identity

Gimme Some Skin

/ JJS / 5 Comments

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 22; 148, Genesis 40:1-23, Corinthians 3:16-23, Mark 2:13-22

Skin.

It is our largest organ and one of our primary tools for interacting with the world. Through sensations like temperature, pressure and texture it tells us about our environment. Most of us recognize each other by the skin on our faces. Some of us mark it in ink to tell our stories. Others work against the story our skin tells, by hiding it under makeup, slathering it in moisturizers, bleaching it chemically, baking it under lamps, or cutting parts of it away. It is so essential to our identity that skin diseases and disfigurements can be socially crippling, whether through our own insecurities or the rejection of others.

We identify it with personality traits. We may be thick- or thin-skinned; things can “get under our skin”; we all want to be comfortable in our own skin; our attitudes may grow callused. It can reveal our inner state – sometimes to our dismay – through blushing, goosebumps and sweating. It is intimately connected to our physical and mental health: studies show that skin-to-skin contact reduces stress, promotes healing, and is vital for an infant’s emotional development.

Skin is so much more than a container. When Jesus says we can’t pour new wine into old wineskins (lest they split under pressure), his message isn’t just about storage methods or the need for religious institutions to be more flexible to contain larger truths. It’s about our need to redefine our spiritual identities so they can contain the new life God pours into us. Recreated in Christ, our new skin perceives the world in new ways. It is a new face to the world, who sees us differently in demeanor and action. The story our new skin tells does not need to be adorned or denied – it grows more beautiful with time. Our blemishes and imperfections remain part of our story, but they no longer hold us back, or allow others to; rather they become evidence of the transformative power of God’s love and forgiveness. Our inner and outer lives are in harmony.

Are we wearing our fresh skins? The new wine is ready …

Comfort: Your identity in Christ renews you from the inside out.

Challenge: In what ways are you spiritually inflexible? Ask yourself whether that’s due to conviction or obstinacy.

Prayer: God of renewal, prepare me to receive the new life you are waiting to pour into me. Amen.

Discussion: How do you feel about the skin you’ve been given? What role has it played in your identity?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!

(Don’t) Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 105; 147:12-20, Judges 14:1-19, Acts 6:15-7:16, John 4:27-42

What stories do you like to read or hear over and over again?

Storytelling is one of the most universal aspects of human experience. It serves many functions. Stories like those shared at wakes and funerals can comfort us. Family stories shape our personal identities. Cultural stories, like folk tales, myths, and legends help us make sense of the world in a way hard facts can’t. The author of Psalm 105 and the apostle Stephen both make use of the story of Israel, but to different ends.

The psalmist tells the story of Israel to reassure her people of God’s constant, loving presence. From God’s promise to Abraham that he would be a father of nations, through the arrival in and exodus from Egypt, to the arrival in the promised land, the central theme of the story – as the psalmist tells it – is God’s faithfulness to the people. Part of the joy of hearing a beloved story is anticipation of the familiar elements, and the psalmist certainly hits some well known crowd pleasers, like Joseph in Egypt and the ten plagues. A master storyteller, the psalmist does not make random choices, but carefully uses words and images to reinforce the theme of the story. By the end, listeners know they are a community of the Lord.

Stephen talks about the same events. However, because his intent is to build a case for Christ as the Messiah, he frames the events very differently. As the story unfolds we hear him describe Israel’s initial rejection of her major heroes – from Abraham to Joseph to Moses. He wants to convince the religious authorities they are making the same mistake with Christ. The different themes of the psalmist’s story and Stephen’s story clearly demonstrate the importance of not just the story, but the telling.

Stories tell us who we are by telling us who we’ve been, or who we believe we’ve been. We tell them to pass along our identities and cultures. Over time stories build on themselves and, their meanings can change. Each of us is shaped by and shapes the ongoing Christian story.

Comfort: A good story, like the ones in the Bible, never grows old.

Challenge: Read or listen to multiple sources of news, such as CNN, Fox, the BBC, and Al Jazeera. How does each tell the stories of the day differently?

Prayer: God of healing, thank you for the story of your love for us. Amen.

Discussion: What story do you like to hear or tell?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group. You’ll be notified of new posts through FB, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!