The Liminal Paradox
Wednesday,  April 29, 2020

Sheryl Fullerton, an editor and author with whom I have worked for many years, received a cancer diagnosis two years ago which required a difficult surgery. Like many individuals who are on earnest spiritual journeys, she allowed the painful and challenging experience to transform and guide her to greater wisdom. 

When we find ourselves in liminal space, does it matter whether we are pushed or whether we jump? Either way, we are not where or what we were before, nor do we know how or where we will land in our new reality. We are, as the anthropologist Victor Turner (1920–1983) wrote, betwixt and between. In that space—which is mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual—we are destabilized, disoriented. The old touchstones, habits, and comforts are now past, the future unknown. We only wish such a time to be over. We may be impatient to pass through it quickly, with as little distress as possible, even though that is not likely. . . .

But what if we can choose to experience this liminal space and time, this uncomfortable now, as . . . a place and state of creativity, of construction and deconstruction, choice and transformation[?] I wonder whether it is, then, also the realm of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, who does not take away the vastness and possibility of this opened-up threshold time, but invites us to lay down our fears and discomfort to see what else is there, hard as that may be. . . .

One transformation in this liminal time of cancer treatment and recovery was my recognition that the staggering vulnerability I was experiencing was not weakness, not shameful, but the source of what would allow me to survive and, eventually, to thrive. I allowed others to see me—not just my broken, lopsided face, but also my pain, sorrow, disappointment, and discouragement, as well as my gratitude, resilience, joy, and recovery. . . .

Like Jonah in the belly of the sea monster, we are led where we do not want to go—not once, but many times in our lives. Dwelling in unsettling liminal space, whether we are pushed or we jump, we are led to draw on resources and possibilities we may not have tapped before. In the unknown space between here and there, younger and older, past and future, life happens. And, if we attend, we can feel the Holy Spirit moving with us in a way that we may not be aware of in more settled times. In liminal time and space, we can learn to let reality—even in its darkness—be our teacher, rather than living in the illusion that we are creating it on our own. We can enter into the liminal paradox: a disturbing time and space that not only breaks us down, but also offers us the choice to live in it with fierce aliveness, freedom, sacredness, companionship, and awareness of Presence.

Journal. DJR

I was recently encouraged by a Podcaster to Journal during this Liminal Time of Coronavirus. She suggested getting it written down, even if I don’t or can’t analyze what I write. It is a different, unique time, she said, and I can always analyze it later. My thoughts and your thoughts, God are a unique Coronavirus Blend right now in a way that can’t be duplicated in more “normal” times. So here’s a thought:

Last night I called Christian friend…..to stay in touch and fellowship a bit. A super conservative Trump supporter, he exulted how great it was that our president had withdrawn us from the World Health Organization. In his mind, we shouldn’t be supporting such initiatives, there have been inefficiencies and scandals……

My mind went another direction. I’m sure there are inefficiencies and scandals, but isn’t this our government’s way of helping the poor and sickly of the world, our corporate way of dealing with those photos of the starving children with distended bellies? Why not use our influence to fix the inefficiencies and scandals and continue to help those less fortunate?

Then I realized that our government is not interested in helping “the least of these”. As the Super Power of the planet, we are the only developed country left without some form of universal health care. We don’t even take care of (30 million) of our own people, why would we spend money on the poor in the developing world?

How had the words of Jesus, about taking care of the poor and favoring the marginalized gone right by my Christian friend? I think that labelling initiatives like universal health care as Socialist or Communist and lauding the strength of American Capitalism had allowed him to close his ears and heart to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.

My friend went on to share how various prophetic voices were agreeing that Corona was God’s judgement on our liberal ways and that the end, or at least some Sodom and Gomorrah type event was imminent.

Again, my mind went another direction. What was it, anyway that brought Fire and Brimstone down on Sodom? No it wasn’t who was sleeping with who. It was that they were rich and were not taking care of the poor! Kind of like America. We don’t take care of our own poor (30 million with no health care) and now we’re stopping care to the rest of our world neighbors. Yes, we may have judgement or at least a Wake Up call coming. Yes, we have lax morality, and we are definitely getting a Wake-Up call, but if we’re to be judged like Sodom, it will be for the same reason. Being Rich and Ignoring the Poor. We are indeed guilty of the “Sin of Sodom”

The part that’s hard for me to understand: It’s mainly my Conservative Christian friends who promote this Sin of Sodom. My Liberal friends and my Secular Friends are the ones who seem to hear Jesus’s Sermon on the mount and want to take care of the poor and marginalized. What’s up?

I’m going to be quiet now and see what adventures you have for me today. Please enlighten me on what is really going on with all this Coronavirus in America and what is mine to do. I love you Jesus

• Previous Entry: Dark Liminality
• Next Entry: Reconnecting the Unconscious