Fidelia's Sisters: In Need of God by Sharon Benton

In Need of God by Sharon Benton

by Sharon Benton

Christ and Creativity Sharon Benton wrote the following note to us back in March:

I'm in the process of trying to write a sabbatical grant focused on interweaving the sacred feminine (God the Mother, Sophia, Creator) with my own creativity and intuitive ways of knowing. As I write within the parameters of the grant application proposal, I begin to realize how impossible it is to genuinely embody my sabbatical in the proposal - the proposal instructions leave no space for the creative endeavor! So I offer my grant proposal to Fidelia's Sisters - in its true form.

In Need of God

I need the Father
    I need the connection that Jesus knew –
    his immanent and intimate relationship with
        Abba –
        Papa.
    I need him, too.

I need the King
    I need his absolute authority over my life
    (although I tend to rebel – don’t you?)
        his protection and care
        which balance my utter dependence.
    I need him, too.

I need the Lord
    My allegiance only to him
    my devotion and faithfulness to the One beyond all earthly
        lords
        governments
        loyalties.
    I need him, too.

Father – King – Lord
    he continues to comfort, encourage, challenge
        me
        and you!
    He is strong and determined to keep me
    and my 21st century kin
    from falling prey to powers and principalities
    that strive for more and more
        of life
        of will
        of desire
        …of our very souls.
I need the Father-Lord-King of All.

AND

I need the Mother
    her warm breast nourishing my hunger
    her bleeding womb fertile with creative energy
    her intuitive wisdom shared over baked, broken and buttered bread.
I need her long, unbound hair that identifies me
    as beloved daughter in her image
I need her flowing skirt harboring openness and freedom for my sex
I need her name spoken with love
    and her love spoken with joy
I need the Mother, my God – God of All.

Sharon Benton is a 2000 graduate of the Claremont School of Theology. She writes this for her bio: "Loving, living Spirit. Feminist. Breaker of boundaries - not by force, but by who I am made to be. Reader. Intuitive. Learner. Lover."

“Christ & Creativity,” June 2009