I just kept saying 'amen' as I read!! You are not a misfit patchwork person. You are a precious and essential part of the Body of Christ. I love this Kori.
I think there is so much Biblical precedent for the beauty of paradox. Perhaps our struggle with the tensions of paradox come because in our earthly reality we are limited to a certain number of dimensions.
The Body of Christ is somehow the evidence of the wisdom of God to the spiritual authorities and rulers (Ephesians 3:10)That's one of the most challenging points of my faith, but one I cling to in hope. I admit, sometimes I feel like I am the liver....
I love this, Kori. Over the years Kraig and I have leaned more and more into the beauty of the body of Christ and how each part is necessary, and unique. An integrated life has always been important to me, too—I may have different spheres and roles, but Christ is the center of each. I hadn’t thought of all of
this in the context of feeling disconnected or on the edge, and I appreciate how you’ve defined that. The border walker is as much a part of the body as the Sunday school teacher!
I really appreciate your thoughts. Maybe it’s a little of both? That the border walking is part of the tension because we still haven’t found what we’re looking for? That we are made for unity but it doesn’t often happen because the brokenness in this world means we want to move away from each other and hide in shame and fear? But courage is accepting that prophetic (as in speaking counter-cultural truth) voices are vital and being willing to be misunderstood but sticking around anyway? I’m already missing the community at Fieldmoot but gatherings like that are meant to give us a safe place to be strengthened to go back into the battle, to be more present to our own lives and callings. So maybe it’s both, not being surprised or getting off track when people don’t get it but continuing to be who we’re created to be because we’re needed? Anyway thanks for being you. I’m always so encouraged by what you share.
But to me “Border walker” sounds like a sci-fi description of half-vampire patrol zombie warriors and so I was half expecting to see your article describing that! 😂
Kori, I feel your pain. I've kept my artistic side hidden for many years. Thankfully, I'm in a church where there are other creatives in art, music, etc. It's hard to marrying being an artist with being a Christian. It's a conundrum.
I feel this way all of the time, thus the name of my Substack is Musings of a Wayfaring Stranger. If I ever felt like I really belonged in a particular group (political, religious, geographic, or familial), I can’t remember it. My husband was the first person with whom I really agreed on all of the core things.
I talked about mearcstapa in my Fieldmoot talk! 😂 It's the AngloSaxon word used to describe Grendel and his mother in Beowulf. That gave me pause to rethink the automatic embrace of it as identity.
I just kept saying 'amen' as I read!! You are not a misfit patchwork person. You are a precious and essential part of the Body of Christ. I love this Kori.
The phrase “misfit patchwork person” is marvelous
I think there is so much Biblical precedent for the beauty of paradox. Perhaps our struggle with the tensions of paradox come because in our earthly reality we are limited to a certain number of dimensions.
The Body of Christ is somehow the evidence of the wisdom of God to the spiritual authorities and rulers (Ephesians 3:10)That's one of the most challenging points of my faith, but one I cling to in hope. I admit, sometimes I feel like I am the liver....
I love this, Kori. Over the years Kraig and I have leaned more and more into the beauty of the body of Christ and how each part is necessary, and unique. An integrated life has always been important to me, too—I may have different spheres and roles, but Christ is the center of each. I hadn’t thought of all of
this in the context of feeling disconnected or on the edge, and I appreciate how you’ve defined that. The border walker is as much a part of the body as the Sunday school teacher!
I really appreciate your thoughts. Maybe it’s a little of both? That the border walking is part of the tension because we still haven’t found what we’re looking for? That we are made for unity but it doesn’t often happen because the brokenness in this world means we want to move away from each other and hide in shame and fear? But courage is accepting that prophetic (as in speaking counter-cultural truth) voices are vital and being willing to be misunderstood but sticking around anyway? I’m already missing the community at Fieldmoot but gatherings like that are meant to give us a safe place to be strengthened to go back into the battle, to be more present to our own lives and callings. So maybe it’s both, not being surprised or getting off track when people don’t get it but continuing to be who we’re created to be because we’re needed? Anyway thanks for being you. I’m always so encouraged by what you share.
I can't even start. Sorry. I'd be here all day. But your article definitely spoke to me. Thank you.
Oh Alison, I'm so glad. I really struggled with this one.
Love this, Kori!
But to me “Border walker” sounds like a sci-fi description of half-vampire patrol zombie warriors and so I was half expecting to see your article describing that! 😂
Kori, I feel your pain. I've kept my artistic side hidden for many years. Thankfully, I'm in a church where there are other creatives in art, music, etc. It's hard to marrying being an artist with being a Christian. It's a conundrum.
I feel this way all of the time, thus the name of my Substack is Musings of a Wayfaring Stranger. If I ever felt like I really belonged in a particular group (political, religious, geographic, or familial), I can’t remember it. My husband was the first person with whom I really agreed on all of the core things.
I talked about mearcstapa in my Fieldmoot talk! 😂 It's the AngloSaxon word used to describe Grendel and his mother in Beowulf. That gave me pause to rethink the automatic embrace of it as identity.