“This is the body of Christ broken for you. And Christ blood shed for you.”
“Thank you, sweetheart…I mean pastor. Thank you, pastor.”
As the older gentleman put the bread soaked in juice in his mouth, I smiled.
This is what we need: self-correction, self-awareness. We need the simple acknowledgement that language that demeans and oppresses women creeps into our conversation and our interactions because language patterns are learned. Learned patterns that quickly and often unconsciously become habits. Habits that create a toxic culture of sexual assault, spiritual abuse, and violence against women.
Habits that can change without defenses or arguments, but simple acts like this one of self-awareness and self-correction. Self-awareness and self-correction that leads to hope and healing in those of us who have lived and swallowed these language patterns as we have pushed and strived to become who we are created to be.
This is the body of Christ broken for you. And Christ blood shed for you.
Thanks be to God.