Hey friends, I had a friend mention that this post might be a good one to lift the paywall for. I'll try and make sure there's regular content just for subscribers, but in this case I may just make this one public in case it's helpful for folks.
This.here.now. - most times I really want to tell you that you are simply.brilliant. A gifted writer - my only suggestion ... I might have said and I sort of expected you to say ... "There is no "outside the camp" because since the moment of the incarnation God has jerrymandered the whole damn thing." Great article Nadia - reminds me of the harm that was done (and I am sure still being done) to ones with HIV - ...
Thank you yet again; as someone who struggles daily with being So Pissed Off at her 70-yr-old body (but I've been good! Why is this-annoying, embarrassing, but fairly standard--shit happening to me?), I am so in need of this reminder.
I guess this is why I decided to subscribe to Nadia’s “The Corners” because she is able to interpret stories from the Bible into words that I can relate to. I believe my heart and mind can still respond positively to truth. Right now I am facing a lot of uncontrollable situations and I cant predict the outcomes. But I have a bit of hope that Even though I feel like a leper, I won’t be left behind.
Goodness, I needed of this considering that a few cancer diagnoses caused a huge crisis of faith, in part because of the blame factor. Also, it is SO FUCKING obvious when I meet people who are so scared of getting sick that I remain in shock and how prevalent it still is to be treated like "a leper" - what is the answer? Be like Jesus... those of us who face diseases like this are in desperate need of that in our lives and I think it might surprise some people just how many people go the opposite way.
The interesting thing is, that many of us do find the Christ like friends through our illnesses but it does not make the loss of friends/family we *thought* would be that for us and just couldn't.
This is absolutely spot-on, Nadia. I've always thought the same about the lepers, that they were isolated in part because 'lepers make human frailty and brokenness so disturbingly visible; their bodies a reminder of what could happen to any of us.'. We are so desperately afraid of not only mortality, but imperfection.
Just profoundly struck down by the truth in this. The whole healing shebang has caused some pain and confusion in my life. I went to a church for a time and a bunch of middle aged church members who were 'good' folk who loved God got cancer and died within a few months of each other. At this time there were 9 babies born within a few months as well, including my firstborn. One of these babies was born with the cord around her neck 9 times, she lived but had significant brain damage. I remember the excruciating guilt I had in having a healthy baby son. As a church we had Sunday night healing services and we had plenty to pray about then. Folks would surround the latest woman to have cancer and pray fervently for her healing. It was like, we all just have to have the faith for this to occur...her teenage boy would be weeping next to her laying out on the floor saying pray! just pray! begging us all and God to make it go away.
I have memories of the Dad of the baby girl holding her up high in his hands above the crowd of people praying and worshipping, red faced with urgency and heartbreak, willing the prayer to work. I found it so frightening and traumatic. I felt like I couldn't find what I had to do to pray correctly'", be the kind of Christian who could 100% believe for this. Then any doubt that crept in had me thinking I had sabotaged the process. Well, when these people died and the baby did not get healed, in the sense of being restored to a state of no brain" damage. the congregation seemed diminished and disappointed by God.. Kind of like, I had this huge amount of faith , not just a teeny mustard seed and where were you God? Thanks for writing this and I am going to read Kate's book because the whole shebang still freaks me out even though I will always continue to pray and hope healing will happen. I find it really tricky how to explain this stuff to my kids. thanks for listening y'all.
God / Jesus have helped me so many times with so many things... When it comes to lepers I am reminded that I don't want to be among the 9/10 who forgot to turn back and say "Thank You" to Jesus for all he does... But I still forget...
You're a gifted writer. I read Salvation on the Small Screen, and laughed and felt for you when you had to watch/rewatch those shows. I'm going to get Kate Fowler's book. Thank you for making a recommendation.
reading this reminded me of a time not so long ago wherein I had no job, no prospects, no savings - that had all ready been spent, the back up plan had already failed.... and I prayed, prayed a lot for a good enough job at a good enough pay. i prayed for weeks, months. and then thought. what about all the other people who pray for their ailments to disappear, for good health to return, for the return of those lost to them, prayed for a way to be better....how can I believe that my prayers would be answered while others were not? Why should mine be answered over someone else's? I continued to pray, however, more of a comfort to me than because I really thought mine would find favor. A few months later, really at the last dime, I got a job, good enough at not quite good enough pay. I took it tho. said thank you and hoped all the other prayers said were answered too.....although i know they are not. not always. not because you didn't pray enough, or were good enough, or God does not love you. but rather some times crap happens. let me rephrase that crap happens all the time.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery in January. My sister was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her text to me yesterday was "I hate the fact we both have to go through this BUT we are going through the with the Lord." I'm just glad she didn't say this to my face so she didn't have to see my facial expression.
Hey friends, I had a friend mention that this post might be a good one to lift the paywall for. I'll try and make sure there's regular content just for subscribers, but in this case I may just make this one public in case it's helpful for folks.
Amen "It's all about dat grace, bout that grace!"
This.here.now. - most times I really want to tell you that you are simply.brilliant. A gifted writer - my only suggestion ... I might have said and I sort of expected you to say ... "There is no "outside the camp" because since the moment of the incarnation God has jerrymandered the whole damn thing." Great article Nadia - reminds me of the harm that was done (and I am sure still being done) to ones with HIV - ...
I’m the person who is living the diagnosis away from homelessness.
It absolutely is very real.
I’m also the one who asks daily of God, what the hell did I do do that was so bad.....
Thank you for this, Nadia. You’re the best.
Thank you yet again; as someone who struggles daily with being So Pissed Off at her 70-yr-old body (but I've been good! Why is this-annoying, embarrassing, but fairly standard--shit happening to me?), I am so in need of this reminder.
that God is here. We are loved. And it is enough. Amen.....all we need to know.
I guess this is why I decided to subscribe to Nadia’s “The Corners” because she is able to interpret stories from the Bible into words that I can relate to. I believe my heart and mind can still respond positively to truth. Right now I am facing a lot of uncontrollable situations and I cant predict the outcomes. But I have a bit of hope that Even though I feel like a leper, I won’t be left behind.
Goodness, I needed of this considering that a few cancer diagnoses caused a huge crisis of faith, in part because of the blame factor. Also, it is SO FUCKING obvious when I meet people who are so scared of getting sick that I remain in shock and how prevalent it still is to be treated like "a leper" - what is the answer? Be like Jesus... those of us who face diseases like this are in desperate need of that in our lives and I think it might surprise some people just how many people go the opposite way.
The interesting thing is, that many of us do find the Christ like friends through our illnesses but it does not make the loss of friends/family we *thought* would be that for us and just couldn't.
We are loved.
and forgive how this is written, between chemo and the sheer emotion this post evoked I am a red hot mess.
Funny that I purchased this book months ago, I would be sooo smart if I read all that I purchased, but it must be time to read it now!
The struggle of the "to be read" pile is real!!
This is absolutely spot-on, Nadia. I've always thought the same about the lepers, that they were isolated in part because 'lepers make human frailty and brokenness so disturbingly visible; their bodies a reminder of what could happen to any of us.'. We are so desperately afraid of not only mortality, but imperfection.
Just profoundly struck down by the truth in this. The whole healing shebang has caused some pain and confusion in my life. I went to a church for a time and a bunch of middle aged church members who were 'good' folk who loved God got cancer and died within a few months of each other. At this time there were 9 babies born within a few months as well, including my firstborn. One of these babies was born with the cord around her neck 9 times, she lived but had significant brain damage. I remember the excruciating guilt I had in having a healthy baby son. As a church we had Sunday night healing services and we had plenty to pray about then. Folks would surround the latest woman to have cancer and pray fervently for her healing. It was like, we all just have to have the faith for this to occur...her teenage boy would be weeping next to her laying out on the floor saying pray! just pray! begging us all and God to make it go away.
I have memories of the Dad of the baby girl holding her up high in his hands above the crowd of people praying and worshipping, red faced with urgency and heartbreak, willing the prayer to work. I found it so frightening and traumatic. I felt like I couldn't find what I had to do to pray correctly'", be the kind of Christian who could 100% believe for this. Then any doubt that crept in had me thinking I had sabotaged the process. Well, when these people died and the baby did not get healed, in the sense of being restored to a state of no brain" damage. the congregation seemed diminished and disappointed by God.. Kind of like, I had this huge amount of faith , not just a teeny mustard seed and where were you God? Thanks for writing this and I am going to read Kate's book because the whole shebang still freaks me out even though I will always continue to pray and hope healing will happen. I find it really tricky how to explain this stuff to my kids. thanks for listening y'all.
God / Jesus have helped me so many times with so many things... When it comes to lepers I am reminded that I don't want to be among the 9/10 who forgot to turn back and say "Thank You" to Jesus for all he does... But I still forget...
You're a gifted writer. I read Salvation on the Small Screen, and laughed and felt for you when you had to watch/rewatch those shows. I'm going to get Kate Fowler's book. Thank you for making a recommendation.
reading this reminded me of a time not so long ago wherein I had no job, no prospects, no savings - that had all ready been spent, the back up plan had already failed.... and I prayed, prayed a lot for a good enough job at a good enough pay. i prayed for weeks, months. and then thought. what about all the other people who pray for their ailments to disappear, for good health to return, for the return of those lost to them, prayed for a way to be better....how can I believe that my prayers would be answered while others were not? Why should mine be answered over someone else's? I continued to pray, however, more of a comfort to me than because I really thought mine would find favor. A few months later, really at the last dime, I got a job, good enough at not quite good enough pay. I took it tho. said thank you and hoped all the other prayers said were answered too.....although i know they are not. not always. not because you didn't pray enough, or were good enough, or God does not love you. but rather some times crap happens. let me rephrase that crap happens all the time.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery in January. My sister was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her text to me yesterday was "I hate the fact we both have to go through this BUT we are going through the with the Lord." I'm just glad she didn't say this to my face so she didn't have to see my facial expression.
Love this. Point on. Love your soul, your calling, and your God sent words. Thank you, deeply.