walter brueggemann says that the role of the prophet is two fold - to evoke grief and create amazement. grief for what has been lost, and amazement for the new worlds that are possible.
over the last two grace evenings we have explored the prophet's story. i have enjoyed it (especially as i wasn't involved in planning!). both service outlines are in the grace archive - prophet story part 1 and prophet story part 2. i have been thinking about prophets recently and found steve's two reflections (inspired by walter brueggemann whose books on prophetic and hopeful imagination are simply brilliant) on grief (scroll down page and see intro under accepting the call) and hope from god very good indeed. here's a couple of snippets...
on grief...
the job of the prophet is not to announce fixes for the current system
it's not to make realistic proposals
realistic, of course, meaning - leaving the powers that be in power
we can leave those proposals to the prophets of the royal consciousness,
the ones who say that there's peace when there is no peacethe job of the true prophet is to announce the death of the current order
the job of the true prophet is to announce that god cannot be bought by the regime
and has the freedom to bring about endingsthe true prophet calls us to grief
grief for what must end and for our part in it
grief is the most radical criticism...and on hope...
we can be guilty of spreading optimism rather than hope
optimism says that the world that we know can get better
hope is about a new worldtrue hope is grounded in god
who is outside all our human worlds and free to act and change themthis is where a prophet is not like a hero
a hero acts
a prophet points to god who will actthe prophet reminds us that there is an alternative
because god can bring it about
the prophet talks not just about the future but about the past
reminding us of how god acted before
reminding us of god's promises given in the past and waiting to be fulfilled
reminding us of god's freedom as demonstrated in the history of god's people
reminding us of god's covenant with us
which the powers that be would like us to forget about
very nice. thanks for all this and the "hero's journey" script outlines. joseph campbell lives.
Posted by: A Twitter User | April 11, 2011 at 08:38 AM
excellent
Posted by: Laurence Keith | April 11, 2011 at 09:38 AM
outstanding...whether i stumbled in to this today or was called, i am blessed for the leading. now the journey begins.
Posted by: rev sharyl carlson | April 11, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Love Bruggeman . .. grieving is the new norm in Japan where I live . . .a prevailing sadness for which there is no easy resolution ......
The sad news is:
1. Level 9 Earthquake
2. Devastating Tsunami along an extensive coastline
3. Fukushimi and Chernobyl now forever linked. The Result . . . Japan now has the equivalent of a very large and population intensive leper colony .....
4. State of Japanese Economy described officially as `severe`
...If one is looking for a silver lining, I guess this is an opportunity for an entire nation to redefine itself by drawing on its strengths to build a different kind of future. My bifocal prayer is: 1. God help those whose lives have been so terribly effected by the crises and 2: May we turn as a people to sustainable energy sources that are kind to people and the planet. AMEN
My question though .... where is the prophet in all of this?
Jonny Sorry for digression from Bruggeman, but i have had very little dialogue with people outside Japan and felt the impulse to place my grief someplace and you always provide a safe place . . .
Signed
Exhausted and sad in Japan
Posted by: Lowell Sheppard | April 12, 2011 at 09:34 AM
Lowell, very touched by your words. Praying for you and Kande and all those who are grieving in Japan.
Posted by: Jenny | April 12, 2011 at 08:52 PM
lowell thanks for taking the time to write - i can't begin to imagine the weight of sadness.
Posted by: jonny | April 12, 2011 at 10:13 PM