As the seasons of creation and of the church calendar slip by, it seems to me I am rhythmically made new, again and again. On a cellular level, I am made new every several years. But I maintain a sense of self. Memories. Hopes. What is the continuity that is me from moment to moment? Am I who I was; or will be? Like a snake, I grow and outgrow myself, leaving behind pieces of who and what I was. I pray this growth is towards the making new of all creation as I dig into Christ’s work in the world.
Wonderful image, and something I've never really contemplated. Interesting corollary: what if the snake were to decide not to cooperate with this skin-shedding business? What if the snake chose instead to hold tightly to the familiar? I suspect that in time the poor snake would look pretty unappealing, layered in something that was supposed to have been left behind. What's worse, the snake that refuses the shedding process misses out on the shiny newness that was its destiny.
As the seasons of creation and of the church calendar slip by, it seems to me I am rhythmically made new, again and again. On a cellular level, I am made new every several years. But I maintain a sense of self. Memories. Hopes. What is the continuity that is me from moment to moment? Am I who I was; or will be? Like a snake, I grow and outgrow myself, leaving behind pieces of who and what I was. I pray this growth is towards the making new of all creation as I dig into Christ’s work in the world.
Wonderful image, and something I've never really contemplated. Interesting corollary: what if the snake were to decide not to cooperate with this skin-shedding business? What if the snake chose instead to hold tightly to the familiar? I suspect that in time the poor snake would look pretty unappealing, layered in something that was supposed to have been left behind. What's worse, the snake that refuses the shedding process misses out on the shiny newness that was its destiny.
Beautiful ✨