ELOGOS

​"According to the GREAT theologian (fill in the blank)."  It was the name-dropping phrase of some seminary colleagues. I cannot recall the phrase ever used by a female colleague.  It was an example of male-puffery of the species.  Take, for example, fiddler crabs.  The male fiddler has one small claw and one large claw for fighting with other males and waving at the girls for attention. The females have two small claws.  For eating, they say.  I would like to think they also use them for gesturing to the boys with the accompanying "Blah, blah, blah." in whatever language crabs speak.  But back to the "Great Theologians." What came after the phrase was the name of some male theologian.  Great was debatable. The phrase was used more often than not by a seminarian to show how much he knew to classmates and professors like waving the bigger claw.  I got used to it.  Then I started to make fun of it.  I would use the phrase "According to the GREAT theologian...." and insert a quote from a Dolly Parton song.  The fact of the matter is there were few female voices, theologians, thinkers, poets whose work was lifted up and quoted during my seminal years as a student and a pastor. I used my claws for eating, for nurturing myself as best I could and offered the holy food I found to the folks to whom I served. Now I am listening more to my own female voice and I am listening more intentionally for others.  I am finding treasures like this one according to the GREAT THEOLOGIAN, Anna Kamienska. (Well, just because my claw is small doesn't mean I can't wave it. )
 
Anna Kamienska (1920–1986)
Those Who Carry
Those who carry pianos
to the tenth floor wardrobes and coffins
an old man with a bundle of wood limps beyond the horizon
a woman with a hump of nettles
a madwoman pushing a pram
full of vodka bottles
they will all be lifted
like a gull's feather like a dry leaf
like an eggshell a scrap of newspaper
Blessed are those who carry
for they shall be lifted.