There is a well-known and beautiful spot in County Clare, Ireland, known as the Burren. Occupying an area of some 135 square miles, it is a bleak and stony place. The exposed limestone of the Burren stretches for miles with no visible topsoil, presenting a flat but jagged surface. In the Burren, rainwater penetrates lines of weakness in the limestone, and gradually vertical cracks, known as grikes, form in the rocks. Ironically these cracks in the rocks give rise to some rare and amazing wildflowers. A variety of unusual alpine and Mediterranean plants are apparent, growing from the spaces between the rocks.
The Burren in County Clare proved to be a big surprise to archeologists, botanists, and ecologists. I suspect that our present ecclesial time will prove a surprise as well. There is, after all, much that is flourishing in our “grikes,” the cracks in the rocks of a bleak-looking landscape. Our unmistakable sign of rich flowering remains the prophetic witness of Catholic women, who in their prayers, praxis, and theological work remain committed to the vision of a Catholic Church at its best. The results of this commitment may seem incremental, but the prophetic power of such a stance cannot be missed.
The decision made by women to believe in and act out of hope for a future Church now is a decision made not for themselves alone. It is a stance taken for the sake of thousands of other women and men, one that serves as an inspiration in the present and becomes an important lead for those yet to come. It is time to recognize the richness of our own Burren landscape, to find hope and enjoyment in the flowers growing in our grikes.
COLLEEN M. GRIFFITH is a Professor of the Practice of Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
PHOTO CREDIT: Flowers in the Burren, © COREY TARATUTA, www.IrishFireside.com