This theological reflection invites you to a variety of Divine Readings, that is, reading in a way that invites meditation, prayer and contemplation. The “readings” – which include texts and people - all invite you to consider the significance of God’s relationship with us and our relationships with one another.
The first movement invites you to savor a Psalm, the second to immerse yourself in a poem, and the third,to engage in the art of listening to others in your context. There are three written components:
- A response to Psalm 8
- A response to ArsPoetica #100
- Theological reflections on conversations in your setting
Your final written reflection (800-1000 words in total, divided between the three parts) should be submitted to BOTH your group leader ANDin Sakai at least 2 days before your group reflection meetings (dates are set by your group leader).
THE FIRST MOVEMENT: PSALM 8
Immerse yourself in the beauty of this Psalm. Read it through several times, letting the Holy Spirit draw you into its beauty. Savor that beauty and rest in it as you reflect on this Psalm.
Psalm 8 (NRSV)
1O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
5Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
7all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Written response to Psalm 8: What part of this psalm speaks to you – what words or phrases stand out? Why do you think that is where your attention is drawn?
What does it say about God that God has made humans “a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor,” that God is “mindful of them” and “cares for them”? What does it say about humans? What does it say about the relationship between God and humans?
THE SECOND MOVEMENT: A POEM
Elizabeth Alexanderis a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and the inaugural Frederick Iseman Professor of Poetry at Yale University. She’s the author of a new memoir, The Light of the World. She’s also the author of several books of essays and poetry including Crave Radiance. Poetry offers us fresh language for communicating truth and story. Elizabeth’s poem, ArsPoetica #100: I Believe does just that. If you like, you can listen to Elizabeth read her poem in her own voice. For a fascinating interview with Elizabeth Alexander, set aside an hour to listen to this On Being conversation.
ARS POETICA #100: I BELIEVE
Poetry, I tell my students,
is idiosyncratic. Poetry
is where we are ourselves
(though Sterling Brown said
“Every ‘I’ is a dramatic ‘I'”),
digging in the clam flats
for the shell that snaps,
emptying the proverbial pocketbook.
Poetry is what you find
in the dirt in the corner,
overhear on the bus, God
in the details, the only way
to get from here to there.
Poetry (and now my voice is rising)
is not all love, love, love,
and I’m sorry the dog died.
Poetry (here I hear myself loudest)
is the human voice,
and are we not of interest to each other?
Elizabeth Alexander reflects on her poem: “I think that the truth of that poem is not about true things or things that happened, but rather in the question are we not of interest to each other? Which to me isn’t about, I like her shoes or, he has a fascinating job. It’s much deeper than than. Are we human beings who are in community, do we call to each other? Do we heed each other? Do we want to know each other? To reach across what can be a huge void between human beings.”[1]
Written Response to ArsPoetica #100 – How would you go about beginning to answer Elizabeth’s questions in the above paragraph? What theological insights does this poem provide? How might they shape your own engagement with others?
THE THIRD MOVEMENT: LISTENING TO OTHERS YOUR CONTEXT
Keeping in mind that the God who created the universe is mindful of humans (Ps 8), and that the human voice is an invitation to interest in each other, engage in conversation with the people in your context, and listen deeply. Listen carefully to their stories and their longings, for the wisdom and beauty they contain. Be mindful of them, as God is mindful of us. Hear the human voice and be interested in it.
Here are some ways you might reflect on these conversations:
- What questions did you ask (or were you asked) that really opened up the conversations?
- What is the most interesting question(s) you’ve been asked; the most engaging question you have asked?
- Where did you hear tradition, wisdom, and imagination in the conversations?
- What truths did you hear or discover?
- What are the hopes, dreams and fears present?
- How do these conversations shape your reading of Psalm 8? Of ArsPoetica #100?
- How will these conversations inform and form your ministry this summer?
Activity & Written Response – Setup at least three conversationsof at least an hour with people in your context. During these conversations, seek to be fully present to the person you are speaking with. Make the goal of the conversation not just exchanging information but finding a way to meaningful dialogue. Reflect theologically on these conversations in your paper.
[1]Tippett, Krista. Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living.New York: Penguin Press, 2016. Print.