Hi Tab Family,
This past Sunday Joanna preached on a difficult text from Genesis, one that has often been used as an excuse to wield power over people. I for one am so grateful that Joanna shared with us some of her story, both in terms of her childhood understanding of the text, and her soon-to-be-over time working with the Catholic Church.
What stood out to me this week was Joanna’s story regarding advocating for parental leave at her workplace. To me, it is good and right, and it brings glory to God, when employers provide paid parental leave that is entirely separate from vacation and sick time. Childbirth is not a vacation. Pregnancy and parenthood of a newborn are not diseases (though as many who have been pregnant know, pregnancy transforms the body in more ways than one. It is not easy. It is physical and embodied. But I don’t think I’m comfortable classifying it as a disease to be covered by sick time).
And it got me thinking — who told the people making decisions about parental leave– who told them pregnancy and taking care of a newborn child are diseases, to be covered by accumulated sick leave? What did their source information look like? Who did they believe?
When God asks, “Who told you you were naked?” I think about all the questionable sources I’ve believed throughout the years. I think about all the putrid things I’ve believed about the world, and about myself, because I filled in the blanks with whatever less than accurate information I’ve digested.
What are some things that you’ve digested over the years? What backwards beliefs about yourself and your body have you been fed? What do you think God would say to you if you brought those things to God in earnest instead of hiding in shame?
I love that in this story, instead of being immediately critical, God is instead curious. God asks Adam a question. Maybe next time you catch yourself hating your body, or hiding your sexuality in shame, or believing the world/humanity is seeking your personal demise, you can ask yourself that some question:
“Who told you that?”
Maybe you, too, can be curious at first instead of critical. Maybe you can try to get the whole story.
Blessings on the end of your week, fam!
Best,Taylor M Silvestri (they/them)