Taylor Quinn Outside Reading: The Transforming Grace of In-between Places by Anne Franks and John Meteyard 12/2/10

“Liminality: The Transformation of Grace of In-Between Places” by Franks and Meteyard, informs us of what liminality is and gives us a personal experience with it and how it is seen metaphorically in the Christian and Jewish Scriptures. Liminality is the state of being “in between” or the place between where you have left and your destination. A great spiritual metaphor for liminality is the tomb. It is the space between death and resurrection in Christianity. The death in the tomb leads to resurrection and new life. It is a life-death-life pattern. The tomb and death bring suffering and sorrow but the resurrection and new life bring joy. Another great spiritual metaphor for liminality is the wilderness. Examples of liminality in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are the exile of the Jews from Egypt, Moses’ time as a shepherd in the desert, David’s escape form the wrath of Saul, the temptation of Christ in the desert, and Paul’s three years spent in Arabia after his conversion.