Personally, I love reading. I enjoy getting to see the perspectives, lessons and reflections others have gained throughout their lives. At my university, I took one class that challenged me to read books by a plethora of diverse authors. This is not always the easiest task, but one I have been so thankful for making a practice. One of the most formative authors for me in the past few years has been Makoto Fujimura. Fujimura is a Japanese American artist and theologian. His unique giftings and role in the world leads to perspectives and insights that are world altering, at least in my opinion!
The two books I would highly suggest by him are Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life and Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering. Both of these books are easy to buy on Amazon (here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Makoto-Fujimura/e/B001JP9O48?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1550967712&sr=8-2). Through his thoughts and artistic touches in Culture Care, I was introduced to the word mearcstapa in his 7th chapter, "Leadership from the Margins". Most people who still know this word only know it from Beowulf and the horrid monster they describe with that word. However, Fujimura sees this old English word in its plainest definition as being far more beautiful than a descriptive of monsters.
Plainly, mearcstapa are border stalkers or dwellers. They do not necessarily have a home or place of belonging. To many, this sounds like a type of hermit or someone who has no alliances. Yet, Fujimura describes these types of people in a way that highlights and exposes the beauty of them. Since mearcstapas do not dwell in a singular place or feel over attached to any one type of people, they can help us with how they connect with a plethora of cultures and people. Mearcstapas live to cross borders, and in this day and age we need people who are impassioned by doing so!
For me, mearcstapas also remind me of the common Christianese "N.O.T.W." or "Not of This World." We do not find our home in this world, but rather in the Kingdom of God. Yet, this home of ours is not yet fully realized. We can experience it and have knowledge of it, but not in the fullness of when the Kingdom fully comes. In a way, we are all mearcstapas, dwelling on the borders of our coming home, but current reality. I am forever thankful to Fujimura for his reflections and ability to highlight beauty in the seemingly ordinary. His books have much more to offer, so I would encourage you to check him out! I just simply wanted to introduce everyone to my love of the word "mearcstapa" and my inspiration for it all!
