There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer
slave or free, there is no longer male and female;
for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
offspring, heirs according to the promise.
– Galatians 3:28,29

After my having dragged luggage through rainy streets up and down the London underground and over half of the English countryside, the clumps of people standing directly in my path at the airport irritated me as I made the long trek to the gate. I was exhausted. My body hurt. I thought if my suitcase flipped from one more evasive action, I’d scream. Immediately feelings of shame engulfed me. “How unloving, how un-Christian!” But the irritation lingered, nudging me to pay attention. On the flight home I reflected on my experiences.

In London, I had found myself dodging empty-handed pedestrians as I pulled my topsy turvy luggage behind me. I recognized the same pattern in my daily journey – getting out of the way of others, temporarily irritated, then feeling ashamed and adapting my course to accommodate them.

After living apologetically for “taking up space,” a new metaphor presented itself: occupying my space. As a lifelong accommodator – or, when push came to shove, a defensive person “standing her ground” – the idea of unapologetically occupying my space was revolutionary.

I realized I often cede my territory and path in the name of being loving, humble, and Christlike. But it is an abdication of the space God has given me and of the path to which God has called me. There is nothing Christian about dodging others and giving up my calling. I not only have the right to my space and path, but I have the responsibility to occupy my space and walk my path. I need not be belligerent or rude, just firm.

I arrived home empowered. I will no longer cede my path and space but will occupy them and attend to my calling.

“Let no one despise your youth” might be paraphrased for us: “Let no one despise your gender.” Since all are offspring and heirs, we have the right and responsibility as women to unapologetically occupy our space, walk our journeys, fulfill our callings. Anything less would be a failure of stewardship of who we are and the ministry entrusted to us.

O God, who calls and gifts us, empower us to occupy the space, the journey, the call you have given us. Amen.

From Women at the Well: Meditations for Quenching Our Thirst, Volume 2 edited by Linda-Marie Delloff and Bernadette Glover-Williams (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, [2003]), [pages 16, 147, and 174]. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. 1-800-4-JUDSON. www.judsonpress.com