Finding Sophia

Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
"To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live."

(Remembering the Women, 298)


I love that wisdom and understanding are feminine. But even more, I like that she stands at the crossroads, that she raises her voice, that she seems to be everywhere.

And her message, her message is for all who live.

I just graduated from Claremont School of Theology this past weekend. Graduation often calls us to reflect on the years past and how they have been shaped. One thing I can say that I most definitely learned from seminary is "my voice."

I learned it in all kinds of ways. I learned it from Carol--- who believes that you can speak things into becoming. I learned it from Karen--who taught me the beauty and deep meaning of words as powerful truths to be expressed with both determination and care. I learned it from Sally as she gently set her voice free.

And I heard my own voice reflected back to me from many, many, friends and colleagues, so that I could hear it for the first time.

So in seminary I finally heard my voice. It is powerful...it has a lot to say...but I can't really say that it is my voice alone. It is more like a powerful force of the Spirit moving through me, crafting words that never would normally come out of my mouth. It is a weird and wonderful thing.

I think her name is Sophia.