Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

To understand the beginning of Acts, we look to the end of the gospel of Luke. The story concludes with confused disciples. Jesus dies. The followers who witnessed his horrific death on a cross begin to wonder what happened to their savior. The women return to the place of his burial only to discover a missing body and a mysterious messenger. After reporting the findings to the disciples, the Christ followers remain perplexed and disappointed. So much so, they do not recognize Jesus walking along the road or eating a meal in their midst. Upon revealing his resurrected identity, he mysteriously ascends into heaven. It is as if a helium balloon of the world’s expectations slowly deflates with a mocking whistle. The expectations the disciples have for a different kind of life dissipates as the miraculous-ness of the ascension wears off. And once again, the followers of Jesus find themselves alone, without a leader of their faith community.

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself sympathizing with the early followers of Christ. Without a physical Jesus to lead me through difficult situations or decisions in life I feel lost. In my searching for God’s will, I seek happiness and purpose only to feel more indecisive and insecure.

Twelve years ago, in the war torn West African country of Sierra Leone, militia attacked Memuna Mansaray’s family. The rebel terrorist attacked local people and spread fear death and dismemberment throughout the country. Her father fled. Her mother and grandmother where shot trying to protect the then two-year-old girl. The bullet that fatally pierced her grandmother in the back shattered the girl’s right arm. After being carried to a crowded hospital by one of her brothers, Memuna waited in agony for three days before being seen by doctors. The human atrocities committed by the militia prevented immediate attention to the girl’s wounds and inevitably her arm was amputated above the elbow.

 Although disfigured, Memuna’s adorable two-year-old smile and phantom arm became the national symbol of human depravity in Sierra Leone. Images of her war-torn body moved government official to assist in the peace-making of her country.

 After completing her assignment to assist in achieving peace, Memuna moved to the United States for medical treatment and was adopted by former Peace Corps members to Sierra Leone. The now fifteen-year-old girl only vaguely remembers her time as an international symbol to bring about justice. Her American family raises Memuna to be a healthy, functioning girl in their home. She contributes to chores - including washing the dishes - plays high school soccer, and does not receive “special” attention concerning her lack of a body part. Although Memuna’s adopted family returned to her country to visit her surviving brothers, she still feels uncomfortable discussing her past or posing for pictures with people from her country that recall the days of her inspirational fame. Saturday, the New York Times released a brief article on the girl’s experience after a childhood of tragedy. The piece concludes:

“Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president who helped engineer the Sierra Leone savagery, recently became the first former head of state to be convicted of war crimes by an international court since the Nuremberg trials. Justice triumphed, and Sierra Leone has moved on. So has Memuna.

Once a symbol of suffering caused by the human capacity for evil, she’s now just a teenage girl… a poster child of nothing at all — just a happy kid who is a powerful emblem of the human capacity for resilience.” 

Memuna’s story reminds us of the importance to carry on despite challenges or transitions. Although not forgotten, after achieving peace from devastating destruction, Memuna and her American family, along with the people of Sierra Leone, sought to re-establish life abundantly in the present. She did not witness the restoration of ligaments like in Ezekiel’s vision, however, she did experience the breath of new life which transitioned her from sadness to a healthy, functioning individual.

Our family is in a time of transition. After living in Abilene for almost seven years, Joel and I are packing up our over-sized lab Walter and moving to Fort Worth. We will only have a few friends in the area, there will be 5 o’clock traffic and we do not have a regular coffee shop to patronize. Our transitions do not compare to the trauma of Memuna and her country. Still, the commonality of difficult and developmental change affects all forms of life. Furthermore, like the early church, we are often puzzled about which way to go in our new directions.

No one told me that much of faith life surrounds moments of indecisiveness or insecurity. However, through these moments God empowers people with resilience. Like gathering together after the ascension, a spirit continues to moves among the people of God. As some leave, others assume responsibility. New opportunities to lead and minister arise out of the creative need of the faith community. Suddenly, in bittersweet moments, people are empowered by God’s spirit to act on their dreams of proclaiming good news. “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2, quoting the prophet Joel, does not limit spiritual activity to public speakers or deep theological thinkers. Men and women, old and young are filled with the Holy Spirit. All contribute to the development of the faith community.

 As Joel and I approach a pivotal transition, we relish in the opportunities that lie ahead. Emboldened by the Holy Spirit, we will dream dreams and see visions of future opportunities to serve.

Romans 8:22-27

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I recently ran into a bit of fame. The local paper of our small town published a piece on my recent graduation from seminary and my acknowledgements from Baptist Women in Ministry. The article, run in a small, conservative West Texas town, stirred many deep emotions. Some stopped me on the street to hug a tiny young woman with the tenacity to preach in congregations around the area. Others scorned me with shameful looks at a brazen women whose audacity steps outside traditional women’s roles. And me? I just do what I love to do. I study, I preach, and I write. And after this week, I also cry.

I’ll admit, I cry frequently. I don’t like the mistreatment of animals. ASPCA commercials with Sarah McLachlan crooning in the background bring tears to my eyes. Oppressive election outcomes lead me to hot tears of anger and frustration. But after a week of popular attention, I find myself shedding bitter tears over casual insults.

I recently read a blog entitled, “The 5 People you meet as a Gay Dad.” Over lunch with a fellow female minister friend, we giggled about the common experiences between women in ministry and gay community. Often times, people are (or act) intrigued by a female minister’s choice of “profession.” Some do not consider a woman called by God to minister but associate women assuming ministerial positions as a strategic political move. Some scratch their heads wondering how one will find a job. Others avoid the subject all together. And the most hurtful try to convince a female minister to believe her calling is not from God; it is unnatural and wrong.

Over coffee a friend told me of the mistreatment she received just because she knows me. “He said I was a part of cult because our church allows women to preach,” she explained. My friend is new to the church experience. She didn’t feel adequate responding to a hateful statement about me, but she knew our church was not a cult. Tears welled up behind my increasingly burning face as I listened to her story. I hung my head in silence. Two tears dripped down my cheeks. I hugged my friend. As I wiped away the stranger’s malevolent message, with resolve, I wiped away the labels placed upon me by society of “heretic,” “whore,” “Jezebel” or “stupid.” Although I know more bitter remarks and tears will come, I live with increased confidence that what I do makes a difference.

Paul’s letter to the church in Rome conveys the deep longings and hurtful messages targeted at women in ministry. After experiencing the presence of the holy spirit, early Christians wait in anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ. Their desire to please God and expectation of the second coming is so great, participants groan inwardly for redemption. The powerful female imagery of a woman’s pain in child bearing describes the anguish of all creation for God’s return.

Much like the Roman church’s pains to please God, women in ministry experience the groans of creation as we give birth the acceptable idea of women’s leadership in the local church. It is not that women are better at ministry. However, we acknowledge that women are not incapable in ministry. In our endeavors to faithfully serve our Creator with our lives, women in ministry work, preach, pray and serve in hopes of a future of equal opportunity everywhere. And in times of insecurity we call on Paul’s words: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Psalm 104

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.
There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

As a whole Psalm 104 tells the story of creation in poem. Not only do human beings submit to God’s authority, but all creatures from the creeping things to those of sea depend on God for provision.

With the ascension of Jesus to heaven, and the approach of Pentecost for the early church, we are reminded of the flow of God’s spirit in creation. Just as the wind rushed on those in the upper room, God’s breath of wind blows through the trees along the city sidewalks and infuses life in the creatures of this earth.

Searching for a better understanding of God’s spirit on the earth, we recognize the redeeming spirit from Pentecost in the movement of the water or sounds of the birds.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD.

I have tried multiple times to be a gardener. I plant my seeds, tend my garden and watch life sprout in front of me. However, after several weeks life gets hectic again. I forget to tend and nurture my potted plants. Their leaves begin to droop and stems sag. Pretty soon the soil cracks from the lack of moisture and pitifully reminds me of my failure stashed away in a corner. My gardening experiences have ended in death. If these are any indication of my abilities as a parent - things do not look good.

Ezekiel, a prophet to the exiled Judeans, spends his time telling the people about the repentance of sins and prophecy of the future of God’s glory. In this passage, God’s  people are worn out, torn from the comfort of their homeland, and longing to be reunited as a community of believers. Their future seems as bleak as my potted plants just before their merciful toss into the trashcan of death. In a moment of trouble, God gives Ezekiel a vision of hopefulness.

Rather than commanding Ezekiel to merely share the vision with others, Ezekiel participates in the gloomy vision to see its miraculous rehabilitation. Bones of death raise to new life. It is not a simple beacon of light and there is whole person kind of resurrection either. This vision is intricate and gruesome. The flesh grows back on the bones and takes on human form. Breath of life sweeps over them filling the “bones” personality, life and emotions. This restorative image encourages those in exile. Hope and new life come from God. As Ezekiel’s vision tells them, he speaks the hope of new life over the weary, the dead and God’s spirit breathes new life.

It is easy to read this story and imagine the difficulties in my life everyday hoping God will breath new life. “God breath new life into my writing; I feel blocked all the time.” However, Ezekiel’s story is not meant for the death of my creativity - although that is quite annoying sometimes. Ezekiel’s vision infuses my creativity to breath life into new systems.

Those seeking food, assistance or comfort are dried up. Much like my potted plants of hopelessness, there are no nutrients from within and the person withers under the stress. ‘“Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.”

A friend who works with the homeless in Austin, Texas once told me a majority of those living on the streets do so because they have lost contact with their relatives. Her ministry seeks to email and call relatives of those without internet or cell phones in hopes of rebuilding relationships and moving people off of the hot streets of Austin.

For those without families, the orphaned, the widowed, the homeless or the lonely, life is dried up and hope seems lost. Ezekiel’s message is to breath new life into situations by speaking out for the oppressed and abandoned.

Although I cannot raise my wilted plants to life, the disturbing image of bodies regrowing flesh and walking around is a stark reminder of the little things I can be doing for those whose lives are dried up and lost.

I have a friend. She has long dirty blonde hair, wears button-up striped shirts and her favorite TV show is Dora the Explorer. My friend is five-years-old. Despite a significant age difference my friend and I have many things in common. Much like myself, she loves books, dressing up and making crafts. Most Sunday mornings she and I sit together catching up on the week’s activities and discussing major events (i.e., birthdays and pony rides). Although my somewhat shorter friend and I have a lot in common, she has a distinct outlook on the church that I never understood as a five-year-old. Raised in our small community of faith her whole life, my friend has witnessed all different types of faith expression and views on worship. From sharing a meal together to hearing women preach, she has seen it all.

A few Sundays ago, as a fellow female in our community prepared to approach the pulpit my friend’s particular perspective on women preaching dawned on me. In her formative years she saw several women preach well with pulpit parity. Her church memory did not contain bitter arguments or sour expressions of rejection for female clergy. In fact, according to her short history, no churches existed that did not allow women to preach, teach or lead. In her uncommon context, I asked her, “Friend, did you know there are churches out there that do not let women preach?” In response she gave me a quizzical look as if to say, “You must be joking!”  In truth she remained silent as she stared at the young woman beginning to speech. “What do you think of that?” I asked her.

She paused for a moment and clearly stated, “They must hate women.” 

Well, that statement is a bit dramatic. Hate is a word my husband will not allow me to utter no matter who does not allow me in their pulpit. However, for a five-year-old person life seems very clear. Those who do not allow women to fully participate in church leadership speak a message whether by verbal rejection or silent avoidance.

There are many faith communities that claim to encourage women in ministry. While the lack of female presence in church leadership keeps financial donors with different views funding important ministries, impressionable generations pick up on the implicit signal. Rather opaque messages of gender roles or full acceptance of human beings are lessons learned at an early age from social situations. 

Although not my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein production, the 1949 musical South Pacific received harsh criticism for its blatant statements about race relations. The story follows a nurse stationed at a U.S. Naval base in the south pacific during World War II. During her service on the island, the nurse, Nellie, falls in love with an expatriate French man with two half-Polynesian children. In addition a young officer Cable falls in love/lust with Lait a woman of the island who does not speak English. The French man proposes to Nellie; however, despite her love she cannot overcome her perturbed feelings toward his children. Cable refuses to marry his lover for fear of his family’s dissatisfaction. In a moments of raw honesty, Cable admits the characters’ prejudices in his song “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught.” 

You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught
From year to year,
It’s got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade,
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

The harsh hatred of racist remarks or subtle statements of silent discrimination shape children into adulthood. Similarly, children learn the lessons of hate and fear of women leadership from local churches that avoid full humanity of all church members. 

“Would you ever like to preach?” I asked my friend. She shook her head. Although she does not dream of speak from pulpit before God and people, she has been taught the freedom and love of acceptance through example in a small community. 

What kind of lessons is your church directly or indirectly teaching children?

Other readings: 

Advertising and Why I Love Don Draper: A Response to Rachel Held Evans

Which came first? Hermione or the women in the Upper Room? 

Season One, episode one of Mad Men, “Smoke Gets in your Eyes”

Don Draper: “What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons.”

Sunday nights my husband and I gather around the TV to watch a mesmerizing show and anticipate the next climactic moment of AMC’s hit Mad Men. We relish in the excitement and interwoven story lines of Don, Peggy, Betty, Pete, Joan and Roger. The characters portray a sense of self-assertiveness viewers seek to imitate and a self-consciousness with which all wrestle. The intentionally slow-paced drama follows the creative director of a fictional Madison Avenue advertising agency called Sterling Cooper (later known as Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce) in the 1960s. Don Draper and his fellow employees live double lives of faithful, pristine stereotypes, while behind close doors failing at marital fidelity or self-awareness.

A relative told me once he didn’t watch the show because of its portrayal of women. A father of two girls, the stereotypes of women’s roles as mother, secretary, virgin or seductress caused frustration for a man trying to raise critically thinking young women. His comment is understandable. Watching the political and social upheaval of women’s roles in the 1960s unfold on screen causes squeamish attitudes and laughter as pregnant mothers sip glasses of wine puffing a cigarette. However, that is the genius ingenuity behind the show. Although time and the American Cancer Society causes people to think differently about smoking, women are often still mistreated or harassed in the workplace, home and ads. In addition, print ads, much like those carefully crafted by the characters, target women’s gender roles and desires to fit perceived-necessary stereotypes.

Blogger and writer Rachel Held Evans wrote a post on the deception of print ads and the women portrayed in magazines entitled “Enough.” From L’Oreal make-up commercials to TIME magazine’s latest cover article, women are bombarded with self-conscious questions: “Are you pretty enough? Are you crafty enough? Are you sexy enough? Are you stylish enough? Are you domestic enough? Are you enough?” Much like the concoctions of Don and his creative team, magazine and TV ads target the insecurities or perpetuate stereotypes of women causing them to question self-worth or self-understanding.

While Rachel Held Evans questions the role of biblical womanhood and the Proverbs 31 Woman, Mad Men teaches viewers that all people struggle with inadequacies and questions of “enough.” Men are asked to be man enough in the new (what looks to be hilarious) documentary with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett Mansome. The documentary displays conflicting understandings behind advertising perception of audience groups to create fantasies one hopes to embrace as reality in life. However, the ideal image is not limited to women – although women are known as primary shoppers for families.

While the beautiful costumes and perfectly groomed hair of the characters on Mad Men create alluring scenes of attraction, the concept behind the show’s agency reveals a truth of American consumerism. Everyone wants to fit in and feel “put together.” These desires to be good enough and smart enough lead people to buy products in hopes of achieving images for others. When, in all actuality, our feeling of enough comes from a understanding of our creation in God’s image. Flaws and all, men and women, despite race, sexuality or socio-economic status (or maybe because of our distinct differences) are enough. Although we will always attempt to see through the social pressures of print ads, much like Don Draper, we will disappoint others and ourselves along the way. However, there is still hope as each new episode unfolds that we can be good parents, fair employees/employers, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Other readings:

Which came first? Hermione or the women in the Upper Room?

Although the series does not start with Hermione Granger and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the female of J.K. Rowling’s infamous trio created a persona for other women to emulate. While Harry’s fame emerges as the boy who lived, the series unfolds around a group of friends with intelligence, spunk, and courage. As the hard working, insecure, and strong willed female of the group, Hermione Granger taught boys and girls that a lead female character does not have to look like a Disney princess or act like a damsel in distress. 

Perpetual stereotypes of adventurous men and women merely carried along for the ride lead young girls to believe in their own inabilities. In actuality, the “male driven” life of risk, adventure and intelligence is not gender specific. Although Rowling’s presentation of  a trio remains egalitarian, books like The Hunger Games and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo spotlight women of brilliance and bravery. 

The trend of strong women in literature is shifting for young adults. These influences help shape our understanding of church leadership and even the reading of scripture. Often biblical messages focus on the male characters within the stories who vocalize questions to God. However, current reading for a new generation re-directs one to notice the women within the stories.

From Hermione, a driven, hardworking and somewhat self-conscious character, young women gain confidence within themselves to study hard and withstand social discrimination against muggles (or anything else). Her story inspired others to read Lisbeth Salander’s fight against brutality or Katniss Everdeen’s wage against injustices and domination. Our understanding of these young women helps us notice the significance women in other critical chronicles. Although not all speak, the women of the biblical narrative and early Christianity fight for equality with their presence. And our bookshelves reflect their personal inspiration. 

Women of the old and new testaments were present first. From Eve in the garden to those swept in the spirit of the upper room, strong and confident women act as powerful presence in narratives. But the understanding of present young adult literature helps one sit up and take notice all actors in the bible’s layered details. And increased awareness reminds all to appreciate the company of all characters - great or small. 

Issues regarding the female grow with popular demand. By definition, feminism promotes the equal opportunity of all human beings. It is not a growing issue of female over and above male rights but the equality and respect for individuals as distinct human beings.

One of my favorite waves of feminism recently trending is women’s right to equal comedy (i.e., women are funny - thank you Lucille Ball, Murphy Brown and Tina Fey). Although women often face unique issues concerning motherhood, career, and leadership roles, comedy can include all of these topics and create some hilarious situations. During the 2011 Emmy Awards, the women nominated for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series” surprised everyone by approaching the stage together as the winner was announced to hold hands in support of women’s hilariousness around the world. They were welcomed by a standing ovation to their efforts. Like a beauty queen, Melissa McCarthy toted a crown in mock-hilarity of a beauty queens. If you watch carefully you can see audience members like Gwenyth Paltrow choking back tears as Steve Carrell admires joyfully. The women, in their own way, proclaimed equal female opportunity for all in the comedic world (and if you haven’t read Bossypants, learn more about their hard work through Tina’s eyes).

The Emmy’s was a heroic moment to show the world a woman’s ability to laugh and poke fun at all of life’s idiosyncrasies. In their approach to beauty queen mockery, I cried tears of joy at the implication of their gesture. Biblical stories of Jezebel, Hannah and Elizabeth are often pigeon-holed into characteristics of mother or whore. These stories reflect on the expectations of women’s roles in the home, church and society. Mary’s intact hymen becomes a topic of debate rather than the quality of her character. In actuality the women of the Bible were versatile. Some were courageous to defend themselves or their people like Deborah and Yael (Judges 4-5). Others were abused by systems of domination and authority like Jephthah’s daughter (Judges 11). Others were depicted in stories of forgiveness and restoration like Rahab (Joshua 2). And many portray the voice of God and the voice of women. The biblical narrative as a whole presents women as distinct characters in the human experience. 

On a day to celebrate mother’s, we remember the celebration of the woman as a whole. We women are not merely virgins, brides, mothers and wives. We are not merely victims, villains and victors. We are women with experiences, women with stories, women with families and women working to make this world a better place for others (male or female). We celebrate the voices of women.

On Mother’s Day, some mourn the loss of a wonderful woman and mother in their lives, some celebrate motherhood to the full extend for the first time, and some miss being a mother to a lost child. However, on Mother’s Day, we do not accept presents and cards merely as tokens  for our gender role of motherhood. Women celebrate Mother’s Day as a representation to live beyond stereotypes including expectations on our humorous abilities. On Mother’s Day, and everyday, we celebrate the beauty of woman in her unique, complicated and uncompromising forms. And we celebrate her distinct voice to portray the image of God.

Other readings:

Best Job in the World? Mother’s Day for the sick or deceased child

Re-imaging Mother’s Day in the wake of Cancer

The newest Olympic commercial makes me tear up. How about you? Mother’s gently waking their young ones for early morning practices, competitions, and workouts in hopes of achieving Olympic dreams. Behind the thoughts of world peace, uniting nations, and competitive prowess, is the idea of unity through motherhood. Each athlete was born to a mother, and possibly but not always, raised and inspired by a mother. The commercial gives one hope in the mother behind all of us, pushing harder and cheering on during the toughest times. 

It is commercials like this that inspire us - for Mother’s Day and for the Olympic games. However, it is also commercials like this that make us forget the challenges of parents for whom Mother’s Day is not so celebratory. 

I don’t read parenting books, but last October I discovered an extremely moving article about parenting in the New York Times. Twenty-five months ago, Emily Rapp gave birth to a beautiful baby boy whom she named Ronan, meaning “little seal.” After several months of newborn baby bliss, Ronan was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare terminal illness that would eventually kill him by his third birthday. At the moment of diagnosis Emily had to make a new choice about her parenting style. Instead of taking Ronan to Mommy and Me swim lessons or baby yoga practice developing his body and mind for excellent function and assistance in life skills, Emily realized her child would never take the SATs, graduate from college or start his own family. He wouldn’t have a job, a favorite movie, or even utter his first word. Mothering suddenly became very difficult. How do you parent a child that will eventually die before you do? With the brevity of life looming over the cradle, what parts of everyday events become important, hold significance, and create dignity for a young person slipping into a vegetable like state? In her article Emily writes, “We never thought about how we might parent a child for whom there is no future… We’re not waiting for Ronan to make us proud. [But he] has given us a terrible freedom from expectations, a magical world where there are no goals, no prizes to win, no outcomes to monitor, discuss, compare…. The only task here is to love.

Traditional parenting naturally presumes a future where the child outlives the parent and ideally becomes successful, perhaps even achieves something spectacular. Parents possess the responsibility of prosperity and instruction for their children in the right ways in hopes of a flourishing adulthood. In turn children obey their parents, as Paul often advises, and everyone turns out to be non-dysfunctional human beings. That’s parenting right? According to Paul is parenting the guidance in order to make victorious, upstanding children of God? Or is there something more?

There are moments in our life, when we fall, when our flimsy bodies won’t carry us any further and we need the comfort and guidance of a nursing parent. Paul exhausted his resources and energies when he approached Thessalonica. Wearily, he dragged himself, along with his disciples, into the city looking for work, companionship and comfort. The Thessalonian Gentiles who listened and believed Paul’s words about Jesus Christ took it upon themselves to provide tender care for the man and his followers. They worked alongside him, cheered him on through difficult situations and remained loyal friends despite persecution. Paul says referring to himself as a child,

1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8, We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

As the fellow believers of Thessalonica cared for Paul, so Paul grew to appreciate and love the generous nature of his friends in the city. In turn, the apostle sought to maintain a healthy relationship with his fellow Christians. He worked in order to support himself, without creating debts or selfish laziness while he live among them. The relationship went beyond merely words, telling of Jesus life, death and resurrection. The Christians with Paul shared their life’s work, life’s secrets and life’s passions with their friends. Their relationship blossomed under the ideas of understanding and acceptance.

Not all children will be Olympic athletes. However, all children with be individuals deserving of love. Mother’s Day for one with a sick, dying or deceased child establishes remembrance of the life of a family. Rather than celebratory of the child’s accomplishments, Mother’s Day becomes a beacon of the mother (whether her child lives or does not) who remains important to the individual life she connected with so deeply. 

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I have started to wonder about my motherhood (I am not currently a mother), the things learned from mothers I interact with and the inherent mothering skills which were passed on to me from my own mother. This week I will be exploring the role of mothers, sexuality of women and the importance of motherhood for all humankind. But first, we begin with my story.

Some of my fondest memories of childhood are running errands with my mom on Saturday mornings. As I sat in my passenger seat, with the sun warming my skinny legs, we hummed along to late Beatles records and progressed from store to store. Those mornings felt perfect: there was beauty around and I felt loved. Later on in my life, much like many others, my mother and I drifted apart. I became a stubborn teenage daughter, she a divorced single mother looking for love and happiness. We both made mistakes in our relationship, most of which resurfaced after shelling lots of money in counseling later. Through out the years our relationship ebbed and flowed through the difficulties of life transitions.

However, in early March of this year (shortly after I wrote this post) my mother called to tell me she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the prognosis looked good, there was fear and regret bubbling up inside of me. For several months, my mother would undergo tremendous stress and illness due to the cancerous lump growing (now shrinking) inside of her. As I got over my initial shock, I threw myself into an education phase. I read everything I could about cancer, ways to help a love one who is sick, good gift ideas for women with breast cancer. And then, a few weeks ago I took my mom to her second chemotherapy treatment. In the chilly hospital room, she and I laughed at YouTube videos on our phones, took pictures, and watched TV. I must admit, it was difficult to see my mother, usually a strong and confident woman, bald, hooked up to tubes, and tired. For someone, despite both our faults, who always cheered me on and encouraged me to make my own decisions, I had never seen her so weak before.

My mother is a phoenix, not like those commercials for online college education. She is a real phoenix. After being beaten down by life, jobs, society, and circumstances, she always finds the strength to pick herself up from the ashes and to rise again. 

This mother’s day, we celebrate life - my mother and I. We celebrate the discovery of her breast cancer before life slipped away. And we celebrate the new life we are given to include one another, inspire one another, and fight for one another. The woman who changed my diapers, cleaned my throw up and drove me to middle school dances needs my help now. Mother’s Day 2012, for me, is not about obligatory cards or a call to say, “I love you.” I more deeply understand the fullness and complexities of our relationship.

At our small but intimate wedding, both my mother and father walked me down the aisle toward my future husband. As I marched toward a future unknown with a man I loved, my mother and father, my past, my influences, my experiences marched the aisle behind me. It is my mother (and father) who made me who I am today - who led me through large life decisions up to that point. And it is the stories of my mother and father who shape the person I hope to become.