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Wanda Chambers's avatar

“That’s why I never capitalize the word—“gentile” isn’t an ethnic group, it’s the lack of an ethnic group—the negative space of ethnicity.”

I am fascinated by the words, negative space. It has given me pause to consider negative spaces in general. ie. If there is misunderstanding between 2 people or a group of people, there is a lack of understanding, there is a negative space of understanding. A negative space is a vacuum, a black hole. This negative space can so easily be filled with negative thoughts or actions.

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Carrie Doehring's avatar

I've been reading Eric Smith's commentary before attending worship each Sunday.  Dr. Smith's commentary helps me hear resonance/dissonance between my experience of the political and moral struggles in our country and the spiritual struggles that shaped the biblical texts of Sunday's lectionary reading.  Dr. Smith's commentary has deepened the ways I can find meaning in the music, readings, and sermon each Sunday. He's been writing on the theme of belonging, which is meaningful for me because I experience spiritual struggles when singing hymns that portray power in what I experience as colonialist ways.  Also, I often long for the preacher to refer directly to the divisive dynamics that Dr. Smith describes. I realize that this is an unrealistic expectation, given the ways such references could undermine trust for those who politically disagree.  Reading his commentary helps me experience belonging in my community of faith, while honoring my spiritual struggles.

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