More about our children, and the power of a gathering of women

Yesterday we had our biweekly gathering of women at St. Mary's House.  We decided to focus on the question posed by Lily, the 8-year-old girl I wrote about.  We prayed, we shared about our own upbringing and current images for God.  We heard stories of reassurance and strength, but also stories of powerlessness and distance.
Then we wrote or drew for a while, then shared again.  We decided to write and illustrate what we said, and send it to Lily so she knows someone is listening.
Here's what we wrote:

God is surprise and wonder
God is breath
God is light
God is a mother and a father
God is in the eyes of my dog
God is Casper the friendly ghost
God is in my middle and I am in God's middle
God is all of creation
God is a circle of women
God is true love
God is who you have an experience of, not an idea
God is presence
God is a mother hen with her chicks
God is in a loyal friend
God is strength
God is sheltering wings
God is joyful energy
God is a dancing woman with so much joy the energy sparks from her feet!

And we want to know: Who does Lily think God is?  What does she, do you, think God is?

Now, I asked all of you last week what you thought.  Only a few people wrote back - thank you!  You wrote about the need for a mothering God as well as a father God, or for images that go beyond the parental.  You wrote about your own struggles and progress in your churches.

Others were silent.  I wonder: is this just really hard?  Of course.  If it were easy, it would be done.

Our friend Paul gave us a great segue:

"Thank you for asking that question. You're invited to our first weekend workshop at CMA:

"Imaging the Divine: Gender, Theology and Alienation"

or...

"Re-imagining God: What Do Love, Compassion, Truth and Wisdom 'Look' Like?"

or...

"Mother God: He Couldn't Have Done It All By Himself!"

Or...

 "G*d: The Wisdom of Not Naming"

or

"Yahweh: I Am Who Am, Not Who You Say I Am"

I say segue, because October 8-11 we will offer a three-day retreat on the Divine Feminine and images of God.  So if these titles appeal to you, stay tuned!  

Thanks to you who wrote, and you who came, and you who prayed.  Please continue to pray for all the children, that they may find a God who loves them and empowers them to love in turn.