As God Sees Us: Making Peace with our Bodies

This is the ambitious title for my Women's Retreat this upcoming weekend. I chose the topic last year, when I was in the middle of my breast reconstruction. The reconstruction that never ends, since I have yet another procedure scheduled for next week after I return. Topics always seem much more manageable when they are a year away, don't they? When you get into the less-than-a-week-away time frame they become huge monstrous ideas. Of the what-were-you-thinking category. But the program is printed, and I must come up with something to say and do.

I've been mulling it over for awhile now. I want them to do some work with certain ideas. How do our bodies let us down or disappoint us? Features we've never liked, age, disease, injury, how others see us. How did we get so caught up in our body image anyway? If I can make my old rusty computer do it, I might try to show some of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty video. Then I want them to look at some texts and Biblical ideas, like the imago dei. What does that mean when we stand in front of a mirror? And David, who though he was "ruddy and handsome" didn't have the appearance of a king early on, but "God looks on the heart", even later in David's life when he and his body make some poor choices. I plan to quote some Anne Lamott, especially about her thighs and her hair. I have some other writing prompts for them. One session will be include a labyrinth walk (moving inward as we reflect on how God sees us, and looks on the heart, moving outward as we prepare to reenter the world with that knowledge). There will also be a self-guided walk outside, to find and bring back some other lilies-of-the-field (rocks, leaves, bark, whatever) that are beautiful, and entirely unique. We'll put those on the worship table, maybe, when we come forward for communion.

Hey, I have more ideas than I thought! As usual, I am starting to worry about content, feeling like I haven't studied enough and need something scholarly. I ALWAYS over-prepare for these things. And woe is me, I am an unhealthy wretch today and I live in a land of unhealthy beings. Who will rescue me from this body of mine? Not feeling tip-top. So I ask the greater goodness out there: Is there something huge I am over-looking? Is there a wonderful idea I simply must incorporate?