Mother’s Day has rolled around again. And I am aware of what a wonderful time it is to be a mom. No longer is our culture totally strapped to an ideal of motherhood. This freedom allows women to step into ways of nurturing the next generation that come through spiritual discernment and not social norms or pressures or stereotypes. It gives us the freedom to notice that motherhood is not just a domestic reality but a quality of being human that expresses itself publicly as well.
As Christians we celebrate that the qualities of motherhood are also attributes of God. Biblical scholar Walter Bruggemann sums up the Biblical witness of the Old and New Testaments when he addresses God in his public prayer, “Our Mother Father God”. God is not male God is not female, God is love. Mothering is generative, nurturing, faithful love expressed creatively and compassionately. When we are cared for in this way whether in an office setting, neighborhood, or through the voice of a public figure we feel “mothered”.
The gift of norms broke open allows us to embody mothering qualities no matter our gender. The church celebrates God’s mothering love and invites us to express it wherever we find ourselves.
The cultures of our offices, governance, health care etc. are so often barren of generative, nurturing faithful love expressed creatively and compassionately. There is often a fear about bringing mothering qualities into certain spheres of human organization. And yet, as Christians living and working in these spheres we can bring these divine qualities into the way we conduct ourselves, run a meeting, lead, coach, and make a sale.
Barrenness is spiritual reality and not just a physical experience. We live and work so often in barren environments. Environments empty of the life of the Spirit. It is in these places arid and closed that we can generate faith with God’s help.
When we know God as generative, nurturing, faithful love expressed creatively and compassionately in our lives we will make God known in this way no matter our gender and wherever we find ourselves.
As you appreciate your moms and all the women who have shaped you and cared for you; also pray for our Mother God to shape all human spheres more completely and bring forth the life of the Spirit.
With you on the journey,
