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Lenten devotions 2008

FEB. 18 - INTO THE OPEN
By Malinda Elizabeth Berry, visiting scholar in religion and women's studies

THIS WEEK'S THEME: Into new birth

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DEVOTIONAL:
One of the classic themes I remember from my classes focusing on American women's history was the division of life into two spheres: public and private. What happens in our homes or behind closed doors versus what happens in the "public square" often result a compartmentalized life. While we quickly learned how false this separation actually was and is, I am still struck by how difficult it can be for most of us to live as whole, integrated people, and yet how quickly we judge people who we perceive as being inconsistent in their public declarations and their private dealings. Such inconsistencies must be brought out into the open, we say.

As we encounter the Lenten lections this week, we will notice images of springs and rocks, and they are symbols of survival and restoration. In the Exodus passage, water rushes from a rock. The psalmist praises God, the rock of salvation. In the Gospel reading, Jesus explains he is the wellspring of salvation and joy.

What do springs and rocks, survival and restoration have to do with the collapsing of public and private spheres? Being at peace with who we are rather than projecting personas left and right is a form of reconciliation, which is salvation, Paul explains to the Romans. The bringing together of opposites -- public and private, water and stone -- allows us to turn toward openness, the openness of Christ's hand as he beckons saying, "Follow me."
Posted at 17:55 #