… watching for the brushstrokes of God
“Naming is one of the impulses behind all art; to give a name to the cosmos, we see despite all the chaos. It is … through the world of the imagination which takes us beyond the restrictions of provable fact, that we touch the hem of truth.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle
Have you touched the hem lately?
“Creativity fine-tunes our listening. By focusing our full love and attention on the creativity buried within, we train our awareness to see the Spirit’s subtle stirrings over the waters of that which wants to be created in us….we discern the frequency of our soul’s yearnings and the deeper currents of life.” ~ Karla M. Kincannon
How does creativity fine-tune your awareness?
I was reflecting recently with the youth on spiritual practices and how each time we draw near to God in prayer, worship experience, spiritual reading or writing, daily or weekly reflection add a little torn piece to a slowly emerging mosaic forming the image in which we are created.
How do you look for the image or pattern slowly emerging for you?
“It helped me to look at fields, or water, or flowers. In these things, I found a remembrance of the Creator. I mean that they awakened and recollected me…” ~ Teresa of Avila
What helps you hold the pieces together?
As I understand it, the Chinese language creates words with pictures. The word leisure combines “space” and “sunshine”, busyness is painted from “heart” and “killing”. I recently took a retreat at a cabin inviting me to be with “sitting” and “creek”.
What are the words that shape your sabbath spaces?
I was creating faith treasure maps with the youth the other evening. Some messy fun with paper, tea, coffee, flame and ponderings. What are the openings along the path? What are the stuck or treacherous places?
Who are the people, places, stories, and songs that lead you deeper towards God?
With the Eyes of the Heart 