Over the weekend I endorsed a new book, A Christmas Portrait, written by my friend Phyllis Nichols. Written in the register of love and longing,
this novel (which will be released this coming October) invites the reader to
enter the story of a grieving family through the eyes of ten year-old
Kate.
Wise beyond her years, full of
sharp wit and insight, the loss of her mama in the preceding year leaves an
aching, empty space at the heart of her household and close relatives. Their realistic acknowledgement of their
grief as Christmas draws nigh, as well as Kate’s forthright questions about
heaven, become a bridge of healing in the wider community as their pain
sensitizes them to the pain of others.
More than anything else, the
narrative is about intentionality. How
will they respond to what has happened to them? They have choices about the
future they will craft, with God’s help.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 places a stark
decision before the people of God. Constructed
as part of the farewell address of Moses to the people, this dramatic
composition seeks to motivate the people to live into the promise of the
ancient covenant. At this juncture in
the history of Israel, the question of how to dwell in the land is posed once
again. Written and edited during the
exilic period of the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, this text is an
exhortation to faithful living.
Possessing the land of promise has
been the enduring challenge for Israel. It
is a history of failure for the most part. The nation has suffered conquest,
infidelity, failed nationhood, and corrupt leadership. The present word of encouragement, placed on
the lips of Moses, is meant to offer a pathway of hope to a demoralized people. With God, there is still the possibility of
the covenant people getting it right.
They, like Kate and her family, can
choose life through “loving the Lord your God, obeying God, and holding fast to
God . . . for that means life and length of days” (Deuteronomy 30:20). Humans are more than what happens to them; we
can choose to live in God’s embrace by returning to the practices that grant
flourishing.
Before she died, Kate’s mother
suggested that certain things would sustain her as a person—her faith, her
family, and her sense of what endures forever.
The ancient Deuteronomistic editors likewise offer their vision of the
life God intends for Israel. If the
people of covenant love, obey, and hold fast to God, they will “live in the
land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors . . .” (v. 20). “Living in the land” is a key biblical
metaphor for thriving humanity—right with one another and right with God. God beckons us all to choose this future.
Molly T. Marshall
Central
prepares women and men for seeking God, shaping church, and serving
humanity. To learn more, continue
visiting our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment