women

Hannah and Her Sisters

/ JJS / Leave a comment

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Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 5; 145, 1 Samuel 1:1-20, Acts 1:1-14, Luke 20:9-19

The Book of Samuel begins with the story of his mother, Hannah. One of Elkanah’s two wives, she was distraught because she had not borne any children while his other wife had. Elkanah loved Hannah dearly. When she wept and would not eat, he asked, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

Reading this passage, I could not help but think of several women friends who have no children, some by choice, some by circumstance, and some by disappointment. As a man, this is not my territory to map. As a friend, I hope to pass on some of what they’ve trusted me enough to share.

“How many children do you have?” seems to be a go-to question between women getting acquainted at work or in social settings in the way sports establishes common ground between many men. Usually it starts a conversation about something people love and have in common, but for some it is a complex, even painful, question. If you’ve lost a child, you may struggle for an appropriate answer. If you answer you have no children, especially if it’s not by choice, you need to brace yourself for the inevitable “I bet you’d make a great mother” or other well-meaning phrase which implies your hope for a fulfilling life ultimately relies on motherhood. Confidently stating motherhood isn’t part of your plan can unnerve people who consider it a sacred duty.

Hannah, through prayer and supplication, eventually has a child she dedicates to the service of the Lord. Many women won’t have, or want to have, the same outcome. While motherhood is a beautiful vocation, women are more than extensions of their children (or their husbands … even if he seems worth ten or more sons). A life without children, while it may contain a specific kind of grief, is not a consolation prize.

Children are a source of joy, but they are not the only source. Let us learn to see God fully at work in all lives and to value people for who they are, not who we think they need to be.

Comfort: Failing to meet people’s expectations is not failing to meet God.

Challenge: Remember that your dream is not everyone’s dream.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, teach me compassion and empathy. Amen.

Discussion: How can we be more sensitive and inclusive about the topic of children?

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Ruth

/ JJS / Leave a comment

ruth1

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 57; 145, Ruth 1:1-14, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Matthew 5:1-12

Ruth is a short book, containing only 85 verses across 4 chapters. The book focuses on Naomi, a Jewish widow, and her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. The Israelites considered the Moabites a cursed people because they were the descendants of an incestuous union between Lot and his older daughter (see Genesis 19 for the lurid details). As an ancestor of David (and therefore Jesus), Naomi is the focus of the tale but Ruth is its heroine.

This book explores interesting themes. First is the notion that God can be present in the world through anyone – even the “cursed and unclean.” While the Bible is full of instruction on how to be a proper Jew, and to a lesser extent how to be a proper Christian, many texts illustrate God’s unbreakable connection with all people. Beyond this story of a godly Moabite woman, Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan (a contradiction in terms for most of his contemporaries), Jonah explores God’s love for the reviled Ninevites, and Paul subjects himself to personal peril to extend Christ’s ministry to the Gentiles. As much as the Bible may be used to exclude people, it is also contains stories of radical inclusion, even in the Old Testament.

A second theme is the role of women in ancient cultures. The story springs from the lack of property rights for Israelite women, and the solidarity required to survive under such societal conditions. As we read Ruth, we can reflect on how things have changed for women, and how they still need to change.

A third theme is sexual behavior some might consider ungodly. In the pursuit of begetting a male heir for Naomi, Ruth instigates a sexual relationship with a man who isn’t yet her husband. Despite Jewish prohibitions around sex, there are no negative consequences for this action. Like inclusion of the outcast, this theme navigates an understanding of faith that is less black and white than we tend to make it. The book of Ruth challenges our understanding of what it means to be and to behave in the community of the faithful.

Comfort: Faith does not constrict us, but frees us.

Challenge: Pray for people you don’t like.

Prayer: Loving God, creator of this world of diversity, help me see you in all people. Amen.

Discussion: Have you ever been surprised to see God at work in someone?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group , visit comfortandchallenge.tumblr.com, or follow @comf_and_chall on Twitter. You’ll  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!