"She Who Is" by Elizabeth A. Johnson - A Review

 



Title             :    She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse

Author         :    Elizabeth A. Johnson

Year             :    1992

Keywords    :    feminism, feminist theology, patriarchy


"She Who Is," a mindblowing and critical book on feminist theology and its development in Christianity. This is clearly a must read book, especially for those who wish to engage in feminist discourses.

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sad girl hour.




acceptance.

what a word.  what a power!

i was a dreamer. i got lost wandering around. found myself again, i still am, a dreamer. i have learned so much. a kind of learning that you wish someone would teach you. so you don't have to learn by yourself. not because you're incapable. but how easier life would be if those who are more mature and experienced told you how to live life. make a life guidance. don't say we got the Bible. that's not what i meant. those success stories? nah, that's not the answer either.

how to live life - an ordinary life, like yours and mine. a mediocre life. without having to make it look glamorous, likeable, grande. how the elders make it through the years? because i ain't have a half of them and this life is uninteresting to me. is this how life works? is this truly everything there is? or is it my silent depression creeping in?

i have been dreaming for the sake of escaping from my own thoughts. lately, i have been learning to do my dreams. each little step matters. should have thank myself and my body for that. at one point i'm so pissed at myself because i wasted my time. but, acceptance, has make it less unbearable. at least, now i know.

and my body, oh my God, how strong is she? studying trauma helped me seeing through all particularities that made me as i am. 

earthquakes, that's how i called trauma, chasing one after the other. abuse? been there. healed that. toxicity? been there, healed that. family issues? been there, healed that. losing a loved one? been there, still crying sometimes, mental breakdown a few times, healed that. a long overdue love story that became unhealthy? left them, healed that. inner child wound? i don't have the answer yet. i have tried to face them though. the answer is still on its way. not the time yet.

when someone looks at me, they'll look at this certain frame which is limited by the time and space. they didn't know me at all, although they think they are. they don't live with me or stay by my side 24/7. I DO. 

the sad thing is, i am the only witness to my growth, too. no one watched how i grew over the years. how i bloom and die several times - just to resurrect.

they said, being open to love means to let oneself becomes vulnerable to being broken. wow boy do i have a news for you?

healing all broken pieces, trying to get it together, only for someone to ruin it all over again? that scares the hell out of me.

i thought, okay, maybe let's just lock the door and run forever? what a sad life would it be.

i don't have the problem with showing my emotions. i am emotions! hundreds of it! but will they ready though? my life is one of the most dangerous roller coaster ever. people closest to me just know the tip of it. because then they'll pity me. or worse, they'll put my brokenness upon my face on a day they feel they have the right to do so.

i am barely survived. with all those scars... and exhaustion. but still am. right here, right now. wow, i love myself so much. in awe of her. in awe of her strength and bravery.


with love,

ngh.

jakarta, april 14th, 2021

20:55

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2020: catatan tentang masa jeda.

 




Sudah di penghujung tahun 2020. Rasanya?

Campur aduk.

Tahun 2020 seperti tanda jeda yang berlangsung sekian lama, di saat dunia yang dikenal seluruh umat manusia berubah sejadi-jadinya karena pandemi. Dunia yang kita kenal itu sudah berlalu. Dan karenanya, ada rasa kosong yang diam-diam menyelinap saat tahun ini berakhir.

Aku sembuh, lalu sakit lagi. Selesai, lalu mulai lagi. Hanya untuk bergerak di tempat yang sama.

Baiklah, tak apa-apa. Aku tak perlu memaksa. Cinta akan datang tanpa diminta.

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dalam beberapa kepulangan.



Besok aku pulang.
Entahlah, manakah rumah?

Mengapa rasa dan fluktuasi begitu serasi?
Di suatu hari, kau menyesali keputusanmu untuk pulang,
namun ketika pulangmu berakhir,
hatimu pun terasa hancur.

Sampai bertemu lagi
semoga dengan kelengkapan yang bahagia.

Pernah dalam suatu pulang,
aku tertinggal sendiri.
Rasanya sepi seperti mati,
karena dunia mereka telah meluas,
seperti seharusnya.

Namun, Tuhan begitu baik.
Pandemi membuat semua makhluk
kembali ke rumah.

Pulangku kali ini terlama
sejak kutinggalkan rumah
lebih dari enam tahun yang lalu.

Berlalu begitu saja.
Mungkin memang begitulah rumah -
tak untuk kau rasakan ketika kau di sana.
Pembeda segala ruang.

Sampai bertemu lagi
di depan layar kaca penuh tawa
sehari-hari yang surgawi nan sederhana.

Sampai bertemu lagi, bungsuku.
Ada banyak yang menanti
untuk kita nikmati bersama.
Es krim vanila dan stroberi
bersabarlah menunggu kami.

Semakin kuatlah, sayang.
Karena hatiku sendiri hancur
ketika tiada penghuni rumah.
Entah bagaimana kau bisa selamat
dari gelombang tsunami rasa.

Semoga kau tak pernah kosong
dan mengalaminya.
Cinta kasih, kebaikan, dan ketulusan
mengiringi langkahmu hingga di masa depan.
Semoga engkaulah yang paling terberkati
di antara kami.

Sampai bertemu lagi,
dua malaikatku, mamak dan bapak.
Bertahanlah dan berjuang.
Nantikan dan berdoalah sepanjang hari.

Berbahagialah ketika kau menanti.
Semoga semesta membalas segala kerja
dengan segera.

Sampai bertemu lagi,
dua adik yang tak pernah damai.
Jadilah teman untuk satu dengan yang lain.
Lupakan sakit hatimu
karena darah tak akan pernah dipisah
berdasarkan pekat warna merah.

Semoga mimpi yang sempat buyar
kembali ditemukan dalam kesegaran.
Jalan-jalan dimudahkan,
lika-liku disederhanakan.

Semoga bahagia yang mengejar,
bukan lagi kecemasan.
Dan terang kian datang
ketika dibutuhkan.

Sampai bertemu lagi,
rumah tua yang kami sayang.
Kali ini aku melihatmu
dengan penuh kesenduan.

Siapa yang tahu bagaimana masa depan
Semoga kami akan meninggalkanmu
dan berpaling ke rumah baru.
Namun, setiap incimu memiliki tempatnya
di dalam hatiku.

Begitu banyak yang terjadi di dalammu.
Kau tak pernah mengeluh.
Hanya usiamu memang tak lagi mampu
menaungi kami, kekasih hatimu.

Dua puluh lima tahun,
ah, begitu panjangnya usia.
Mungkin diam-diam kau lebih mengenalku
daripada siapapun yang ada di sana.
Kau mengenali setiap kami
secara cermat dan penuh perhatian.

Dalam beberapa kepulangan,
ini yang paling berarti.

Dalam beberapa kepulangan,
ini yang akan tetap membuatku sedih.

Dalam beberapa kepulangan,
akan selalu kunanti.

rumah, batam.
novriana gh.
delapan juni dua ribu dua puluh.





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