Wise Women Also Came

I came across this beautiful blog post and poem at Sanctuary of Women by Jan Richardson. I found it profoundly beautiful. It reminded me of the times I’ve written of the damage we inadvertently do to all when so many of our spiritual stories are male-centric. We need spiritual stories of men AND women. We need examples and role models of all types… so that all types can identify in an integral way with the great examples that have preceded us as spiritual giants. It’s why I continue to ask us to challenge stereotypes and traditions we may be falsely clinging to when it comes to priesthood powers and gender.

I have always been a lover of the nativity story and have a personal collection of creches that hold much personal meaning. My favorite by far are ones that break gender stereotypes. For example, the one where Mary sleeps while Joseph holds and plays with the baby. Or the ones where Mary is proudly “with child” and not hiding her pregnant state – as it was not considered all that “ladylike” of a thing ironically enough not that long ago. I hope all have enjoyed a holiday season that provided insight or a service opportunity or something of value to you. And I hope we can all look to a 2018 that will be more inclusive of all of us and the many facets that make us individually unique — especially when stereotypes of gender, age, orientation, race, culture, religious preference or non-preference, body type, etc. can be respectfully challenged. Warmly, Natasha

Wise Women Also Came

Wise women also came.
The fire burned
in their wombs
long before they saw
the flaming star
in the sky.
They walked in shadows,
trusting the path
would open
under the light of the moon.

Wise women also came,
seeking no directions,
no permission
from any king.
They came
by their own authority,
their own desire,
their own longing.
They came in quiet,
spreading no rumors,
sparking no fears
to lead
to innocents’ slaughter,
to their sister Rachel’s
inconsolable lamentations.

Wise women also came,
and they brought
useful gifts:
water for labor’s washing,
fire for warm illumination,
a blanket for swaddling.

Wise women also came,
at least three of them,
holding Mary in the labor,
crying out with her
in the birth pangs,
breathing ancient blessings
into her ear.

Wise women also came,
and they went,
as wise women always do,
home a different way.

Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST can be reached at natashaparker.org and runs an online practice, Symmetry Solutions, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the Mormon Mental Health and Mormon Sex Info Podcasts, writes a regular column for Sunstone Magazine, is the current president of the Mormon Mental Health Association and runs a sex education program, Sex Talk with Natasha. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS/Mormon clientele.
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