Confession: I am not a fan of being videoed. (I am not brilliantly photogenic, and I definitely lack the videogenic gene. We didn’t have a video of our wedding for this very reason…)
But the lovely Dr Bex Lewis persuaded me to record a short video as a meditation for the Big Bible #bigread14 (a Lent series). The website has a meditation for each week, based on a poem by Rev. Stephen Cherry, and Bible readings and creative exercises to accompany it. They’re great to use as a small group study or individual meditation. This week is on ‘puzzles’, or mysteries, and in particular the mystery of the incarnation.
So – this is my four-minute video on the mystery of the incarnation, and how that influences our attitudes to our own bodies (click on the link and scroll down till you can see the YouTube clip with my face on it – if you prefer to read, the text version is underneath it) – click here to view.
Me! On the actual YouTube!
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Brilliant! Challenging, insightful and perfectly timed. Something we have been discussing a lot in our systematics class this term is how God can understand our suffering and of course reference has been made to the incarnation regularly. But do you think God the father can feel pain?
Also, excited when one world clashes with another, God is amazing. As a student at Cranmer Hall I know Dr Bex Lewis as a friend 🙂
That’s such an interesting question – whether God the Father can feel pain. What do you think?
And oh!! How cool that you know Bex! And also – how cool that you are at Durham! I was there as an undergrad and loved it. Such a beautiful city.
Well…according to Aquinas and several other respected sources of our systematic theology no. But I believe God the father feels compassion and He has felt the rejection of love from His creation has He not? I don’t necessarily think He feels pain in the way we do, for that strips Him of who He is to our limited human concepts. I haven’t come to a conclusion if I am honest. I am still very much wrestling with this one. In part because I do not feel I have the resources to support my gut reaction. What do you think?
Ah yes a Durham is wonderful. Did you study theology? Which college were you at?
My gut reaction to this is… Aquinas Schminas. There are so many places in the OT that talk about God being grieved, and heart troubled. Jesus clearly felt pain as a human. I feel like I’m missing something – why is it so theologically important that God doesn’t feel pain? Pah. Sometimes theology is helpful, but sometimes I feel that Theology with a capital T just tries to turn what is poetry into a maths equation.
I was at Grey – and I studied English Lit with a subsid in theology (New Testament). That may explain my comments above!!
Fab 🙂
Thank you, lovely Lucy!
I so loved hearing your voice and seeing your radiance here … And I love your body-love incarnation message … Thank you! I hope to maybe see more … I know you have inspired me 🙂 Blessings and Love to you !
Oo! Radiance! What a lovely compliment. Eek. Maybe I will do more at some point??
No pressure … simply a hope ?
🙂
As above with the others: you (and your voice) are so beautiful! Love the message, too.
Thanks so much, Cathy!
I loved that. So much to ponder. Thank you.
Yay! Thank you, Stephanie. 🙂
Tanya,
Like Diana said it was a treat to see you and hear that lovely British accent! I enjoyed the video. Well Said.
Thank you very much for the comments on my accent! 🙂 and I’m really glad you enjoyed the video.
Loved this, it gave me so much to think about!
It was also very nice to hear your voice, and your accent made me want to move back to England 😉
Oh yay! I’m really glad you loved it! And yes! Come visit England!
Beautifully done, Tanya. And what a treat to see you and hear that lovely accent. Thank you!
Thank you so very much, lovely Diana. I was nervous!