From the noncanonical Christian text, The Thought of Norea:
Days will come
when she will [attain] fullness
and no longer be in deficiency.
These words were written about Norea, referenced as a manifestation of Sophia– the "fallen" divine Wisdom who one day will be restored into the divine world. What might they have meant to ancient readers, and how might we find succor through them today?
In the text, Norea makes a profound plea of desperation, with such moving emotion that you can almost hear her cry that she be seen and known:
“Father of the All,
[Thought] of light,
Mind dwelling on high, above the regions below,
light dwelling [on] high,
voice of truth,
upright Mind,
unattainable Word,
ineffable voice,
[incomprehensible] Father!”
This poetic and moving text is followed by her deepest longing being satisfied. Her plea is heard and she is granted a place of rest. She is seen. Damage shall be restored. Corrupted wisdom, broken humanity, the damaged world we live in, shall return to the fullness and brought back into communion with meaning, love, and belonging.
Her boldness is rewarded. She knew herself, and was vulnerable, and shall be restored to grace. As a part of the wider Sophia myth– which often takes dark directions– this is a profoundly hopeful text full of hope and the promise of restoration.
How might we think about this text today? Consider again the key passage of hope and promise:
Days will come
when she will [attain] fullness
and no longer be in deficiency.
- First, note that "no longer be in deficiency" means a full acknowledgement of the pain of the present. We are in deficiency. We are broken people in a broken world. Things are not as they should be. This is key– there cannot be restoration without an acknowledgement of deficiency, without recognizing and truly wrestling with the reality of the broken present.
- And yet, "days will come". This statement is more than a hope, but a promise. It says that, regardless of the suffering of the present moment, take heart. Hope is here. Restoration is coming.
- And that restoration is the attainment of fullness. Of what ancient writers called the Pleroma. Our brokenness is not intrinsic to us, but intrinsic to the world. And it will be repaired, and we shall be made whole.
This is a beautiful passage from a stirring text. It evokes a recognition of the pain of the present age, while offering comfort and hope in the belief that restoration is coming.
Just hold on. Keep gaining knowledge of the present moment and of yourself. It will get better.