Most of us, if we are honest, if we have to be remembered would like to be remembered for something good and positive. Our contemplation today is about a woman who is remembered for the wrong reasons and whose memory should teach us, sinner and saint alike, many valuable lessons. Jesus, when speaking to his disciples in Luke 17:32 said “Remember Lot’s wife.” This was a discourse about the Kingdom of God and end times and in the Scripture it is found in Genesis 19: 1-26 where we see the calamitous situation giving rise to Jesus’ quotation. As we proceed with this meditation it is useful to keep in mind some important things: Lot’s wife represents a certain type of churchgoer. She was blessed and privileged in many ways.
Lamott, continues to explain why she makes her son go to church. Lamott reveals the personal relationship of people within the church but focuses on a woman who secretly always gives her dimes to support her and her son, even though they no longer need it. Lamott understands that her son is cared for by others in the church. In the chapter Traveling Mercies (Lamott, 2006, p. 106) understanding the difference of our timing opposed to God 's timing seems to be the lesson Lamott discusses. Chapter three talks about situations we face that God uses to change our lives.
In one of the most compelling pieces of Christian mysticism, St. Teresa of Avila brings the reader on a journey through the seven mansions of her soul in which she titles as the Interior Castle. Teresa wrote this mystical text in 1577 as a guide to her fellow nuns in hopes to bring them closer to God through prayer as she has. As fascinating as the journey through the mansions of St. Teresa’s soul, what is even more interesting today is how Teresa continuously balances her own authority as a writer and expert on spiritual matters with her continuously insisting on her lack of knowledge on the subject of mysticism. For instance, in one case she states, “It may even be that everything I say is confused: that, at least is what I’m afraid of”. (52) It may be through this constant self-correction would undermine her project, however, it does not.
The good Wife appears to her company as a woman that has been in many different relations, which leads to tensions with the Pardoner and other characters who hold religious positions in society. However, the good Wife is “somewhat deaf, which [is] quite a shame.” (448) This represents the woman’s dedication and commitment to her own values. Furthermore, it suggests that the good Wife simply ignores those who don’t agree with her morals and sexually charged lifestyle, whether that be the Pardoner or the Church itself. Even though the good Wife fails to listen to others, she still makes sure to preach her past history to those around her. Chaucer states “she knew much about wandering by the way.” (469) In other words, the good Wife has gained a vast amount of knowledge from different experiences throughout her life.
The answer to this could be found in “To My Dear and Loving Husband”. In the third and fourth line of the poem, she wrote “If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me, ye women, if you can.” (Bradstreet 120). By directly addressing women “compare with me, ye women” rather than addressing her husband, Bradstreet had avoided Hutchinson’s footsteps. Hutchinson was banished for directly provided spiritual advices to women. Despite all the years of teaching and advising women, the only written record of Hutchinson’s remains is “Trial and Interrogation of Anne Hutchinson (1637)” (The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America 2010).
Love and Marriage has been a huge topic in the Puritan Era. It is argued by critics that puritans treat Love and Marriage as the meanings of life as they represents the “relationship that structures everything: God’s covenant with believers” (Furey 201). How love situates itself in men’s relationship with god is discussed in many Puritan literature. Two puritan poets, Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor have been famous for their expressions of their affection and humility towards God in their poems. Yet, it is argued that they dealt with the topics of Love and Marriage differently.
Her faith is weakened at a certain point but then she starts to develop a new perception of God, she begins to see God as a universal being with no gender and race who is present everywhere and in everything that we love or do. She is now able to see God through people, nature, sex, and in the color purple. Alice Walker also gave importance to the value of female bonds and relationships or sisterhood as a means of coping and social support against the alienation experienced by Celie and other black female characters in the novel. Celie’s friends, mainly Shug and Sofia helped her to find her voice and stand up for herself. As the novel progresses, Celie develops strength and eventually gains her freedom towards the end.
VIII, ‘The Loss’ he says, “Did I create this woman, / untameable and yet / willing to be tamed?” Ezekiel then unpretentiously adds, “Only Shiva, meditating, / could be immovable / in her moving presence. / As for me, / I hardly meditate at all.” If woman is a mystery and a temptation, she is also an integral part of Ezekiel’s scheme of things. In “A Time to Change” Ezekiel says, “A bit of land, a woman and a child or two / Accommodated to their needs and changing moods / Practicing a singing and a talking voice / Is all the creed a man of god requires”. He has “patiently to build a life with these”. Sex, for Ezekiel, is not just for gratification of carnal desires, though he is not apologetic about that.
Through the eyes of an artist creating art is to go on a journey of self-discovery, which can be deeply personal and or spiritual. The ‘Mecca’ that is spoken of in this play represents the revelation of Miss Helen’s spiritual goal and personal fulfillment through rough challenges she had to face and the courage she needed to have to continue on her path to freedom. Through creativity and exploration she can achieve the freedom that was long desired by Miss Helen. Miss Helen is spiritually comforted by her artistic expression rather than her religion. Miss Helen devoted her life to her faith, “which brought her to church every Sunday” until one day she confessed to Dominee Marius that it was all a big lie.
My surrendered life to Jesus is a good testimony to encourage these Filipinas to continue with God. To begin with, I received Jesus in my life in 1979. Since then, I became faithful in going to church. I joined the church Bible study and prayer meeting, church outreach program, church choir, Sunday school and etc. In 1995, I suddenly felt very empty and unhappy with my life despite my heavy involvement in the work of God.