The term "chora" in Greek means "country" and "land", but it was also used by Plato in the Timaeus as the "receptacle" to refer to the medium in which the cosmos was created. The term "strangers" refers to humanity. We are strangers in the cosmos, but not necessarily as was thought by Augustine of Hippo who described our residence in the earthly city as a temporary way station leading to the heavenly city. Rather, we are strangers because of the mystery that is both the world and we ourselves. The world must be decoded, even as we struggle to interpret ourselves. Chora, because it may also mean "possibility," is an appropriate designation for this prospect of interpretation and analysis which in turn bears the potentiality of disclosing new truths for the formulation of new visions. Actualizing the "basileia tou theou" by exercising the divine mandate of creation to live in and through mystery, as a consequence of the limits to our knowledge, we continue to explore individually and corporately possible ways to create just institutions while never forgetting the deeds and sufferings of those who have gone before us.
Chora
A receptacle, a container for matter,
no standard geometric shape,
yet with modern order and definiteness.
Somehow flexible,
fairly diffuse,
slightly mysterious,
it cannot be possessed
or easily manipulated.
The 'chora' has no top,
otherwise we limit the space
for generating ideas.
The fragile, rough weave,
notably imperfect,
yet with a delightful symmetry,
reflects our creative achievements
and search for truth.
It's woven design
signifies the patterns of meaning
and action
that we humans create within the 'chora',
holding it but not containing it.
Airy, spacey, the lightness of being
(though not unbearably so).
