Comments on: Re-Imagining the Nativity http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/ An online community sharing our lives and faith within a place of grace Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:47:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: HeadacheSlayer http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13982 HeadacheSlayer Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:02:23 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13982 There were more tears in my version as I looked up and said "WHAAAA? I'm Bisexual??" But you know, God created humor just as much as he created sacred moments so I don't think He minds when he joke. I mean, the giraffe, the platypus? God so has a sense of humor. My son was a few years old when we went to a "walk thru the Nativity" at our former church. And I appreciated that they have Nativity scene A w/ baby J and then a modest "home" with Toddler J. And the kid doing Toddler J was NOT in the mood to cooperate, and you could see "Mary" getting a little frustrated. Mine was getting antsy too. I looked at him, Toddler J and Mary and said "Mary, I feel your pain!" The nativity has been "Hallmark-ized" and so has religion....so sometimes it's hard to realize he's there when we feel so alone, or that he would put certain people in our lives--my gay ex-BF for one--that turn out to be such a blessing we could never create for ourselves. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas :) There were more tears in my version as I looked up and said “WHAAAA? I’m Bisexual??” But you know, God created humor just as much as he created sacred moments so I don’t think He minds when he joke. I mean, the giraffe, the platypus? God so has a sense of humor.

My son was a few years old when we went to a “walk thru the Nativity” at our former church. And I appreciated that they have Nativity scene A w/ baby J and then a modest “home” with Toddler J. And the kid doing Toddler J was NOT in the mood to cooperate, and you could see “Mary” getting a little frustrated. Mine was getting antsy too. I looked at him, Toddler J and Mary and said “Mary, I feel your pain!”

The nativity has been “Hallmark-ized” and so has religion….so sometimes it’s hard to realize he’s there when we feel so alone, or that he would put certain people in our lives–my gay ex-BF for one–that turn out to be such a blessing we could never create for ourselves.

Blessings to you and yours this Christmas :)

]]> By: Gina http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13968 Gina Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:03:43 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13968 Anita, I do realize that there is a distinct difference between what God merely allows to happen and what God directly and intentionally causes to happen. My thought process lately has been, "Why would God ever allow this to happen to ME? If there is a God, this wouldn't be happening." Whether it was simply allowed by God, or directly put in place by God, I'm not entirely sure. It has been a learning experience, though, so I suppose it isn't all bad. I'm still wondering where he is/was, and I'm really struggling with my faith, but I'm making progress... I think. Anita, I do realize that there is a distinct difference between what God merely allows to happen and what God directly and intentionally causes to happen. My thought process lately has been, “Why would God ever allow this to happen to ME? If there is a God, this wouldn’t be happening.” Whether it was simply allowed by God, or directly put in place by God, I’m not entirely sure. It has been a learning experience, though, so I suppose it isn’t all bad. I’m still wondering where he is/was, and I’m really struggling with my faith, but I’m making progress… I think.

]]> By: anita http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13919 anita Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:34:18 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13919 Gina--> Please understand that I'm not someone who believes God causes our pain but that there are times when the pain we're going through brings us to a place where we're more able to come to the end of ourselves and see that not only is God our strength to get through such times but that through such times, God is there. Even when silent. Even when invisible. God is there. We might have no evidence in fact or feeling that God is anywhere around but that's when we hold onto hope and dig our feet into our faith, and <em>hope and faith </em> in the end will shine the light on God's presence. Gina–> Please understand that I’m not someone who believes God causes our pain but that there are times when the pain we’re going through brings us to a place where we’re more able to come to the end of ourselves and see that not only is God our strength to get through such times but that through such times, God is there. Even when silent. Even when invisible. God is there. We might have no evidence in fact or feeling that God is anywhere around but that’s when we hold onto hope and dig our feet into our faith, and hope and faith in the end will shine the light on God’s presence.

]]> By: Gina http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13918 Gina Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:08:41 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13918 "... the very thing that had caused me to doubt the presence of God’s Spirit in the first place was the very thing that had been broadcasting God’s presence all along." This one little line made me stop and re-asses the past 12 months (which have been excruciatingly painful in ways I never could have previously imagined). While I'm not entirely convinced that any of it had anything to do with God - I'm still mostly wondering where he's been - I'm at least now open to the idea that it could have been part of God's plan. A new perspective could be beneficial to my mental health! “… the very thing that had caused me to doubt the presence of God’s Spirit in the first place was the very thing that had been broadcasting God’s presence all along.”

This one little line made me stop and re-asses the past 12 months (which have been excruciatingly painful in ways I never could have previously imagined). While I’m not entirely convinced that any of it had anything to do with God – I’m still mostly wondering where he’s been – I’m at least now open to the idea that it could have been part of God’s plan. A new perspective could be beneficial to my mental health!

]]> By: jrc http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13909 jrc Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:58:19 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13909 "I was the one looking in God’s direction with furrowed eyebrows saying, “You have got to be kidding me! Seriously?” Realizing I was a lesbian..." Thanks Anita and fellow sisters - I came out about two years ago. It has been an interesting and awesome journey. When I listen to what God is telling me to do/actions to take - I still say “You have got to be kidding me! Seriously?” Peace to ALL jrc “I was the one looking in God’s direction with furrowed eyebrows saying, “You have got to be kidding me! Seriously?” Realizing I was a lesbian…”

Thanks Anita and fellow sisters – I came out about two years ago. It has been an interesting and awesome journey. When I listen to what God is telling me to do/actions to take – I still say “You have got to be kidding me! Seriously?”
Peace to ALL
jrc

]]> By: DL http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13902 DL Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:30:43 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13902 This post reminds me of the book <strong>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever </strong> by Barbara Robinson which is the best Christmas story ever written in my opinion aside from the one that God Himself wrote. I should probably dig my copy out to help deal with my overwhelming depression right now. This post reminds me of the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson which is the best Christmas story ever written in my opinion aside from the one that God Himself wrote.

I should probably dig my copy out to help deal with my overwhelming depression right now.

]]> By: shar http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/re-imagining-the-nativity/comment-page-1/#comment-13891 shar Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:48:40 +0000 http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/?p=4399#comment-13891 Retrospect is a wonderful thing isn't it? I have struggled with the need to 'feel the presence of God' through this process and am now thinking - yes, when Jesus told his disciples about the sheep and the goats he told teh sheep about the times (when I was sick, naked, and in prison) that they had cared for him - and even they didn't realize it at the time. Retrospect is a wonderful thing isn’t it? I have struggled with the need to ‘feel the presence of God’ through this process and am now thinking – yes, when Jesus told his disciples about the sheep and the goats he told teh sheep about the times (when I was sick, naked, and in prison) that they had cared for him – and even they didn’t realize it at the time.

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