The Diversity of Dust

 

One day, the Eternal God scooped dirt out of the ground, sculpted it into the shape we call human, breathed the breath that gives life into the nostrils of the human, and the human became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 (The Voice Translation)

 

On Monday, I offered you four translations of Genesis 2:7; you can go back and re-read to remind yourself and review what leapt off the page.  I love the Voice Translation.  There is an earthiness to the words above.  God is getting God’s fingernails caked with the clay of earth.  God on God’s knees, sweat on God’s brow.  I picture God trying to form the legs, carefully making them the same length, which isn’t easy.  Do you think that took God a few tries?  Or I picture God forming a pinkie toe, so fragile and vulnerable, maybe a toe or two even broke off the first time.  Or God making the head just right so that we wouldn’t topple over on ourselves!  Humans are fascinating, as is all of creation, which is God-soaked.  Notice that without God’s breath, the human was just a lump of clay…because that is what we were and are and can be!!  We are dust.  And, Scripture says, we are divine.  We are human (of the soil) and stardust.  We are a messy mixture of so many contradictory and complex experiences and events.  We are people who have individual and shared histories.  You reflect God’s creativity, all of you.  Brian McLaren says that all of you are welcome and all of you is welcome.  This means that you can fully let both the beautiful and broken parts of yourself be seen in this world.  This is complicated by the fact that trust between us is broken (if not shattered).  This is made more difficult and demanding because we don’t practice letting our light shine bright in many places.  We all wear masks that make every day feel like Halloween.  We hide behind titles or money or possessions or power.  We show up in one place with one version of ourselves and another place in a different way.  Do we realize the truest image of God within us, or is that sacred spark so hidden beneath cultural expectations, layers of shame, blame, hurt, and not feeling fully accepted and affirmed?  In June, we celebrate PRIDE month, honoring God’s creativity and beauty in LGBTQ+ siblings.  Like any other month when we shine a light on God’s beloved (Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian-Pacific Islander Sunday, Mental Health Month, Juneteenth, Creation Justice Month, and countless other holy days to see the diversity of Divinity), we may wonder, “Why all the fuss?”  Shouldn’t we just emphasize our common humanity?  While I believe God’s love is unconditionally offered to all, I know that I live this side of God’s full realm and reign.  I still pray, “Thy Kingdom/Kin-dom Come,” which means two things.  First, God’s realm ain’t here yet.  Second, I need to let go of my reign and realm where I am in charge/control.  It is a blessing to celebrate these days and months that invite us to delve/dive deeper into the complexity of creation and our Creator.  God is still forming.  God still has the clay of your life under God’s fingernails.  God is still fashioning, forming, and isn’t finished yet with you or me or we as a people.  How can I find ways to let God be God?  I think it begins with breathing in.  When I inhale, I am infused and inspired by the holy oxygen of God.  When I exhale, I let go of control (see Morning Meditations from last week on letting go, letting be, letting come).  While I can direct my breath in certain ways, once inside me, the oxygen can take me in a myriad of directions and toward unintended directions.  Notice your breathing today; notice God’s energy around you and within you today; notice how you let loose God’s presence as you move about your day.  Amen.