Deconstructed Bouquet

Let Yourself Fall Apart

The print above is entitled “Deconstructed Bouquet” and is from the collection of local artist Mariah West . As you look closely you see that the vase in the background is empty. “Everything that was on the inside of the nice, safe, orderly container of the vase is on the outside now. What was once arranged is now in a disorderly state. It feels chaotic, yet somehow full of energy and life” (Mariah).

A Helpful Mix

Mariah’s profoundly inviting piece stuck a chord in me—one that I sense is vibrating within many of you as well. In matters of faith, many of us are like the “deconstructed bouquet”. The neatly ordered world of church and Bible-believing and beloved tribe is being dismantled, the flowers are being pulled out of the vase.

Deconstruction is a term made popular by French philosopher Jacques Derrida – it is really a mix of construction and deconstruction. Originally it was used in academic literary criticism to point out internal inconsistencies in words and concepts. As a reminder, the Bible is literature.

Most of us, myself included, have read nothing or very little of Derrida. At its heart the deconstruction I’m living into is more accurately a questioning, doubting and reckoning. And the reckoning part is that which was a long time coming.

Wilderness Wondering

Deconstruction is a building metaphor. It’s not necessarily demolition or destruction, but more often a taking apart or uncoupling of something formerly whole. Therefore, the deconstruction of a bouquet of flowers is appropriate even as I mix my metaphors here. This kind of deconstruction need not be a threat, but it can be experienced as a loss – like being left in a wilderness.

The encouraging news is that you are not alone in this wandering and wondering. Literally, millions of people in the United States are in the desert with you. It’s not a bad place to be, especially if you can find companions to be there with you. I find myself supported and appreciated when I’m with people who have the flowers of faith out of the vase. In fact, in my life thus far, the deconstructionists that I’m hanging out with are some of the most vibrant, curious and energetic folks I’ve ever known. And, as an added bonus, they are SAFE! I do not have to guard my every word when with them.

Rearranging the Bouquet

Rearranging the flowers you decide to keep is life giving. Being able to choose the flowers that you find both beautiful and fragrant allows many of us to move forward with a renewed and strengthened faith.

At our last Still Processing event, we asked the gathered group what they were still processing. The responses were focused on matters of religion. “I’m still processing church.” “Me? I’m still processing Jesus.” And then there were the subjects of love, sin, purpose, salvation, Good Friday, etc. One woman hit a home run when she said, “I’m still processing separating the baby from the bathwater.”

And that sums up the view of almost every person I know who is reconstructing, rearranging, and reordering the material that makes up faith for them. My friends, it’s okay—you are okay. And you are not alone!