let’s put our hands together and welcome guest blogger Jim Henderson of Off The Map as he adds his thoughts to the Women’s Day blogfest…

If Men Were Mothers

If men had to endure (even one time) what their mothers went through to bring them into the world (a.k.a. give birth) Mothers Day would have been declared a national holiday 100 years ago. Bands would march, politicians would attend and the men/moms would be feted beyond recognition and the children’s birthdays would be about the moms not the kids. Kids would ritually remember to thank their men/moms for the pain they went through to bring them into the world.

The world is mostly screwed up because men run it. We are … {read more…}

This is not a complicated post. It is not eloquent or finely nuanced. It is simple, straightforward, and hopefully very clear. You do not need to try to read between the lines. I’m telling it to you straight. This is a call to action—a request for people who find themselves in my story to become vocal.

[Look here for a list of other participants in this grid blog.]

I live in Seattle. I am an ordained, seminary-trained minister. I will tell you up front that I have a generous theology and a generous life. I have an unapologetically postmodern hermeneutic, firmly established egalitarian views, and a very open house. I am unashamedly Jesus-y. I love the guy, body and soul. … {read more…}

Update March 10th: I can’t keep up with all the folks who are sending me news that they posted, so the below list is a little truncated. So readers, once you’ve made it throug this great list, check in the comments and see more bloggers who have linked to thier posts. Oh, and everyone be sure to read Christy Lambertson’s post. Stellar writing and thinking. love, R

Today is International Women’s day.

We’re making it the day we raise our voices, the day we use our hammers to dismantle patriarchy and build something that looks more like kingdom. Below you can find links to most of the participating bloggers. I’ll update the list throughout the day. … {read more…}

Bob Carlton sent me this Patriarchy-to-English phrase book. The one I’ve most often experienced is:

Patriarchy: ‘you’re too emotional’
Translation: ‘this issue only hurts women, so why get upset?

I live in a city where a mega church pastor repeatedly instructs his young congregation to see women as subservient to men…

I practice a religion where systemic dysfunction keeps many women from being who they were truly meant to be….

I dwell on a globe where women and girls are systematically raped and murdered in order to allow the violent and the powerful to be more violent and more powerful…

“If I had a hammer, I would smash patriarchy.” – Maybe in my blog, I’ve found it.

What about you? Where do you live? What do you practice? Do you have a hammer?

March 8th is International Women’s Day. Let’s make it the day we raise our voices, the day we … {read more…}

I’ve recently made a new acquaintance, Tonya Sargent. She’s not only beautiful, sensitive, and intellgent, she’s also a damn fine writer and has a passion for global justice.

Tonya has recently written a piece on the Women of Congo which you can read here. Unlike most articles about international crises this piece does not leave you feeling overwhelmingly sad and vaguely guilty. Instead, Tonya includes helpful, practical, empowering suggestions for taking action. I strongly encourage you to click over there and give her fifteen minutes of your time.

Much Shalom!

Rachelle

Stealing Honey from a Swarm of Bees…

It’s been sunny three days in a row now.

The scary thing is, I’m starting to believe it.

In Seattle, where it rains upwards of 40 days in row, you really can’t get your hopes up about one sunny day. It could just be a 24 hours sanity break. But three days in a row? Now that’s temptingly Spring-like. Not to mention the crocuses are randomly blooming in my front lawn. (Remember that part in Generation X, where they throw playing cards on the front lawn and plant a daffodil bulb wherever one lands? I liked that.) Oh, and my neighbor’s ornamental cherry is all rosy…and this morning, at 7:30, it was vaguely … {read more…}

There have been no posts lately due to the fact that migraines have returned (day three and counting.) But hey, a three week pain-free run is nothing to sneeze at so I’m still winning the emotional battle. Hopefully these will ebb soon.

Until then, check out this video from Pink (Thanks Bob C, for sending this to me.)

My friend-and-mentor, Rose Swetman, sent this clip to me this week. First I laughed uproariously…then I started to think. Do I, in fact, have a hammer? What might it be?

Have you got a hammer? What are you doing with it? Do tell!

“When sleeping women wake
mountains move.”

-Chinese Proverb