Voices of Sophia and the Rev. Dr. Christine Smith

It changed her life
shattered her
this trip to Guatemala
that became the root of her call.

Re-imagine what it means to be human
from the eyes of those who are underprivileged.
It is hard and painful work
even for a lesbian feminist like her,
committed to bridge the great human divides.

Now she leads groups to Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico.
"A mission trip?' they ask her.
Not exactly.
"We receive and receive and receive
until we're so uncomfortable we can't stand it."

Dr.Smith told us to clean up our vocabulary:
"Anytime we describe anyone as "other" or "stranger" we will remain just that to them....Who has the right to do that kind of naming?"

She thinks using the words "margin" and "center" continues a violent paradigm.
"To suggest that someone's identity is in those places is not true, and it is dangerous."

Dr. Smith stretched me, even inspired me
in a room full of people who wore multi-colored stoles
and sang the Sophia blssing.

It was nice.
They didn't seem so wild to me.
Either I am growing more mellow
or they are.