​​Christ as the Spirit of
Creative Transformation

In 1972 John Cobb published a book called Christ in a Pluralistic Age in which he offered a process Christology. Building upon the tradition of Logos Christologies developed by the early Church, he spoke of Christ as the spirit of creative transformation at work in the world. This spirit is revealed in Jesus and embodied by him.  He surrendered his life to it. But the spirit is also more than him. It preceded his birth and, thankfully, succeeded his death. It is present anywhere and everywhere in the world where the spirit of creative transformation is at work. God is this spirit, plus more. See Six Ways of Approaching God in Process Theology.

Often, when Cobb is asked where we see this spirit at work, he speaks of healing, physical and mental, social and planetary. The way the body heals itself when wounded, if given the chance, and the way souls are healed as well, when wounded by separation, are Healing at work. They are Christ.

Nita Gilger’s essay below reveals how these two ways Healing can be present in human life: through material objects (fish bladders) that are instruments of healing, and through hugs born of mutual respect. Christ is present in both ways. Christ in a fish bladder, and Christ in a hug.

The hope, of course, is that Christ can be present in other ways, too. In social justice, in compassionate communities, in a world of sharing not greed. Christ need not be named "Christ" in order to be effective. Indeed, Christ need not be "Christian" in order to be present.  Christ is often present in places where Christ is not named and Christianity is not normative. Christ transcends Christianity. Christ is in the face of the "kind, humble, vulnerable woman" whom Nita met on the farm. Amen.

- Jay McDaniel, December 18, 2022

Christ in a Fish Bladder and a Hug
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The Eastern Transvaal in South Africa near the Mpumalanga Falls area holds many beauties. I had the privilege of staying on a farm in the region for a short time. While there, I had many, many adventures with a couple of my exchange student friends. The mountains and their waterfalls are stunningly beautiful and wild. And, explore them we did!  

At the farm, I had an encounter with an African woman whom I will never forget.  She worked there at the farm. She was a diminutive woman who showed the signs of early aging after a life of hard work and child bearing.  She looked age 75 but I would wager she was not past 38.  But there was something about her that captured my heart.  Her smile and her eyes were beautiful and she took a fancy to me as I did to her.  We wanted to talk to each other but our different languages prevented a good understanding. So, I asked someone to translate.  It was an amazing exchange.  I noticed something hanging around her neck.  When I inquired about it, she explained that it was an inflated fish bladder that the healer had given her to protect her from harm.  Instead of judging her in that moment for something that was unfamiliar to me and that I rather doubted had much merit, I simply listened and honored her story.  I found that I did not have to believe her exact beliefs to find a deep loveliness in her humanity and one precious life.  I remember thinking that I needed to be careful when hugging her goodbye so as not to squash her fish bladder necklace.  She truly believed that it needed to stay inflated to protect her from whatever danger she felt for her health or very life. Besides, who am I to say it didn’t work? Perhaps it was extremely powerful and effective for her.  In that hugging moment, smiles and love were their own language.  I did not have to understand the entirety of her cultural or spiritual beliefs. There was no quest on either of our parts to get each other to change religions or politics.  No. There we were, two children of God, being fully in the moment with one another with deep respect and care. I simply wanted to honor who she was as a child of God and another human being who needed and wanted love and kindness. I needed and received the same gifts for myself.

I wish I had a picture of my Eastern Transvaal friend. Her kind eyes and beautiful spirit were even more captivating than the many mountain waterfalls all around me.  One touch, one smile, one hug and all the differences between us seemed to melt away.  Fish bladders and healers did not seem to matter much in that moment.  Only kindness and caring rose to the top.
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There are a multitude of messengers of God all around.  I found one there in a remote part of Africa who walks with me still.  I have a grateful heart for so many reasons. I think of this story during the Christian celebration of Advent and Christmas when I await anew the stories of Emmanuel—God with us. We sing of angels, shepherds, and magi all seeking the Divine. The birth of the baby laid in the manger takes place in a poverty setting with people considered lowly in status. The political times were perilous and full of tension. Yet, the Christmas stories show us God with us, fully immersed in the heartaches and messiness of life. God comes in a vulnerable baby to a vulnerable people and broken world. God comes as a companion in all our joys and suffering as well.

I don’t know if my African friend celebrated Christmas or had any belief in Christian doctrine and stories. What I do believe is that the Incarnate One/the Divine Presence knew the both of us and was with us. Yes, we were two children of God, no matter our origins or place in life, who wanted to be treated with love, understanding, and kindness.  Those moments with my trusting friend showed me how the Kingdom of God is supposed to work on earth as it does in heaven. And so, it was in the face of a kind, humble, vulnerable woman that I knew the face of God. What a gift in life and a supreme message of authentic love. Amen.