Thanks for your patience while I enjoyed a week with my Mom. Aside from being frozen in (for the second year in a row!), these bi-annual visits are a gift that I do not take lightly and I do everything I can to ensure my Mom and I have time to catch up, go thrifting, and get delicious local coffee.
In those spaces in between reading fiction, and reading for the new semester coming up next week, I’ve been reading more about embodied theology and what that means.
One reading in particular that caught my eye was Wendell Berry’s speech on embodied theology, called “Christianity and the Survival of Creation”. You can find it as a pdf easily; just by googling Berry’s name and the speech title.
What stuck out to me in particular was the emphasis that we are not just made with the breath of God. When Adam is given that first breath, it is important to recognize that there had to be something for that breath to inhabit. The dust of the Earth made up that first human body, and then dust (plus a rib) made Eve alongside. The story of Adam and Eve is a metaphor for human creation, but within it we see this message (one that we will all be repeating on the 22nd): “We are dust, and to dust we shall return”.
Our bodies are often the first sign that we are mortal. We have aches and pains, we sleep on our neck funny, or we pull a muscle and it hurts for weeks. Some of us are ill, and exist in a society not built for our thriving.
It’s a reminder that while this body is beloved by the Creator, it is still finite, and in the end it will return to begin a new cycle of life- it will feed microbes, which will enrich soil, which will bring about new growth after we are gone.
Some see this as an invitation to ignore the body and focus instead on the breath of God. After all, if our bodies will fail us, why not just focus on the spiritual part of how we were created? We leave disabled siblings of Christ behind, rather than rejoicing that we share this moment of Creation together, we say “Well, at least in the next life we’ll all be abled!”
What good does that do in celebrating the rich diversity of life that Christ and Creator have breathed into us?
By ignoring the body we ignore a huge part of the life we have on this Earth. By not taking the time to relish in our body, however that may look for us, we ignore the fact that we too are a part of this Earth, as much a part of creation as the dirt under a gardener’s fingernails. By making our churches inaccessible or removing ways for our differently abled siblings to connect with us, we are also ignoring their very real experience of creation by focusing instead on just the spiritual aspect of all people. When people claim they do not see color, we are not acknowledging the embodied, real experiences of those around us who see creation differently than we will and experience different hurts than us.
I’m coming to learn that an embodied theology is not just for those of us who are trying to better our bodies or keep them well; but it allows for all of Christ’s followers to feel together, for us to see, learn, and embrace all of the different experiences the body of Christ has during their time on this Earth. We cannot advocate for better circumstances if we do not start by acknowledging that we are embodied beings, and that we deserve to feel cherished in however way our body shows up during the body’s time on Earth.
When I teach group fitness I always begin with the caveat, “I make suggestions, you make decisions” (something I learned from one of my favorite Peloton instructors, Denis Morton). I follow up with this: “I would much rather have you listen to your body and keep coming back, than injure yourself and I never get to see you again. You know your body better than anyone in this room ever will.”
Fitness gurus and influencers seem to have an idea of an ownership of other’s bodies-which can be accidental, or could be intentional when trying to sell a program. Next time you’re on Instagram or TikTok, notice how many times an influencer or “coach” says “Stop doing x, and do y instead” or tells you something is “wrong”.1
Plenty of embodiment coaches, trauma aware coaches, and the like will acknowledge that some movements may feel better in your body that others. There’s a hierarchy when it comes to that- some movements may not be right for your nervous system that day. Some may be fine, you just don’t want to do them. Fitness has never been a one size fits all, and by acknowledging that we open the door to many who felt like they don’t belong at the gym by accompanying them as they learn to listen to what their body is telling them.
In both spaces the conversation can expand further into how we can make sure all are able to sit comfortably at Christ’s table. What does it look like when we hold the physical in just as much reverence as the spiritual? When we begin to incorporate trauma informed practices in our churches for people to express in ways that lets their nervous system know they are safe once more?
How can we take the time to relish and enjoy the life we have here on this Earth, and still know that the world could be better, and actively work with our neighbor to make that so? For one of my courses on the Trinity this semester, we’ve begun reading Elizabeth Johnson’s book Quest for the Living God, where one chapter deals with the idea of God in fiesta2. God in joy, in celebration, and holding the tension of a better life, of liberation, with the joy that comes with being on this Earth.
In the coming week I hope to enjoy both my breath, feeling the breath of God throughout my life, as well as appreciating the body through which I experience God’s creation.
It’s important to recognize that there are certified coaches, personal trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches that do offer a great value on social media. Always check to see what their certification is (if they are certified) and whether or not they’re trying to sell you something. I’ll create a list of some of my favorite fitness follows another day. “Coach” is in quotes because many people are not certified but use that term anyway - it’s not protected in the US yet.
Chapter Seven, my fellow Luther friends :)