In which I come back from the dead and say something with any meaning

Something I have not enjoyed: paring down the wedding guest list. I wish everyone could come/ be invited, but I decided I wanted it small, so it'll be small. Oh well, it will still be great.

Also, it seems like so many things in my life have been pointing to women's issues lately. I'll elaborate on this further, but I don't know what it is. I read an article in Utne magazine, which I am receiving as a gift from npr for supporting KGOU/KROU. It's a great magazine, and has a lot to say, if it has to be taken with a grain of salt sometimes. But, its good to read other people's opinions sometimes, I think. Nina Simons, original thinker and longtime social entrepreneur, was being interviewed by Nina Utne, and was just really beautifully explaining her observations on both the true and good masculine and feminine traits and characteristics, as well as our culture's twisted stereotypes of what masculine and feminine traits and characteristics are.

"I started to see the world differently as I recognized the full extent to which all of the characteristics, values, and qualities that have been associated with the 'feminine' have been systematically devalued and denigrated in our culture. Attention to process, relationship building, empathy, intuition, and the collective wisdom of groups have all been chronically derided. I saw that in every social system, and throughout all our relationships, our idolization of 'masculine' values has gotten us into trouble. Actions that are decisive, that assert certainty, heroic individualism, aggressiveness, rationalism, and single-minded obsession have been lauded.

I came to understand many of our challenges, including environmental degradation, social injustice, and corporate globalization, as expressions of the gross imbalance between what our culture has identified as 'masculine' and 'feminine' qualities. I saw that a greater emergence of the healthy feminine throughout our world might help achieve the balance that can resore our social and environmental systems."

The interview had a lot of other great points, and I encourage you all to find it; I think you have to subscribe to Utne online to read it, though. But, I just was thinking about how this does strike a chord of truth. God created us male and female. Both in his image. Therefore, we need both in order to bring the greatest glory to him; we both bear his image. And on the world stage, I think the balance is maybe tipped to far to the masculine right now; I think its probably Humankind's biggest struggle to find the balance.

Now then, where does this put the church? Are we showing the world God's dual masculine and feminine nature? Are we strong and nurturing? Generous and caring? Both playful and serious? Do we mourn for the destruction of God's earth and try to do something about it? Are we good stewards? I know these statements haven't begun to sum up or make clear which attitudes are masculine and which are feminine, but just looking at Ms. Simon's descriptions of feminine and masculine qualities in that first paragraph, I think its clear which one the church leans toward. Especially the more visible church; the side of the church that makes the news headlines. I suppose you could make the case that the uglier side would make the headlines, but still... where is the feminine? I think it would do us all a lot of good to think prayerfully on it. And, I these thoughts are only beginning to take shape in my head.