All Shall Be Well: Practicing An Embodied Faith
Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry and Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Deacon Amy SchmuckBethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
This past week I was greatly blessed to participate in our Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA's Theological Conference with around 100 of my ministry colleagues from our broad geographical area. Participants traveled from Wyoming, Utah, Texas, Colorado, and I was also fortunate enough to have only a short but breath-takingly beautiful drive from Los Alamos to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM. Our theme of "Embodied Faith" was inspired out of this quote from Georgia O'Keeffe whose footprints and paintings cover the sacred ground we tread this week:
"I know I cannot paint a flower; I cannot paint the sun on the desert on a bright summer morning, but maybe in terms of paint color, I can convey to you my experience of the flower or the experience that makes the flower of significance to me at that particular time." –Georgia O'Keeffe
Perhaps it is not surprising to you that a ministry professional may have to intentionally practice and be reminded with four days in this gorgeous desert landscape that she may seek God at work not just with her brain, but also engage the rest of her body in spiritual practice, in faith, and in action. Well, I did need the reminder, and I would venture to say I was not the only one among us.
We were invited in our plenary sessions led by our recently elected Bishop, Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni to engage in a short "body check-in" prior to engaging our ears to listen, and brains to think. We considered what it means to be a human being in our own bodies, and how we may engage bodily with our spiritual faith, our worship, our ministry, and our God. We also considered that our bodily engagement in faith may be unique to ourselves, and may be challenging to convey to others, much like our quote by Georgia O'Keeffe expressed.
We spent time in small pairs or groups conversing, listening, and wondering about how we may personally embody our faith with more intention, and how we may invite others to engage more than just their brains and emotional centers, but also the rest of their human vessels into their own experience of faith. In that spirit, I invite you to ponder a few different questions this week as you walk your spiritual path:
As the writers of this column always do, I also invite you to experience worship in a faith community near you, because it is hard to be a human, and extremely challenging to be engaged on a spiritual journey with the holy all on your own. Faith experiences are meant to be communal as well as individual. We humans were designed to live in community, and so we welcome you to join us on the journey, fellow humans. Come just as you are. As you seek, may you find love in your body, and find love in community.
