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You Are a Tree: And Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer―A Contemplative Meditation on Language in Scripture and Poetry to Find Meaning and Understanding in Our Words
In a world dominated by technology and efficiency, we speak of ourselves as we process things, we recharge. But theologian and podcaster Joy Marie Clarkson suggests that people are more tree than computer. Pushing back against the impersonal way of viewing ourselves and the world, this book examines how metaphorical descriptions of our life and experiences shape the way we think, pray, and live. Weaving together personal stories, Scripture, poetry, and art, Joy offers a series of meditations on metaphors we use in everyday life to understand things like wisdom, security, love, change, and sadness. These reflections will inspire you to
· live with more joy, gratitude, and God-given purpose
· create healthier expectations of ourselves and others
· embrace the beauty of being a human crafted by God
· infuse the world with new meaning
When we grow more attentive to the words we use, our experiences of the world will become more rich and meaningful. We will see God, ourselves, our relationships, and the world in a new light and with a tapestry of scriptural imagery, full of hope, promise, and beauty.
· live with more joy, gratitude, and God-given purpose
· create healthier expectations of ourselves and others
· embrace the beauty of being a human crafted by God
· infuse the world with new meaning
When we grow more attentive to the words we use, our experiences of the world will become more rich and meaningful. We will see God, ourselves, our relationships, and the world in a new light and with a tapestry of scriptural imagery, full of hope, promise, and beauty.
208 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2024
63 people are currently reading
1011 people want to read
About the author
Joy Marie Clarkson
11 books228 followersJoy Clarkson is a lover of God and people, a crafter of words, and a dedicated evangelist for the soul-enriching benefits of teatime. She studied Rhetorical Communications at Biola University, where she competed on the speech and debate team as a champion of parliamentary debate. Joy is currently working on her doctorate in Theology, Imagination, and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she enjoys long walks on the shore of the North Sea and visits to tiny fishing villages. She fills her days with academic research, music making, adventuring, and savoring deep conversations with her soul friends. In her spare time, Joy bakes, sings, reads, writes, dabbles in marketing, adores golden retrievers, and drinks too much tea.
Connect with Joy on website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Connect with Joy on website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 11, 2024
Truly as delightful and wise as you can imagine a book from Joy would be.
Lots of great primary sources and rabbit trails to follow, to make these metaphors your own and let them seep into your bones.
Lots of great primary sources and rabbit trails to follow, to make these metaphors your own and let them seep into your bones.
September 4, 2025
I am a tree. A comparative metaphor to the competing “I am a computer.” Language has meaning, and metaphors have the quality of transferring one thing to another. Come view humanity through the eyes of grace by extending metaphors of grace.
P.S. I missed my subway stop while reading this book and writing this review.
June 27, 2024
The introduction is a helpful exploration of why metaphors matter and how they work, and this is certainly the best and most interesting part of the book. I really appreciated the concept of the book! The chapters, however, ramble on a bit and your enjoyment of this book will really depend on how much you enjoy Joy Clarkson's voice.
Each chapter begins with an effort to unpack a familiar metaphor and show several examples of the ways that this metaphor infuses our language. Eventually, though, each chapter starts to veer into territory that either carries the metaphor a bit too far, or tries to offer advice, or just bops around with little slightly-related personal anecdotes. You can speed read these bits once you've got the hang of the metaphor and skip to the end where she recommends a lovely piece of art, and a poem, and a movie, and a scripture passage to complement each metaphor. These are lovely gems and, in my opinion, this book could be enjoyed just as well by reading the intro and then skipping to these suggestions for pondering the metaphors further. After all, the beauty of a metaphor is often that it doesn't need a lot of prosaic instruction for us to comprehend it. I found myself wishing she'd written a series of tight, poignant little poems rather than these bloated essays.
As much as I've read of her work, I think I've come to the determination that her voice is just a bit too chirpy for me. She writes as someone who maybe hasn't experienced serious pushback on her cheery theories of life? I can't quite put my finger on it but much of her "wisdom" doesn't feel seasoned enough to be shared and I find myself wincing a bit as I read her words.
Each chapter begins with an effort to unpack a familiar metaphor and show several examples of the ways that this metaphor infuses our language. Eventually, though, each chapter starts to veer into territory that either carries the metaphor a bit too far, or tries to offer advice, or just bops around with little slightly-related personal anecdotes. You can speed read these bits once you've got the hang of the metaphor and skip to the end where she recommends a lovely piece of art, and a poem, and a movie, and a scripture passage to complement each metaphor. These are lovely gems and, in my opinion, this book could be enjoyed just as well by reading the intro and then skipping to these suggestions for pondering the metaphors further. After all, the beauty of a metaphor is often that it doesn't need a lot of prosaic instruction for us to comprehend it. I found myself wishing she'd written a series of tight, poignant little poems rather than these bloated essays.
As much as I've read of her work, I think I've come to the determination that her voice is just a bit too chirpy for me. She writes as someone who maybe hasn't experienced serious pushback on her cheery theories of life? I can't quite put my finger on it but much of her "wisdom" doesn't feel seasoned enough to be shared and I find myself wincing a bit as I read her words.
November 28, 2024
2.5 stars. Most of the best material in this book is found in the introduction. It’s worth pondering the contrast between Biblical metaphors comparing us to trees, vs modern metaphors that compare us to machines.
It reads like an academic paper that she added personal stories to try to make it more “relatable”. Each chapter explores a different Biblical metaphor. But the exploration is more intellectual than spiritual.
She concludes each chapter with works of art, literature, music, movies, etc. and these are worth exploring.
It reads like an academic paper that she added personal stories to try to make it more “relatable”. Each chapter explores a different Biblical metaphor. But the exploration is more intellectual than spiritual.
She concludes each chapter with works of art, literature, music, movies, etc. and these are worth exploring.
September 7, 2024
In a family of prolific authors (her parents, her older sister Sarah, etc.), I think Joy Clarkson might be my favorite. She has just the right blend of academia, whimsy, and practicality for my taste. Her writing is lovely but not overly flowery.
This collection of metaphorical musings would be great for a small group to go through together, particularly if each member brought a movie, painting, poem, etc. to illustrate the metaphor as Clarkson does at the end of each chapter.
This collection of metaphorical musings would be great for a small group to go through together, particularly if each member brought a movie, painting, poem, etc. to illustrate the metaphor as Clarkson does at the end of each chapter.
February 14, 2024
This unique, thoughtful book explores the significance of metaphors for the human life. Joy Marie Clarkson explains that the way we think and talk about ourselves shapes our expectations and affects how we live. For example, she points out that even though metaphors about computers and machinery sometimes describe human processing and behavior, these metaphors can also have negative implications, implying that we should expect ourselves to be able to perform the same way at all times, are valuable because of what we can accomplish, and are disposable and replaceable. This book is full of thoughtful reflections about human nature and spiritual realities, encouraging people to consider how the language they use shapes their sense of the world.
Each chapter focuses on a different metaphorical theme. Clarkson explores concepts like love, safety, and sadness, drawing on Scripture, literature, and personal stories to explore how different metaphors represent complex realities. Each chapter also includes recommendations and descriptions of art and other writing to engage with related to that chapter's theme. Throughout the book, Clarkson meditates on how language both represents and falls short of embodying life's complexity, and she shares wise reflections on spiritual truths.
You Are a Tree is different from anything I have read before, and I really enjoyed it. This book is somewhat meandering, but in a good way. It feels like having a philosophical conversation with a friend, and the book is full of wise insights and encouraging applications for dealing with different challenges in life. Also, even though this book will primarily appeal to people who are interested in language and philosophical concepts, there is nothing pretentious or overly academic about it. Clarkson's writing is beautiful and highly readable, and her heartfelt personal stories will resonate with many people.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Each chapter focuses on a different metaphorical theme. Clarkson explores concepts like love, safety, and sadness, drawing on Scripture, literature, and personal stories to explore how different metaphors represent complex realities. Each chapter also includes recommendations and descriptions of art and other writing to engage with related to that chapter's theme. Throughout the book, Clarkson meditates on how language both represents and falls short of embodying life's complexity, and she shares wise reflections on spiritual truths.
You Are a Tree is different from anything I have read before, and I really enjoyed it. This book is somewhat meandering, but in a good way. It feels like having a philosophical conversation with a friend, and the book is full of wise insights and encouraging applications for dealing with different challenges in life. Also, even though this book will primarily appeal to people who are interested in language and philosophical concepts, there is nothing pretentious or overly academic about it. Clarkson's writing is beautiful and highly readable, and her heartfelt personal stories will resonate with many people.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2024
This was a delightful read, in which Joy Clarkson examines seven specific metaphors in Scripture and their meaning for our lives. Clarkson is a gifted and thoughtful writer, and one of my favorite parts of the book is how she ended each chapter with beautiful connections. There might be a poem to look up, a piece of art to study, etc. It's why I have the "Fortress of Konigstein" on my phone and "Those Winter Sundays" hanging on my fridge. Lots of richness here.
February 20, 2024
A delightful romp through the land of metaphor. Full of Joy’s wit, charm, and humor, she brings together seven common metaphors we use to describe our strange and wonderful lives.
If you’ve spent time delving into language and metaphor, this book is a lovely refresh while incorporating different works of art that help round out the abstractions of thought.
If you’ve not done that delving, this book is an excellent starting point. Joy balances her prose so it’s not too heady and not overly simplistic. Plus resources and further reading galore for the reader in the notes.
Thank you Baker for a review copy! Opinions are my own.
If you’ve spent time delving into language and metaphor, this book is a lovely refresh while incorporating different works of art that help round out the abstractions of thought.
If you’ve not done that delving, this book is an excellent starting point. Joy balances her prose so it’s not too heady and not overly simplistic. Plus resources and further reading galore for the reader in the notes.
Thank you Baker for a review copy! Opinions are my own.
November 7, 2025
This book was not for me. Which is funny, since it was a birthday gift, very much meant for me. (What the hell Luke?)
For the beginning I knew it would be a tough read because from the start it was clearly told through a Christian lens. I figured I could readjust my thinking just to pallet all the God stuff. Which I didn’t think would be too hard, having taken a few religious studies classes and having gone to catholic school up until third grade. All to say, I’m pretty open minded and empathetic to learning from other peoples perspectives, even if they don’t conform to my own ideas of spirituality or religion.
BOY WAS I WRONG! This book is essentially Christian propaganda. It leans so heavily on Christian faith, that there would be no book otherwise. I enjoyed the parts where the author would talk through metaphors, applying them to her own life experience in a relatable way. But every single one of the seven metaphors that she discussed all come back to and rely on God as a justification and baseless explanation. (I suppose that’s what faith is). But I really could not get behind some of the intense propaganda implying that everything good in life is because God gave it to you and not because of efforts you’ve made, that by not sharing your burdens with others you are preventing them from fulfilling the “Law of Christ” and therefore you are selfish somehow, and so many radical sweeping statements to elicit shame in being a bad Christian. Every metaphor boiled down to blind faith in God, in the least subtle and most tell-don’t-show kind of way.
When she wasn’t quoting the bible she was quoting Beyoncé and Lord of the Rings. Which I found a little more accessible, but in a way that felt silly when they were sandwiched between scripture.
Maybe Christians would properly enjoy and relate to this book. But for anyone who might exist outside of that demographic, it was not at all accessible or welcoming.
For the beginning I knew it would be a tough read because from the start it was clearly told through a Christian lens. I figured I could readjust my thinking just to pallet all the God stuff. Which I didn’t think would be too hard, having taken a few religious studies classes and having gone to catholic school up until third grade. All to say, I’m pretty open minded and empathetic to learning from other peoples perspectives, even if they don’t conform to my own ideas of spirituality or religion.
BOY WAS I WRONG! This book is essentially Christian propaganda. It leans so heavily on Christian faith, that there would be no book otherwise. I enjoyed the parts where the author would talk through metaphors, applying them to her own life experience in a relatable way. But every single one of the seven metaphors that she discussed all come back to and rely on God as a justification and baseless explanation. (I suppose that’s what faith is). But I really could not get behind some of the intense propaganda implying that everything good in life is because God gave it to you and not because of efforts you’ve made, that by not sharing your burdens with others you are preventing them from fulfilling the “Law of Christ” and therefore you are selfish somehow, and so many radical sweeping statements to elicit shame in being a bad Christian. Every metaphor boiled down to blind faith in God, in the least subtle and most tell-don’t-show kind of way.
When she wasn’t quoting the bible she was quoting Beyoncé and Lord of the Rings. Which I found a little more accessible, but in a way that felt silly when they were sandwiched between scripture.
Maybe Christians would properly enjoy and relate to this book. But for anyone who might exist outside of that demographic, it was not at all accessible or welcoming.
March 27, 2025
4.5 stars. if my tree tattoo was a book it would be this book. I would have loved to give it 5 stars but it lacked the last little push to a full 5– at times the writing got in the way of the ideas.
April 1, 2024
This was a thought-provoking read. I had not even considered how much language we use on a daily basis that talk about humans as machines. I disagree with some of the connections she makes, but having a book pointing us towards how the Bible uses metaphor to teach us about ourselves is so valuable. She does an excellent job taking old and complicated ideas and making them easy for the modern mind to comprehend. I appreciate her passion for church history and how she somehow seemlessly went from quoting Augustine in one to chapter to quoting Beyonce in another. The other thing I thought she did particularly well was the list of songs, books, movies, or other media at the end of the chapter that further explore the metaphor discussed. It instills the idea that these metaphors are not just found in Biblical language, but are pictures of how the world actually operates.
March 25, 2024
Joy has chosen academia as a career, and it really shows in her recent work (her Substack, her podcast, and this book). This is a series of essays about metaphor, but essays in the British college sense i.e. prewritten lectures that are basically short research papers. It's fairly dry without much personal feeling involved, but filled with quotes from others. There is nothing wrong with this, but it doesn't make for a particularly strong or engaging book.
March 27, 2024
As a student of the English language and as someone who loves finding God and searching for the deeper meaning in ordinary things, I found this book to be lovely, engaging, and inspiring. Joy does write in a more scholarly tone, but I don’t personally mind this. She offers beautiful imagery and practical suggestions for deepening your sense of the world around you, of yourself, and of God through the mystery and adventure of metaphor.
September 7, 2024
Reading Joy’s book feels like sitting down with a friend to think about these Scriptural metaphors and explore their different facets and implications. I especially appreciated that Joy approaches these meditations on metaphors from an intellectual as well as emotional and spiritual perspective. She is wise, vulnerable, honest, and gentle. It is evident that Joy has a deep love for theology, literature, art, and beauty. Any reader who shares a special affection for Augustine, Tolkien, and other influential thinkers with appreciate this volume. Reframing our words about people from computer and machine language to the Biblical vocabulary of people as trees (Psalm 1, Jeremiah 7) has incredible implications and already prompted me to consider alternative word choices for common phrases that equate human beings with modern technology.
I’m confident that I would enjoy sitting down with Joy over a cup of coffee, and she truly is a kindred spirit. Her writing can be repetitive, some quotes and verses mentioned a few times, and illustrations significantly relied upon, but Joy’s integration of Scripture, classic literature, art, and music is unique and compelling.
I’m confident that I would enjoy sitting down with Joy over a cup of coffee, and she truly is a kindred spirit. Her writing can be repetitive, some quotes and verses mentioned a few times, and illustrations significantly relied upon, but Joy’s integration of Scripture, classic literature, art, and music is unique and compelling.
May 13, 2025
Insomuch as our houses are homes, they are metaphors for that true country we seek, carrying over the properties of the place to which our souls truly belong. In finding ways to be at home in the world, our lives become a metaphor of that true home.
We become trees, rooted in the ground, reaching for our final home.
Academic in nature and warm in tone, this is an inviting and thoughtful book, nudging one into deeper reflection about life’s metaphors that we take for granted. Joy’s writing voice is laced with insight and winsomeness, and I always enjoy reading her anecdotes and recommendations. Some parts of the book I had a bit of difficulty following, and I would have loved to see a little more Scripture interwoven throughout the chapters. Overall, though, I’d recommend this one for anyone who loves words, wisdom, and pressing deeper into life as God designed it to be.
April 14, 2024
Clarkson writes thoughtful meditations on seven metaphors in Hebrew Scripture regarding people, wisdom, safety, love, creation, sadness, and life. If you enjoy Aquinas, Augustine, Karen Swallow Prior, etc., you'll also enjoy this book. Easy to grasp yet rich in theological, philosophical, and practical applications.
September 20, 2025
I enjoyed this contemplative look at seven metaphors we find commonly in the English language and in Christian scripture. It really was delicious and thought-provoking. A nice bedside table read with plenty of recommendations provided for delving deeper into other works of art that highlight these same metaphors.
The way we talk about life matters.
The way we talk about life matters.
August 13, 2024
This was I think my most anticipated read for 2024, I appreciated the poems/paintings/films etc. recommendations at the end of each chapter and I loved her take on the ending of the Lord of the Rings, especially from Sam's perspective (which is also one of my favorite characters). I hope she will write more. I've enjoyed Joy's books so far and this one feels like a more mature read than "Aggressively happy" and it's full of wisdom.
February 17, 2024
This delightful thought provoking book needs to be on your radar! What a gem! Explore metaphors with the author and learn how to improve the metaphors we use in our lives.
December 31, 2024
I love a book that gives me more books to read. Paused this earlier in the year thinking our Bible study may read it, then finally decided to finish anyway and now want people to discuss it with even more. Overall, thoughtful and expansive - I loved the lists of related books, songs, poems, and art and went down quite a few rabbit holes after my favorite chapters. It felt like there were just whole new worlds of information opening up and there were many passages that affected how I thought about work, faith, my time, etc. Especially enjoyed the chapters on trees, safety, wisdom, and creation, and spent a lot of time reflecting on the things in those chapters. The second half wasn't as strong for me, but I still found it interesting and engaging.
March 13, 2024
This is a delightful book about different metaphors we encounter in our daily lives and how they relate to the Christian life. "The metaphors we use to describe ourselves and the world shape how we understand ourselves and how we act in the world." At the end of each chapter, Clarkson included further questions for reflection as well as music, movies, and art that are relevant to each chapter.
I loved how Clarkson drew on other texts to explain and deepen her points and I found this to be a rich book that I will return to often!
I loved how Clarkson drew on other texts to explain and deepen her points and I found this to be a rich book that I will return to often!
October 23, 2024
A beautiful book. Powerful imagery on why we are more like trees than computers and why that’s important! I’m between 4 and 5⭐️s. I especially loved how each chapter ended with poetry, fiction, artwork etc to reflect further.
Chapter on sadness was especially powerful and convicting: “in not letting others bear your burdens you are preventing them from the deep joy and calling of fulfilling the law of Christ. To reject others offering to be the love of Christ to you is, in a way, to reject Christ”.
Chapter on sadness was especially powerful and convicting: “in not letting others bear your burdens you are preventing them from the deep joy and calling of fulfilling the law of Christ. To reject others offering to be the love of Christ to you is, in a way, to reject Christ”.
May 10, 2025
I enjoyed reading this slowly over the last several weeks, and I'm glad I finally got to it after repeatedly freezing my hold all last year. This was the perfect season for me to read this book. I found the chapters beautiful and encouraging, but they also didn't demand too much of me. At the end of each chapter, she would suggest a few works of art to continue mediating on the theme, such as movies, poetry, songs, or art, and those were really nice. I would like a chance to dip into them more.
May 3, 2024
our friend Joy does it again🤩
such a beautifully written book meditating on metaphors found in scripture that can often be overlooked at the measure of depth there. Joy invites the reader to think about these passages from scripture in a new light with the thread of Christ through them all. such a sweet and refreshing read!
such a beautifully written book meditating on metaphors found in scripture that can often be overlooked at the measure of depth there. Joy invites the reader to think about these passages from scripture in a new light with the thread of Christ through them all. such a sweet and refreshing read!
September 21, 2024
Another amazing book by Joy Clarkson that perhaps I should’ve given five stars. I think it went so philosophical at times that I lost momentum. Plus, I adored her Aggressively Happy book so much that ranked this slightly lower. So 5- or 4+ 😀
April 14, 2024
Not as strong or resonating for me as her first book, Agressively Happy, but still full of good things.
May 31, 2024
my 50th book of the year!
May 18, 2024
Joy’s thoughts on biblical metaphors of life and identity helped me think deeply about who God created me to be. I found the book to be very encouraging!
September 24, 2024
This wondrous book is scholarly and unashamedly (though not pretentiously) academic in nature. A reality that I find myself decidedly glad about! And yet with all its wildly compelling and lofty philosophical ponderings, there is a refreshing pragmatism that undergirds its enormity. Joy writes with a warmth akin to the comforting experience that is coffee or tea with a friend, and yet a gentle authority and contagious curiosity that provokes a hungering in the reader for more knowledge…more insight…more depth. The metaphors explored in this book and the feast of art, poetry, film, and song spread for each will linger a long while with me.
November 13, 2024
Quotes and Excerpts
pg 23 When we begin to think of ourselves as computers, we might subtly absorb the idea that what we are as creatures is primarily valuable for what we can produce.
Page 24 When we submit ourselves to the language of computers, we make ourselves Commodities with expiration dates; we devalue all in us that is not productive and useful.
page 43 The psalmist looks to our old friends the trees not merely for witnessing or keeping our secrets, but for presenting a portrait of what it looks to thrive as a human being. And in their leafy arms he sees an answer: trees are planted by streams of Living Water and they bear much fruit.
Page 43 It isn't always healthy or helpful to dig up every route and try to trace its end in our childhood. We cannot bear all the bad things that happen to us all the time. it would disturb the well-being of a tree to constantly disinter the roots that had spent so many Winters digging deep to establish.
Page 54 do you need to draw strength from the other trees in the forest around you? Do your roots need to grow deeper? In this, meditation on the metaphor of trees can offer some hope: seasons come again and again. Just because you had an early frost in life does not mean you will not bear fruit again. Just because you feel stripped down by life does not mean you will not flower again. You are not a machine, useless when one (or many!) of his parts expire; you are a miraculous and beloved creation, with more resilience, pulsing through your roots than you know.
67. Without wisdom and understanding, the world is as dark as four in the morning, when anything might happen, any obstacle, pho, or slimy substance might find us, and we can’t proceed with confidence.
Page 74 to turn toward wisdom is to turn our face in the direction of the light we find; it might at first be a very small piece of knowledge or light, but to ask for light is to turn toward it, to ask for more, and to follow it. I think this is why Aquinas begins his scholarly endeavors by asking God to illuminate him. To ask God, for wisdom, is to turn the direction of light, to practice an openness to Truth.
Page 74 and then, many of us may experience the epistemological uncertainty of having been brought up in an environment that lied to us or obscure the truth; how can we begin to know what is true when we cannot know who to trust, when our very capacity to know, and to trust, has been bruised? Perhaps this is what the profit Micah felt when he wrote “the faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains“ (7:2)
Page 113 love as a home is something that invites both rest and action: the activity of homemaking, of keeping up this place that protects and nourishes us both, but also rest, for it is in the safe enclosure of this love that I can be at ease, be known, and be encompassed.
Page 128
The way we speak about ideas seems to imply that they long to be given a form, a body in the world. This can be connected not only to writing and the lineage of ideas, but of the process of creativity: of imagining something, and then bringing it to life. In Walking on Water, her meditation on Christian artistry, Madeleine L'Engle uses the metaphor to describe the process of an artist bringing a work of art to life, of the movement from idea to form. She writes:
I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius or something very small, comes to the artist and says,
"Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me." And the artist either says, "My soul doth magnify the Lord," and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses; but the obedient response is not necessarily a conscious one, and not everyone has the humble, courageous obedience of Mary?
LEngle describes the process of having an idea for a work of art and bringing it to life as a process of birth; conceiv-ing, bearing, and birthing. The ideas of a philosopher grow in a lineage of thought, and the work of art is given birth through the artist's consent. But what of other endeavors?
Page 132 I sometimes wonder if the decline in marriage in my own generation is not out of a disrespect of marriage, but out of a sense of its high calling, and out of the trauma of growing up in a generation whose parents have unprecedented divorce rates. It is not that we don't want to be married, or that we do not value marriage, but that we are afraid of failing at it.
Page 133 Birth and death are neighbors; they haunt each other, never letting one forget the other. In the same hospital where old, diseased, destroyed lungs rattle out their last breath, fragile rib cages expand to greet the world with a shriek. In her book Childbirth as a Metaphor for Crisis, Claudia Bergmann observes that in Scripture and in the textual tradition of the ancient near east there was a tradition of comparing women giving birth to men going into battle? Once you've entered battle, you must find a strategy, be it hiding or fighting, for you will soon die if you do not.
While Plath's metaphor of a train is more domestic, there is an element that links these metaphors for birth: once the thing has started, there's no going back. Once you're on a train, it will go where it will go. A part of what frightens us about this moment of crisis is not only whether or not we will survive, but who we will become after we've survived.
In giving birth to a baby, a mother is also born.
pg 23 When we begin to think of ourselves as computers, we might subtly absorb the idea that what we are as creatures is primarily valuable for what we can produce.
Page 24 When we submit ourselves to the language of computers, we make ourselves Commodities with expiration dates; we devalue all in us that is not productive and useful.
page 43 The psalmist looks to our old friends the trees not merely for witnessing or keeping our secrets, but for presenting a portrait of what it looks to thrive as a human being. And in their leafy arms he sees an answer: trees are planted by streams of Living Water and they bear much fruit.
Page 43 It isn't always healthy or helpful to dig up every route and try to trace its end in our childhood. We cannot bear all the bad things that happen to us all the time. it would disturb the well-being of a tree to constantly disinter the roots that had spent so many Winters digging deep to establish.
Page 54 do you need to draw strength from the other trees in the forest around you? Do your roots need to grow deeper? In this, meditation on the metaphor of trees can offer some hope: seasons come again and again. Just because you had an early frost in life does not mean you will not bear fruit again. Just because you feel stripped down by life does not mean you will not flower again. You are not a machine, useless when one (or many!) of his parts expire; you are a miraculous and beloved creation, with more resilience, pulsing through your roots than you know.
67. Without wisdom and understanding, the world is as dark as four in the morning, when anything might happen, any obstacle, pho, or slimy substance might find us, and we can’t proceed with confidence.
Page 74 to turn toward wisdom is to turn our face in the direction of the light we find; it might at first be a very small piece of knowledge or light, but to ask for light is to turn toward it, to ask for more, and to follow it. I think this is why Aquinas begins his scholarly endeavors by asking God to illuminate him. To ask God, for wisdom, is to turn the direction of light, to practice an openness to Truth.
Page 74 and then, many of us may experience the epistemological uncertainty of having been brought up in an environment that lied to us or obscure the truth; how can we begin to know what is true when we cannot know who to trust, when our very capacity to know, and to trust, has been bruised? Perhaps this is what the profit Micah felt when he wrote “the faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains“ (7:2)
Page 113 love as a home is something that invites both rest and action: the activity of homemaking, of keeping up this place that protects and nourishes us both, but also rest, for it is in the safe enclosure of this love that I can be at ease, be known, and be encompassed.
Page 128
The way we speak about ideas seems to imply that they long to be given a form, a body in the world. This can be connected not only to writing and the lineage of ideas, but of the process of creativity: of imagining something, and then bringing it to life. In Walking on Water, her meditation on Christian artistry, Madeleine L'Engle uses the metaphor to describe the process of an artist bringing a work of art to life, of the movement from idea to form. She writes:
I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius or something very small, comes to the artist and says,
"Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me." And the artist either says, "My soul doth magnify the Lord," and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses; but the obedient response is not necessarily a conscious one, and not everyone has the humble, courageous obedience of Mary?
LEngle describes the process of having an idea for a work of art and bringing it to life as a process of birth; conceiv-ing, bearing, and birthing. The ideas of a philosopher grow in a lineage of thought, and the work of art is given birth through the artist's consent. But what of other endeavors?
Page 132 I sometimes wonder if the decline in marriage in my own generation is not out of a disrespect of marriage, but out of a sense of its high calling, and out of the trauma of growing up in a generation whose parents have unprecedented divorce rates. It is not that we don't want to be married, or that we do not value marriage, but that we are afraid of failing at it.
Page 133 Birth and death are neighbors; they haunt each other, never letting one forget the other. In the same hospital where old, diseased, destroyed lungs rattle out their last breath, fragile rib cages expand to greet the world with a shriek. In her book Childbirth as a Metaphor for Crisis, Claudia Bergmann observes that in Scripture and in the textual tradition of the ancient near east there was a tradition of comparing women giving birth to men going into battle? Once you've entered battle, you must find a strategy, be it hiding or fighting, for you will soon die if you do not.
While Plath's metaphor of a train is more domestic, there is an element that links these metaphors for birth: once the thing has started, there's no going back. Once you're on a train, it will go where it will go. A part of what frightens us about this moment of crisis is not only whether or not we will survive, but who we will become after we've survived.
In giving birth to a baby, a mother is also born.
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