GOD AS PARENT

Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

 

Psychologists have a theory that there is no such thing as an infant. In the first few months of a baby’s life, from her point of view at least, there is only infant/caregiver, one in the same. The baby sees herself as mirrored in the eyes of her primary caregivers; she believes she and her closest adult, or adults, are one individual. Tiny children spend much of their waking hours reassuring themselves that this special caregiver loves them unconditionally and lives only for them. (Witness ten-decibel screaming at two a.m. to get fed.)

 

Before you freak out wondering how parents and others who care for babies can ever live up to this stellar responsibility, know that it doesn’t last long! We all learn to doubt this “bond” as we grow older and a divided world view takes over completely by about age seven. We assert our independence more and more until it’s time to get our driver’s license or graduate high school. Then we are completely convinced that our parents are idiots who have no idea what it’s like to be us. (What, that wasn’t your experience?!?) As Richard Rohr notes, “Body/mind/world/self all start getting split apart; we begin to see the basic fault lines in the world—and the rest of life will be spent trying to put it all back together again.”

 

This is not God’s will. As the Galatians passage above states, “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.” It’s there from the moment we are conceived, and if we ask, that Spirit will direct our every thought and action. In God’s plan, there is no “split” between “us” and “Him:” we are one in the same, just as an infant and a caretaker are bonded in oneness. We tend to think “maturity” means growing apart from God’s caretaking, but the opposite is actually true. “Maturing” in Christ means being ever more willing to accept God’s indwelling Spirit. Our relationship with God is not transactional: God will do this if I do that. Instead, we move through this life on earth as one with God, until we see Him face to face.

 

God of Grace, help us trust You to be our Caretaker through eternity. Amen

 

Both candid and humorous, insightful and ponderous, Meg Blaine Corrigan’s memoir, Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child, takes the reader through her chaotic childhood with an alcoholic mother and enabling father to a violent assault that nearly ended her life. She populates her tale with vivid descriptions of her parents, other influential adults, the attacker, and her disastrous first marriage. But this story has a happy ending, when Meg finds solace in a God she didn’t think she’d ever believe in, when He gently helps her heal from her past lives and move into the best times of her life. Meg has also written a novel, Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist, about said first marriage, as well as a Christian devotional, Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian, comprised of blogs from this site. Stay tuned for sequels to her last two books! All of her works may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

PERSISTING. HEALING.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

As I took a seat in the sanctuary, I didn’t know what to expect. A friend’s email invited me to “a Worship Service to Honor Survivors of Sexual Violence at Christ on Capitol Hill” in St. Paul. As a survivor, I was curious. I arrived early, and as I sat in the nearly empty church, I thought about just leaving. It’s difficult, sometimes, to relive the experience of surviving a horrendous event. It’s often easier just to pretend it never happened, especially after nearly five decades.

 

Soon the sanctuary began to fill up with women—and men! A wide variety of people took their seats until the pews were respectfully occupied. After a call to worship, we sang a hymn. Next came “Confession,” typical of a Lutheran worship service. But this was no ordinary ritual. Instead of the “congregation” clearing their minds and hearts of wrongdoing before continuing, we watched as male and female clergy congregated at the front of the chapel “to practice corporate apology on behalf of the church.” A list of confessions was read, beginning with “ways (the church has) promoted shame and embarrassment instead of power and beauty,” ending with the church having “kept silent when oppressed people have asked the Body of Christ to say something with compassion and to do something with our power.” Each acknowledgement was followed by the group of clergy stating together, “We are truly sorry and humbly repent.”

 

Transfixed, I was deeply moved by the simple words repeated: “We are sorry.” I recalled my own pain when some—not all—followers of Christ had turned away in horror as I shared the story of the assault I endured. Then, the clergy moved to “stations,” inviting survivors to come to them for prayer. Although I say my healing has come full circle. my request was for prayer to be freed from the constant suspicion that the world is a dark and scary place that knows no healing. I was given a beautiful prayer shawl which I will treasure as a memory of a truly meaningful day in a safe and sacred place.

 

Spirit of Healing, enter our bodies, minds, and spirit and restore us to wholeness. Amen

 

Both candid and humorous, insightful and ponderous, Meg Blaine Corrigan’s memoir, Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child, takes the reader through her chaotic childhood with an alcoholic mother and enabling father to a violent assault that nearly ended her life. She populates her tale with vivid descriptions of her parents, other influential adults, the attacker, and her disastrous first marriage. But this story has a happy ending, when Meg finds solace in a God she didn’t think she’d ever believe in, when He gently helps her heal from her past lives and move into the best times of her life. Meg has also written a novel, Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist, about said first marriage, as well as a Christian devotional, Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian, comprised of blogs from this site. Stay tuned for sequels to her last two books! All of her works may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

COMING HOME

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations. Ephesians 3:20-21

 

“My name is Jayme Closs. Call 911!” These were the words of the thirteen-year-old girl when she escaped from the man who murdered her parents and held her captive for eighty-seven days. One day before this writing, Jayme walked up to a woman walking her dog in a small community in northwestern Wisconsin, about an hour from the girl’s hometown of Barron. She asked the woman to help her, and they proceeded to a nearby home, where they were taken in and the authorities were contacted. Minutes later, the suspect was apprehended in his car, apparently out searching for the girl he had held hostage. Jayme herself was given credit by the local sheriff for being the “hero” of her own story. With courage and determination—and still unknown details—Jayme escaped the home of her captor and sought help on her own. It is not clear why the suspect, unknown to the family, targeted and stalked Jayme, plotted and killed her parents, and kidnapped the girl.

 

Jayme’s story took me back to a traumatic time when I was sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a total stranger. Following the attack, he intended to chain me to a tree. I cried out loud to a God I didn’t think I even knew, and miraculously, I was spared. The man fled, and I walked out of the woods to begin a period of profound terror and anxiety. Eventually, I understood that God had truly rescued me, and I dedicated my life to Him and to helping others who have suffered trauma at the hands of others.

 

Although she is surrounded by loving family and friends old and new, Jayme Closs will have a long period of healing. But she has already demonstrated two things: she is a survivor, and she had the courage to believe that her life was not over. May this remarkable young woman know God’s love and the love of those around her is stronger than any evil in this world.

 

God of Power and Might, protect our children from predators in this broken and hurting world. Amen

 

Both candid and humorous, insightful and ponderous, Meg Blaine Corrigan’s memoir, Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child, takes the reader through her chaotic childhood with an alcoholic mother and enabling father to a violent assault that nearly ended her life. She populates her tale with vivid descriptions of her parents, other influential adults, the attacker, and her disastrous first marriage. But this story has a happy ending, when Meg finds solace in a God she didn’t think she’d ever believe in, when He gently helps her heal from her past lives and move into the best times of her life. Meg has also written a novel, Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist, about said first marriage, as well as a Christian devotional, Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian, comprised of blogs from this site. Stay tuned for sequels to her last two books! All of her works may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

FOREIGN DIGNITARIES

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2

 

The website, Journal of Bible Accuracy (www.jba.gr ), has some interesting facts about the “Wise Men” who came to visit the Baby Jesus. Most depictions of Jesus’ birth show three of these mysterious visitors from the east, but the only reference to three of anything was the three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) mentioned in Matthew 2:11. Perhaps several visitors brought many offerings of these items. And although many sources identify these men as Casper, Melchior and Balthazar, the Bible does not list these names. The title “Magi” is plural for the Greek word “magos,” and referred to ancient Persian astronomers. These men were probably very rich (hence the upscale baby gifts), well-learned, and highly esteemed in their society. They most likely did not come to “worship” this King of the Jews, but rather traveled a great distance out of curiosity about the new star that had been sighted over the manger where the Child was born. Lastly, because of the wording of the men’s conversation with Herod, the visitors were not likely on the scene until well after Jesus’ birth. Both the wise men and Jesus’ earthly father Joseph were warned in dreams that Herod intended to kill all the male boys up to the age of two, perhaps indicating that Jesus was somewhere between newborn and twenty-four months by the time the easterners arrived.

 

All of this is interesting, but what amazes me is why only two groups actually came to witness the Christ Child’s entry into the world: the lowly shepherds who were not particularly revered in the Jewish culture, and some total strangers who were more interested in following stars in the sky than embracing the life-changing ways of this God in the flesh. Perhaps the strange “guest list” at Christ’s baby shower was a way for us to understand from the very beginning how Christ came to embrace all humanity, from the outcast shepherds to the wealthy men from a foreign culture.

 

Lord Jesus, we worship You for being our Emmanuel (God With Us), in the flesh and throughout eternity. Amen

 

Meg Blaine Corrigan is the author of three books: Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child; Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist; and Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and has over thirty years’ experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, war veterans, and other trauma survivors.  Her books may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .