"DEPTH" by Steve Pearson
None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
--1 Corinthians 2:8-10
At some point in today’s journey between ‘to’ and ‘fro’ this morning, I took a moment to ponder the new art exhibit in the lobby of our Christian Life Center. I appreciate all those who contributed their gifts and talents to this effort, and give additional thanks to the Christie family for their coordination of the display.
As I wandered from frame to frame, I was struck by the diversity of expression. Guided by the prevailing Voice of the scriptures, the different subjects, styles, colors and concerns had a way of enhancing the collective beauty of it all. I was familiar with the names of most of the artists, but in at least one case, I had no idea that they had such talents! On several occasions, actually, I must confess that the sight of the images before me betrayed my presumption, as the paintings did not fit in the box of my prejudicial ideas about each person. Just when you think you know someone, right? It is then that they are most likely to surprise you—if you’ll allow it.
Among many of the pleasant discoveries on those otherwise drab green walls was a painting by our own Mr. Steve Pearson. The work was simply titled “DEPTH.” As you can tell from the image above, it comes across as dark and brooding, and yet with the interruption of life that runs across the horizon. I looked up and wondered: is it a landscape, a definitive mood, or both? As far as I can tell, the artist may have been feeling a bit low, here, but since I obviously lack the interpretive skills of an esteemed art critic, I do look forward to the benefit of simply asking Steve what he was up to (or perhaps going through) in this particular work.
This kind of direct inquiry may sound shamefully unsophisticated to some, or even boorish and intrusive, but I believe that such an encounter also has the ability to set the stage for a sort of sacred honesty between friends. It opens the door for what some have referred to as the practice of ‘holy listening.’ Furthermore, it has a way of delivering us from our own misperceptions and false expectations of one another.
Paul’s words to the Corinthians convince me that the same is true for our engagement with the mystery of God. We are welcome to stare into the ‘big picture’ of our lives as we see it and to discern what we can, observing the various hues and textures of our given situation. Gazing into the canvas of our created order, we may even recognize the intricacies of a specific technique here or there—but to know what it all means? Oh, please! We’d still have to ask the artist…and even then, well…there is a depth that eludes us still.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer further illustrated,
“God travels wonderful ways with human beings, but he does not comply with the views and opinions of people. God does not go the way that people want to prescribe for him; rather, his way is beyond all comprehension, free and self-determined beyond all proof.
Where reason is indignant, where our nature rebels, where our piety anxiously keeps us away: that is precisely where God loves to be. There he confounds the reason of the reasonable; there he aggravates our nature, our piety—that is where he wants to be, and no one can keep him from it.
…God is so free and so marvelous that he does wonders where people despair…he takes what is little and lowly and makes it marvelous. And that is the wonder of all wonders, that God loves the lowly….God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken” (Bonhoeffer, I Want to Live These Days With You)
In this season of Advent, the message is that God is not off in the distance waiting for us to understand his glory. Instead, as the prophets and angels have declared, WE are the ones who are called to wait on God, and for good reason. The glory of the Lord is about to be revealed. Not achieved or perceived on our own, mind you, but received as a gift from God.
In the incarnation of Christ, we have a depth beyond description. No matter what our level of piety or spiritual expertise, the Word assures us that we are not yet able to behold this mystery in all of its fullness. Friends, this revelation is deep.
Nevertheless, I am glad that the Divine Artist has chosen to remain close enough for us to ask what is going on with whatever it is that we think we see in this particular piece of work.
This is good news, because “as far as I can tell” frankly does not tell enough. It is wholly insufficient, in fact. So much for “2020 Vision!”
Come, Holy Spirit! Let your life intersect the depth of our darkness with the light of your creative presence and the gift of your work in the world. Help us to follow. Teach us the way. AMEN.
Grace to You,
Darren
