Musings from the Margins

“Margin” refers to an edge or border. Originally it referred to the edge of the sea.

The gospel writer Matthew tells us that after John the Baptist (as marginal a person as you’ll find) was imprisoned, Jesus withdrew to make a home in the “Galilee of the Gentiles,” “the way by the sea,” where, according to the ancient prophet, “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”

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Is there something about living in the margins, the borderlands, that makes awakening more possible? Whether we are religious conservatives or liberals, Democrats or Republicans, Christians or Muslims, Jews or Hindus, we quickly assume it is the other that needs awakening. But if we learn anything from Jesus at all it’s that the need for awakening is both universal and ongoing.