I am reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by NIcholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Here is an example the text, where they are quoting The Lancet. "The neglect of women's issues . . . does reflect at some level of unconscious bias against women at every level, from the community to high-level decisionmakers . . .While we may ignore it, maternal health does involve sex and sexuality; it is bloody and messy; and I think many men (not all, of course) have a visceral antipathy for dealing with it."

It does seem that men are often embarrassed by the temporary needs of women in childbearing, forgetting their own origin and complicity in the pregnancy of women.

In Children and Mature Spirituality Jerome W. Berryman reminds us that silence is a powerful way information is communicated. We do well to use both verbal and non-verbal systems. For "using only words about words to create meaning can sometimes lead to a lack of flexibility and openness in one's thinking as well as a proclivity to plagiarize, since the richness of experience is not there to ground the words with personal authenticity" (14). 

He continues, "The second problem this model of brain functioning underscores is the need to keep our verbal and nonverbal communication systems in harmony. Keeping them in tune is important for authentic relationships to develop with other people, with God, with nature, and with our own deep self. Discord between the spoken and the unspoken is especially tragic for children" (15).


Makes sense to me. Does Berryman give you courage to trust your nonverbal means of communication?

Yesterday, I heard a friend described in very harsh terms. I immediately dismissed the statement as inaccurate. But I know that truth is regularly hidden in what I believe is impossible, so I pondered whether I could find some truth in what I had heard. And I did. Exactly how this piece of reality will fit into my future, I don't yet know, but I am glad to have a hold of it.

Two weeks ago, I had been given an opportunity to practice this discipline, also. 

In graduate school, I had learned about the hermeneutic of suspicion, a practice of carefully discerning what is untrue in what has long been assumed to be true. But to be fair, the hermeneutic of suspicion needs also to be used to discern the truth in what one assumes is untrue.

At St. Luke's Episcopal Church, we began the Christian Education program last week. In our Godly Play class for two to ten year olds, we had three children. Fortunately for us, the only girl brought a visitor, Sally, whom she had created on a nice, big 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper. I didn't get a real close look at her, but I was glad she came and that put our attendance at four. 

This morning, as that same child was putting away her art response materials in her cubby, I heard her exclaim, "Oh look, here's Sally." 

Imagine, we had left our guest in a cupboard all week! I smiled, enjoying the fun we were having together. 

Sometimes I weary of praying for what I cannot quite imagine happening, like peace on earth, good will toward all. At these times I can pray with the words of another. Here is a prayer from Holden Village, in Chelan, Washington.

O gracious God, when You open Your hand,
You satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Bless the land and waters;
give the world a plentiful harvest;
let Your spirit go forth to renew the face of the earth.
As You show Your love and kindness 
in the bounty of the land and sea,
save us from selfish use of Your gifts,
so that women and men everywhere
may give You thanks,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.


from 100 Graces; Mealtime Blessings selected by Marcia and Jack Kelly