Bold Gestating Heart of Goodness

Later this week I will participate in a panel called, "Women of the Cloth." It's part of a series of events at Montclair State University celebrating Women's History Month. (For the schedule of all events, see p. 4 of the Women's Center newsletter.) Among the questions panelists are asked to prepare are these: Does God have a gender? Does being a woman influence your answer?

In an effort to get my creative juices flowing, I went to a webpage that I also visit when my prayers (personal or professional) are becoming lackluster. The webpage 25 Million Names for God, which actually has 25,411,681 names for God, is part of the site for Seekers Church. (The church is located in DC. I only know it through the website, but it's worth taking a look at the creative things they do in worship, especially regarding inclusivity.)

So I generated a few names for God while I was there. My favorites tonight are "Bold Gestating Heart of Goodness" and "Hidden Blessing Seamstress of Patience."

Bold Gestating Heart of Goodness. It's perfect, isn't it? It's incomplete, as all names for God are, yet full, warm, and encouraging, too. How safe I feel to know that God is still gestating, still creating, still at work on the world and the creatures in it. It makes me think of the expectant mother in my yoga class who still stands on her head at 6 months pregnant and glows with a calm joy.

And Hidden Blessing Seamstress of Patience. Not "tailor," mind you, but seamstress. How perfect for "Women of the Cloth" preparations! I think of God who sometimes likes to work behind the scenes, but is careful and caring enough to hem me in with blessings tailored to the moments when I need them. And Seamstress God knows I need the patience some days!

While I am in need of ideas (or at least words to articulate some of the ideas I have about God), I trust that praying to the Bold Gestating Heart of Goodness and then drifting off to the world of dreams where God and I often communicate is a good way to do some of my preparation.

(Note that the image here is by Deborah Koff-Chapin and is from her Touch Drawing website. She's one of my favorites for adding images to my prayers and personal reflections.)