Spirituality Blog

Many of you have heard me speak of the complicated metaphor of G-d the Father, ruler, king, big man with a white beard in the sky, judge, etc.  From a young age, we see pictures and hear stories of a fatherly figure who sits on high and guides, counsels, and passes judgment down upon his people. This view of the divine is incredibly problematic for many people. It's an inaccessible view of G-d. It is a view that, depending on your own personal experience with male authority figures, can cause you to erect protective walls and feel a distance that seems insurmountable. For many, it does not invite a close personal spiritual relationship, it does not invite a feeling of comfort or even a desire to seek comfort in a religious space. It can lead to a complete rejection of Judaism. Related to this topic is Eliana Light's Eli Talk called The God Gap. CLICK HERE to view it. She speaks a length about the problematic gap that occurs between how we are taught about G-d as children and our actual experience with the divine when we are adults in times of crisis. 

Metaphors are incredibly essential to our engagement with the world in general and with G-d and religious practice specifically. Metaphors provide a framework for humans to discuss and understand the spiritual/metaphysical/non-tangible world around us and more importantly, how it impacts each of us emotionally. Each one of us is entirely unique, that is one of the beautiful things about creation. No two people are the same and no two people experience the world around them in exactly the same way. Metaphors provide the language we need to find similarities in our experiences so that we can talk about them with others. 

Over the past year or so, I've been exploring new and different metaphors for the divine. In the Torah, G-d has many, many names in addition to father, ruler and king - River of Delight, Compassionate One, The Place, Friend, Rock, Source of Living Waters, and so many more. Exploring these metaphors helps to break down those walls and barriers we may have put up against the concept of an accessible G-d.  Rabbi Toba Spitzer has a wonderful book called God is Here: Reimagining the Divine that explores in depth key metaphors of the divine. We are using it in my spirituality group and I highly recommend it for anyone who is seeking a deeper connection with the divine presence of G-d. 

All of us have had encounters with the divine presence of G-d. We see it in an spectacular sunset, the first laugh of a tiny baby, the comforting embrace from a friend when you are feeling low. I invite everyone to open themselves to seeing G-d in unlikely places. When you do, journal about it. Take note. Keep track. In doing so, you will find that you begin to see the divine presence all around you.  

L'Shalom - Mary Frank

CLICK HERE for this week's guided meditation.

For this week, I invite those working on the project to continue to add to their collection of post-it memories. If you feel you have written everything that is pertinent to your life-story, begin to put the post-it notes in chronological order. We will spend time classifying them within that order at our next project session on February 5th.