Father

Today I was struck by "Father." I know some people object to the metaphor of God as a father, since some people have had damaging relationships with their fathers. I hope this language is never fully obliterated from our liturgy, however, because it is a wonderfully effective metaphor for me. My mother died when I was six, so my father was the one who raised me--by himself for two years, before he remarried; I have sweet memories of him from that time, curling my hair in the morning before school, and bringing out three outfits for me to chose from to wear that day (although my sister says he did that because I was so bad at matching colors; I do have one picture of myself at that age wearing an orange and red T-shirt with purple pants). For me the image of God as father is one of steadfast, unconditional love, and of a constant presence. And, of one who can be gentle even though he has great strength.