Original Goodness
Week Forty-Three Summary and Practice
Sunday, October 24—Friday, October 29, 2021
Sunday
Our core is original blessing, not original sin. —Richard Rohr
Monday
The Christian story line must start with a positive, over-arching vision for humanity and for history, or it will never get beyond the primitive, exclusionary, and fear-based stages of most early human development. —Richard Rohr
Tuesday
Both from an ecological perspective and from Genesis’ point of view, goodness resides in the community, the web of life, in the relations of the whole biosphere. —Rabbi Ellen Bernstein
Wednesday
The essential work of religion is to help us recognize and recover the divine image in ourselves and in everything. Whatever we call it, this “image of God” is absolute and unchanging. There is nothing we can do to increase it or decrease it.
—Richard Rohr
Thursday
In his baptism, Jesus was dipped in the unifying mystery of life and death and love. That’s where it all begins—even for him! —Richard Rohr
Friday
It is impossible to know in the moment, how a small act of goodness will reverberate through time. The notion is empowering and it is frightening—because it means that we’re all capable of changing the world, and responsible for finding those opportunities to protect, feed, grow, and guide love. —Bishop Michael Curry
Blessing the Body
Because of the way most Christians have understood the doctrine of original sin, the physical body has borne the brunt of our guilt and shame. Its needs, desires, and frailties were often labeled “sinful,” and therefore were repressed instead of affirmed and channeled in healthy and life-giving ways. In honor of the Original Goodness of our bodies, we invite you to spend time with this blessing by Jan Richardson, a writer, poet, artist, and ordained minister in the United Methodist Church.
BLESSING THE BODY
This blessing takes
one look at you
and all it can say is
holy.
Holy hands.
Holy face.
Holy feet.
Holy everything
in between.
Holy even in pain.
Holy even when weary.
In brokenness, holy.
In shame, holy still.
Holy in delight.
Holy in distress.
Holy when being born.
Holy when we lay it down
at the hour of our death.
So, friend,
open your eyes
(holy eyes).
For one moment
see what this blessing sees,
this blessing that knows
how you have been formed
and knit together
in wonder and
in love.
Welcome this blessing
that folds its hands
in prayer
when it meets you;
receive this blessing
that wants to kneel
in reverence
before you—
you who are
temple,
sanctuary,
home for God
in this world.
Experience a version of this practice through video and sound.
Reference:
“Blessing the Body” © Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. Used by permission. janrichardson.com.
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