god is not a monster

I’m still at my parents’ house helping out as my mom heals from her two broken arms.

Kind friends have been bringing food, and I’ve been able to take some walks up to the park.

This week, I styled my mom and did her make up so she could go to get her done. When we came downstairs, my dad said, “You look like the woman on Schitt’s Creek.”

So, if you’re thinking about adopting the Moira look, I’m your stylist.

I also installed a little fairy garden because it just seemed like the perfect space for one.

What is the meaning of the passion? First of all, God wasn’t angry. Again: God wasn’t angry! Particularly in fundamentalist theology, you’ll often hear it said that God got so fed up with the sins and transgressions of Israel that he demanded a human sacrifice in atonement. But of course, this interpretation would turn God into a monster. How can Jesus, who is love, radiate and reflect a God who is primarily a monster? And how can Christians theoretically progressing on a path of love consent to live under such a reign of terror? No, we need to bury once and for all those fear-and-punishment scenarios that got programmed into so many of us during our childhood. There is no monster out there; only love waiting to set us free. - Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—a New Perspective on Christ and His Message

When I was checking out at the grocery aisle this week, the cashier asked me what was on my agenda. I told her what I was taking care of my parents because of my mom’s accident and she grabbed a pot of tulips and said, “This is from Trader Joe’s.”

It was a little moment that meant a lot.

I’m unaccustomed to this physical pace and task-tending, so I’m fairly exhausted, but I’m hanging in there and my parents are hanging in there, and my mom is improving.

I’ve enjoyed spending time with a cat, and I’ve enjoyed this little cold snap we’re in because it means morning coffee by the fire.

It’s cold here today, but it will be warming up in time for an Easter brunch on the porch.

My family is in various stages of the vaccination, with my parents fully vaccinated, and that’s a relief.

Whatever it is you are celebrating or not celebrating, I hope you have a beautiful weekend.