Gentle Reader,
This whole “stories” feature that’s part of social media now? Drives me nuts.
For the confused: Facebook and Instagram (Zuckerberg is master of both, so Facegram? Instabook?) attempt to compete with Snapchat and so allow users to upload photos that will disappear within a certain number of hours. These photos are shuffled off into a separate feed called a “story.” These “stories” usually have some kind of brightly-colored notification circle around them, which indicates that the user has uploaded a new photo or video.
How irritating this is to someone who feels a constant, unending compulsion to clear all notifications ever from any online thing in which she participates.
But maybe today I’m just cranky about the existence of the mighty internet in general. The noise. The constant noise. Yes, I realize that I’m using the internet to complain about the internet. The Luddite and the Futurist parts of myself, at war, as usual. Throw the laptop out the window while streaming music on the smartphone.
Kate says: surrender.
Go.
I am tired.
Not the physical sort of tired (I’m always that) but the mentally and emotionally sort of tired that arises out of being a woman.
Yeah, men have problems, too. Sure. No denying that.
But, oh, this world, this time, its closet doors flung open and the skeletons of sexual assault tumbling all about the place. Except they aren’t skeletons. They are real, live, breathing people, forced to walk around bearing wounds that should never have been inflicted.
The effects of your actions are far reaching. Abuse goes way beyond the moment, often haunting survivors for the rest of their lives, making it difficult to trust and impacting their relationships. … I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I’ve regained my strength, that I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor.
This world where some honestly wonder whether or not women should be “allowed” to teach in seminary. We’re not unintelligent or lacking in skill, but Piper says we shouldn’t, because…well, who really knows what his reason is. Certainly not a Scriptural one.
Women in seminary shouldn’t have to be the smartest people in the room. If a male student is both respected as an individual and expected to become an effective minister of the gospel despite a C average, then a female student should be offered the same respect and hope for her future.
– The Post‘s Most Important Contribution Isn’t about Freedom of the Press
This world in which, statistically speaking, it’s always more dangerous to be a woman.
It’s tempting to give up.
To surrender.
But we can’t.
I can’t.
Because while it’s dangerous to be a woman, while we have to fight off things our brothers never have to deal with, we are also the ezer kenegdo. Made by God. The equal strength and power of man. Like Thor’s brother Loki, burdened with glorious purpose. We are the Daughters of the Living God, the Princess Warriors, the Steel Magnolias.
We do not quit.
We do not surrender.
Women in general, including evangelical women, are in no mood to be marginalized in society, church, or seminary. The issue is far more serious than women simply wanting a place at the table. The current cost of marginalizing women is proving to be calamitous.
Stop.
Related to the opening, here’s a fascinating article about Facebook.
Related to the main post, here’s this screed from a Missouri Senate candidate.
Outstanding, Marie. Wish I were well enough to say more.
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This brief comment is more than enough, my friend.
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Marie, I love your take on this word. And the way you’ve shared your thoughts about being a woman. It isn’t easy being a woman. Thank goodness our good Father knows the strengths He’s gifted to each of us. He gives us what we need to be our best for Him, yes? Regardless of how men (and sometimes other women) perceive us as we live in those giftings. Thanks for sharing a bit of your passion, my friend.
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It’s not always easy to remember that God’s ways are not our ways. We’re surrounded by constant input and criticism regarding who we should be and how we should behave. May we pause today and look to Jesus for guidance, ignoring all that the world screams at us.
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I’m smiling in celebration with you as I read your strong, true words. YES! YES! and Amen Sister!
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And I smile back at you. 🙂
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This, “Because while it’s dangerous to be a woman, while we have to fight off things our brothers never have to deal with, we are also the ezer kenegdo. Made by God. The equal strength and power of man. Like Thor’s brother Loki, burdened with glorious purpose. We are the Daughters of the Living God, the Princess Warriors, the Steel Magnolias.” Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, Marie.
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I’m so glad this encouraged you, my sister!
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Yes, we can’t surrender! We are made in God’s image and we need to step up and do all he is calling us to!
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Amen!
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Don’t get me started, Sister! What irks me even more is the women who buy into the ‘male headship’ fallacy. We are neither male, nor female, slave nor free. We are all workers in God’s kingdom for HIS purpose–not our own glory.
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Oh, “headship.” Almost as bad a word as “helpmeet.” Can’t roll my eyes hard or fast enough. Why do we have to make it so complicated? Everyone just follow Jesus and stop worrying about whose in charge and who is doing what. So simple.
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I love you… and this… and that is all! (Only – the opposite… because, you know, Voxer and ALL the words!)
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Love you, too!
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Marie,
What an interesting viewpoint. First of all, I am trying to figure out stories on Instagram. I can’t seem to figure out all the buttons – sometimes I see the text – other times I don’t. Trying to find my pictures. Someone says pull down, someone says pull up. Anyway I am leaving it to God to teach me what I need to know to build a following.
But surrendering I do well. I do trust in Him completely and God has been inspiring me in a wonderful direction. But it’s only because I surrender to Him that I gain that inspiration, and power; the energy and the joy; the ability and the patience to figure out that social media stuff.
As for women – I do feel God can lead and guide us to use our gifts for His glory and if that’s in ministry – good.
Blessings to you as we work to give Him glory,
Janis
#65 FMF
PS I can’t get your comment to take my website or my name so using Twitter. http://www.janiscox.com
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Surrendering to God enables us to keep from surrendering to the pressures around us. Thanks for stopping by, Janis!
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Thank you – this is a great post to start my day today
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My perspective is actually one of relief when I came to Christ, having been raised fatherless. I’m glad I got a hold of how God designed man and woman to be equal yet distinct. As I grow in the Lord and learn more about Him, I am always comforted by the knowledge of His perfect plan for man and woman. These days, the storm of the culture turns a tide one way, and then it turns it tomorrow another way. I am glad God is consistent yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you for expressing your words here!
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