June 16, 2001
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I remember telling my grandmother that I was learning the 15th Chapter of the gospel of John for a choral production. I was intrigued by the imagery of Jesus as the vine and his followers as the branches. I liked to picture Jesus flowing through me like sap. I felt connected to the divine in a way that preserved my self. Always before I’d thought that being related to God, was to be absorbed by him, that the only way I’d be "saved" was to lose every essence of myself in a great pool of Godness.
When I discovered John 15, I found an analogy that showed me how I could be both a part of God and an individual. As the leaves on a tree are a part of the tree, yet are each individual leaves with individual characteristics, I could see myself as one visible aspect of an organism that drew its nourishment from the mystery hidden in the deep rich earth that was God.
I remember the excitement and the wonder of new revelation. I was ready to do great and marvelous things on the strength of God flowing through my veins. I remember that when I tried to tell my grandmother about this, she said, "Isn’t the 15th chapter of John the one where the unproductive branches are thrown into the fire?"
I don’t remember ever trying to talk to Grandma about God after that.
Comments (3)
Sometimes it's better not to talk. Listening is an optional key. Maybe she didn't understand.
i hope that this recollection is supposed to be humorous. maybe a little dark, but humorous? i hope so, because i laughed.
i remember my grandfather's face when i was 9 and asked him, "who did adam and eve's sons marry?" he told me to go clean the toilets.
heh... would have scared me too!
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