Feminine Genius Ep3/Receptivity

This is part of a 6 part series on the Feminine Genius, as highlighted in St John Paul II's Letter to Women.

I was leafing through some old art pieces I did recently and came across an image of "open hands"- see below:

The hands stretched upwards in a posture of surrender. Sister Miriam reminded me that far too often, we women have our fists tightly clenched- grasping and grasping at what we think will satisfy our restless hearts. I reflected on the gift of receptivity and wondered why I struggled so much with it. True enough, even my dance teacher had reminded me to release my death grip and to learn to "let it go". On any given day, I did not realise my fists were more often clenched than relaxed. While seemingly a bodily manifestation, I realised it spoke to a deeper fear of being "open". Many women today also struggle with this - they fear what it means to be open and to receive.

We live our lives with hands clenched, but what are we afraid of? What are we clutching onto for dear life? We grasp because we feel safer to have "something" in our hands, rather than have "nothing". It is the forces of competition at work in society. I see women striving and in competition with one another and it pains me. We form a beautiful sisterhood and no one woman diminishes the light of another. How contrary it is then to have our palms open in surrender.

Another thing you should know about me, I have never felt comfortable during Praise and Worship sessions. I was bewildered at the start, preferring to keep my hands firmly where I could see them - essentially by my side, fists clenched. All around me, I could see people letting the Spirit take control, but I failed to grasp this reality. During a retreat, I moved out of my shell slowly. On day one, my fists were clenched and I closed my eyes during the segment. Yet, I felt that this struggle was tiring me out, wearing me down. I started to yield to the gentle Spirit. My palms started to open slowly, much like a flower blooming in a time lapse. I saw that gradual opening of my hands and heart a step in the direction of "receptivity".

What does it mean to receive? It means to be open to whatever He has planned for our lives, even if it goes against our own "ideals". It means to adopt a spirit of vulnerability, for we do not know what He will fill our hands with. He may place people in our lives, for us to love and to nourish. He may place projects and opportunities in our lives, so we can direct our work towards Him. He may place trials and tribulations in our lives, if only to refine us and to remake us, the master artist He is. This is no easy task, for we have become steeped in distrust and self-preservation. It is not in our nature to keep our palms open. Yet, He gently invites us to leave it in HIS hands.

I look at Our Lady as a model of this feminine genius. The Magnificat exemplifies Her sublime receptivity to His will:

Mary's words in the Magnificat highlight to me her readiness to give of herself completely to the Lord. She not only responds to the Angel, but offers the gift of herself to bear Her Saviour. If I were in Our Lady's position, I do not think I would have that confidence and trust. I would struggle. Yet, Our Lady reminds me of what IS possible, if I trust in Him. She reminds me to keep my hands open to receive His good plans for me.

In my own life, I have prayed for the grace to be receptive to the people around me - to adopt a spirit of openness such that people feel safe in my presence. It has been a challenge for me - remember my "death grip"? Yet, the Lord has led me out slowly. He has reminded me that I need to keep my hands open to receive the people He places in my life. He reminds me to receive my dear friends and family as the people they are - not to desire to possess them necessarily, but as precious jewels - to be prized and to be handled with the utmost care. He reminds me that to be receptive - I must be prepared for discomfort. I must be prepared for pain. I must be prepared for uncertainty. He reminds me that to be receptive, I must first draw strength from Him. I must reflect the Love He has for me to others - for I am indeed simply a vessel of His Love.

John Paul II explains the significance of this relationship when he says, “The Bridegroom is the one who loves. The Bride is loved: it is she who receives love, in order to love in return" - MULIERIS DIGNITATEM

I close with a few questions to ponder:

1. What is stopping me from keeping my palms open to receive His abundant blessings?

2. How can I take small steps to trust Him? How can I keep my palms open to Him?

3. How can I receive others who have been placed in my life? How can I create a safe space for them to feel seen, heard and loved?