varied and ultimately to be respected and accepted for what they are.
About Philemon: Reading the entire letter reveals that Paul is pulling Philemon's strings in a most manipulative way, in ways that we would not likely accept from anyone. It's so obvious that it's actually funny to me. "If you really loved me you would..."
A little morning meandering . . . I love the word musings and on Sundays musings seems especially relevant . . . a day of rest to reflect on God. Choices are so important. I retired because I had choices. I am thankful for and blessed with choices. Without choices I have found life can become a list of “shoulds.” I sense a bodily push with a should. I like a pull better. I like to think that God is about a pull and not a push . . . and to me that’s about compassionate coaxings towards healthy and positive choices.
Hi Diana –
I have followed your work for some time, including on Twitter. I especially appreciated your piece on Sunday Musings, September 4: “The Pro-Choice God.” Not only for the theology – which is desperately needed in these times when Christian fascism is blatant and on the rise; but also because you use the RCL, and consider all the readings in the RCL for the Sunday. You probably never heard of me, but I wrote a 3-volume critique of the RCL during the GW Bush years, which was reviewed and endorsed by Westar Institute scholars Art Dewey and Robin Meyers. In that series I called for a revisiting/revising of the RCL, and updated the interpretations of scripture from traditional orthodoxy to present-day relevance. I revised the Year of Luke in 2018, but do not plan to revisit the rest of the project. The political times have changed, and others such as you, are at last pushing the theological envelope.
Thank you for your vital work. If you would like to look at my work, here is the link to my Amazon page.
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B5VGRAK
Sea Raven, D.Min.
Frederick, MD
searaven.morse@gmail.com
I wish pro life folks would spend some time wrasslin with the death penalty.
Thank you. I have always been pro-choice, but now I can express it even better
Absolutely insightful offerings! I am changed for the best in merely reading and imbibing them, Thank you!!!! There is a calming in my psyche for what you have presented. Thank you for the Tess Gallagher offering as well.
What translation of Psalm 139 do you use? I like it, and it’s not the “traditional” NRSV.
Kidneys--who knew? Thank you for this reflection, Diana.
And for a poem by Tess Gallagher.
I must say the poem by Tess Gallagher touch me deeply.💗
Diana, Thank you for the fresh new look of palm139. Living with one’s choices and accepting the choice that others make can be very hard. But somehow you have given this a new breathe of understanding. That God is with us All with every choice & mistake in a gentle & loving way. There is no judgement just unconditional love.
I REALLY CONNECTED TO YOUR CHOICE THEME. I RESIST THE PRO LIFE FOCUS ON THE PSALM AND AFFIRM OUR CHOICESI REALLY CONNECTED TO GODS GOING WITH US IN OUR BAD AND GOOD CHOICES. I CONNECT TO THE PHILEMONIC RESPONSE AND HOW IT CAN LEAD TO CHOOSING RELEASING SLAVERY AS A CHOICE.
I have made some very poor choices in my life with ongoing consequences. I feel a Divine presence helping me make wise choices as I deal with those consequences. Because of that, Psalm 139 has always been a comfort to me. Thankfully, I have not allowed the so-called pro-lifer's ruin it for me with their narrow, black/white interpretation. Even so, because I have a lot of self-judgment that hasn't yet been healed, I do sometimes experience being watched and judged. I know this is part of my neurosis, but it is uncomfortable when it asserts itself. So, Rabbi Wolpe's saying this is God helping us make better choices is helpful. And discerning when I'm destructively self-judging and when I'm being helped to make a better choice is very helpful. And that that is wisdom only makes sense. I didn't know about "kidneys" and love that. Thank you, again, for bringing the Word alive in meaningful ways.
To be forced to bear children by the dozen, to live in poverty, or in mental illness to abandon his 11 living children as my grandfather in poverty did, IS insanity at it’s worst and needs republicans to expand the welfare state at it’s best. And reality demands the right to bear only children you & the earth’s overpopulation can afford!
Thanks for this insightful commentary. Yes choice is the burden and the privilege but we are not alone in the complexity of our decisions
From one new beginning to another, choice upon choice is the very nature of the freedom graciously bestowed upon the human. Are we made in the image of God? If so, the ongoing evolution of our souls will always have the inherent freedom of choice separate from the dictates and ideas and views of collective movements of bias and judgment. The reasons behind every choice are many and varied and ultimately to be respected and accepted for what they are.
About Philemon: Reading the entire letter reveals that Paul is pulling Philemon's strings in a most manipulative way, in ways that we would not likely accept from anyone. It's so obvious that it's actually funny to me. "If you really loved me you would..."
I hope to make good choices, but it is so reassuring to know I am forgiven if I don’t but keep trying.
A little morning meandering . . . I love the word musings and on Sundays musings seems especially relevant . . . a day of rest to reflect on God. Choices are so important. I retired because I had choices. I am thankful for and blessed with choices. Without choices I have found life can become a list of “shoulds.” I sense a bodily push with a should. I like a pull better. I like to think that God is about a pull and not a push . . . and to me that’s about compassionate coaxings towards healthy and positive choices.