Much to the surprise of some of my seminary classmates, and maybe to myself, I spent a third of my coursework in Bible. I loved digging in and rediscovering stories I knew, but heard in a new way. I laughed out loud to look at the Hebrew text and realize the plays on words, the linguistic jokes, the poetry of the prose. My Greek was never as good as my Hebrew.
Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I applied and was accepted into the Honors Thesis program which allowed me curricular time and space to explore a topic of my own interest. I intitally wanted to examine Biblical models for peacemaking between communities in the Hebrew texts. I realized fairly soon, that my goal was more hopeful and idealistic than accounts of Israelites' neighborly relations revealed. I shifted my focus and began looking at more isolated relationships of outsiders within Israel, specifically Rahab, Ruth and Tamar. Elsewhere in this site, you can find the midrash I wrote from three characters' perspectives of the Rahab story in the book of Joshua.
When I teach Confirmation classes, I don't ask students to memorize passages. I would rather they learn how to read, listen and discern the meaning of the passage in their life of faith with G-d, than simply recite chapter and verse. I like to start classes at the beginning and explore oral tradition: what do you remember about the Bible's story? What do you know about Jesus' life? I also like to show students Hebrew and Greek texts and let them see how different original languages look next to English translations.
I also love how human the stories of Scripture are. These are saints, not Saints. They are selfish, petty, greedy, annoying, muderous, fearful, struggling, faithful, failing, wandering folks -- just like us. When we read the Bible well (attentively, openly, inquisitively) we begin to see reflections of ourselves -- our best and worst selves -- and can begin to hear G-d's still small voice, feel the Spirit's movement in our lives, and follow where the Holy leads.
Let us listen to the Word of G-d for the people of G-d.