Given my research on verbal dispute, and knowing the old saying:
Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me
the bemused ramblings of a wandering, wondering woman
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George Elgar Hicks: The Lament of Jephthah's Daughter, 1871 |
Exactly who did Jephthah expect would come out of the house to meet him?
Not Nip the dog or Fluff the cat.
'Whoever', not 'whatever' - telling choice of word, that.
The text informs us that Jephthah's household is not exactly large: he has only one child. Presumably there's a mother... possibly some servants. Perhaps he had in mind a servant coming to meet his Master, to tend to him and the horse, then meet his Maker? Or, heaven forfend, Jephthah's wife - after all, only the one child, and a daughter at that...? He gets to fulfil his vow, and then replace the first wife with another more fertile companion? Brutal, but convenient.
But no, it's his daughter who meets him:
'Yay! Daddy's home!... You did what?!'
The unnamed daughter is sacrificed - after all, vows must be fulfilled and honour kept intact. She is the price to be paid to broker victory in battle, with no real agency of her own. And yet, for all that the outcome will still be the loss of her life, she speaks up:
she lays out her terms. If she's going to go, she'll go off and do what she needs to do - prepare in whatever way she needs to, hang out with her pals, perhaps have some big conversations where, whenever her Dad is mentioned, there's some serious side-eye happening.
I wanted this young woman to have a name... wondered about her response... thought about it in a more Scottish context. And the line wondered through my head:
'Wee Senga's off to the disco with her pals.'
So, below, a work in process. I'd quite like the finished product to be properly in Scots - we shall see!
Senga, dancing/
Wee Senga’s off to the disco with her pals.
They’ll dance around their handbags,
have a few swallies –
but not get too puggled, mind:
every moment, every minute,
meant to last a lifetime.
Wee Senga’s off away soon.
They’ll dance like they’ve never danced before,
celebrate in style –
a cheeky Vimto and a stolen kiss,
and laugh to cover up the inner scream
at her body, brokered for him.
Wee Senga’s living like every day’s her last;
They’ll keep on dancing ‘til the party ends –
two months will go too fast –
an’ if anyone should tut and say:
‘but yer Da’ll kill you!’
She’ll just say: ‘Aye, so he will.’
Nik Mac c.2023
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Lot's Wife Pillar, Mt Sodom, Dead Sea, Israel |
'Ark'
They
placed the tiny cargo
into
the makeshift ark,
pushed
it out
past
the reeds
hoping
for salvation.
No
saccharine story
filled
with
happily
paired animals,
no
cheerful snatches of
‘Arky,
arky’.
But
perhaps,
in
its own distinctive way
this,
too, was a story
of
new beginnings:
a
reset.
Mercy
moved
the midwives,
not ambition;
It
was never about
making
a name for themselves
in
the larger story
of
a people
and
their god…
Even
so,
the
story lifts them above
the
nameless Pharoah:
Shiphrah
and Puah
live
on,
named
and righteous.
Odd, how the ‘cull’ order
seemed only to see
an increase
in the Hebrew birth-rate.
If
it was subversive,
an
act of resistance
against
state-sanctioned slaughter
of
innocents,
so
be it…
‘The
women give birth quickly, Sire,’
they
lie
to
the old man on the throne,
even
as his daughter
draws out
the river-child
from the basket that will bear his name,
and
takes him home.
c. Nik 2023
*'Ark' - from the Heb. תֵּבָ×”, tevah; 'box, or 'basket' - used only twice, the other reference: in the story of Noah. Both arks, in different ways, vessels built with the purpose of saving life.
n.b. the name 'Moses' sounds like the Hebrew for 'draw out'.
Crossing boundaries:
Galilee and Samaria,
Jew and Gentile,
clean and unclean.
Blurry boundaries
when those who were ‘in’
became those thrown out.
Expendable through disease,
they formed a bond
beyond culture,
out of need.
A community on the edge,
survival focused unity.
It was...
mutually beneficial.
Beyond boundaries
of time and space,
both divine and human,
he walked into the margins
of their lives.
Mercy transforming them,
nine hurried away
to move from 'out'
to ‘in’ again.
Boundaries broken
by love,
the one who would never be ‘in’
with those former comrades in crisis
returned,
thankful to be taken in
by the greater company
of God.
c.Nik Mac 2022
Faith is not believing six impossible things before breakfast.
Faith is not competing for a gold medal in the spiritual Olympics.
Faith is not about quantity, but quality:
less vast sea, and more, small seed.
Faith is a leap, or sometimes a foot planted hesitantly on the floor.
Faith is relational, a life-long process of learning how to be.
Faith is a growing knowing
into the heart of God.
Faith feels its way forward, tho’ sometimes falls flat on its face.
Faith feels wild, and free – moves mulberry trees; tho’ sometimes it’s shy and timid too.
Faith feels organic, authentic, real...
which, in the end, is all that we’re truly called to be.
c.Nik Mac 2022
Purple,
the colour of power, prestige.
Fine linen;
lush and lovely –
luxurious.
The daily feasting –
food piled high;
dainty and delicate,
exotic, enticing:
spices and sherbets;
tidbits to tempt the trickiest palate.
A good life, this,
wanting for nothing,
eyes dazzled by the glory
and colour and sumptuousness of it all:
so accustomed to privilege
that he cannot see anything
or anyone other than his own.
Nothing exists beyond his bubble.
Pale:
poverty’s power stunts all.
Rags and sores,
barely cover
his flesh.
Cold saps his energy –
little strength
to keep the dogs at bay,
nipping, yapping:
ready to devour;
while his own while hunger gnaws within.
A living death, this,
having nothing, always wanting –
eyes made sharp by serious lack.
So accustomed to invisibility
that he does not have the luxury
of choosing not to see.
Beyond the bubble, he is nothing.
c.Nik Mac 2022
I would praise you
for in times so hard,
praise is all I have.
I would praise you
for all around, leaders fail and fall
and only you are faithful, and reign forever.
I would praise you
for worldwide, even marred,
creation bears your imprint
and your sheer will holds and heals it still.
I would praise you
for everywhere you watch over widows,
strangers, orphans
and feed the hungry,
and lift the ones bowed down.
I would praise you
because in times so hard,
times like these,
praise is both call to faith and call to action.
I would praise you
because all around mortal plans crumble into dust
and your promise lasts for all generations.
I would praise you
because worldwide, you sustain all that is
and lives, and moves, and has its being.
I would praise you
because everywhere, you champion the oppressed
and bring the light of hope into the darkest places.
I would praise you
even when, at times, the offering of praise is made
through gritted teeth.
I would praise you.
Nik Macdonald 2021
Sticks and stones/
The wee ditty rings out:
‘sticks and stones
may break my bones,
but names will never hurt me.’
Bravado that rings hollow.
Words matter,
words batter
and bruise the heart,
the soul.
Words shatter –
words scatter
glassy shards
of self-image,
diminish
those created
in God’s likeness,
‘til all that once was whole
lies broken.
Be mindful
of the certain poisoned sweetness
of the tongue.
c.Nik Mac 2021
Blessing/
May the Word of Life
breathe love into all you say.
Speak well and speak wisely,
console and speak kindly.
Speak truth to power.
Leave space for others to speak.
In all you say—
bless and encourage,
comfort and inspire.
May your words be loving,
life-giving,
honouring the God
in whose image
all are made,
the One who spoke creation into being,
and who speaks words of blessing to us
this day and every day.
c.Nik Mac 2021
‘I am’, you said,
‘the true vine.’
And I...
am connected:
a branch.
At times,
firm and strong,
flourishing and fruiting
with kindness and care;
peaceful, patient.
Rooted in love,
watered with grace,
tended with tenderness.
But Lord, at times,
I’m barely clinging on,
faltering and flailing,
wondering if you’re there;
rattled and restless.
Wretched, alone –
withered, joy gone,
heavy with helplessness.
In the green times
and the dry,
still, you remain
and so, connected,
help me abide.
c.Nik Mac 11/2020