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Ch-ch-ch-changes
Mar. 29th, 2005 08:54 pmAfter writing in response to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gregmce's book meme, I realized that I had neglected a couple of books that were really a comfort to me after I found out that I had HIV, Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, both by Octavia E. Butler.
Parable of the Sower introduces us to Lauren Olamina, a young woman living with her family in Los Angeles. America is in crisis. The economy has failed and many people are out of work. Fundamentalism is on the rise. Her neighborhood crouches behind walls that try to keep out those that would take what little her family and neighbors have.
Lauren is the daughter of a Baptist preacher, but she is discovering her own faith. She calls this philosophy Earthseed, and it recognizes Change as the ultimate force in the universe. In fact, Earthseed refers to Change as God. Her story is peppered throughout with Earthseed verses that she's written.
This book and its sequel were a comfort to me. I didn't have to be ground down by the changes in my life. I could adapt. I could try new ways to meet people. I could learn new skills. I think I would have done these things anyway, but these books helped to focus me.
gregmce's book meme, I realized that I had neglected a couple of books that were really a comfort to me after I found out that I had HIV, Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, both by Octavia E. Butler.Parable of the Sower introduces us to Lauren Olamina, a young woman living with her family in Los Angeles. America is in crisis. The economy has failed and many people are out of work. Fundamentalism is on the rise. Her neighborhood crouches behind walls that try to keep out those that would take what little her family and neighbors have.
Lauren is the daughter of a Baptist preacher, but she is discovering her own faith. She calls this philosophy Earthseed, and it recognizes Change as the ultimate force in the universe. In fact, Earthseed refers to Change as God. Her story is peppered throughout with Earthseed verses that she's written.
God is Power —Her God isn't a person. It's an impersonal force. It's not a "God of Change" — it is Change. She teaches others that you can work with the changes in your life. You can prepare for them. You can mitigate them. You can create change.
Infinite,
Irresistible,
Inexorable,
Indifferent.
And yet, God is Pliable —
Trickster,
Teacher,
Chaos,
Clay.
God exists to be shaped.
God is Change
A victim of God may,My life was going through some intense changes. I had left a company where I had worked for thirteen years. I found out I had HIV. I had broken up with Russell after thirteen years. I found out I had HIV. I had systematically destroyed the foundations of my life when I quit that job and broke up with Russell. Those were my changes. The HIV was something else, but I had to deal with it too.
Through learning adaptaion,
Become a partner of God.
A victim of God may,
Through forethought and planning,
Become a shaper of God.
Or a victim of God may,
Through shortsightedness and fear,
Remain God's victim,
God's plaything,
God's prey.
This book and its sequel were a comfort to me. I didn't have to be ground down by the changes in my life. I could adapt. I could try new ways to meet people. I could learn new skills. I think I would have done these things anyway, but these books helped to focus me.
