Studying my life & Visio Divina
By Fran Love
This four-painting set, titled QU4RTETS: The Four Seasons of Life, by Bruce Herman, combines for me two spiritual formation practices.
The first practice is that of study. I like to study human life, how it develops and the ways it is sustained and destroyed. Of primary interest is how my spiritual life grows with and because of my human life.
God d-r-a-g-g-e-d me into this study.
In our mid-late 40s, my late husband Rick and I moved to England so Rick could be the International Director of a nonprofit organization. So, we were in the spotlight. Two of our teenage daughters made sure we stayed there as time and time again they acted out in ways that shamed and confused me. My perfect parent and perfect Christian and perfect leader image (did I even really have that? Simple answer: NO) was being destroyed.
One day I read Psalm 102. If you think you are having a hard time, don’t read this psalm. It will make you feel even worse. Honestly.
One verse jumped off the page and slapped me in the face: He weakened my strength in midlife (vv. 23-24).
I knew the God who strengthened my weakness, but this God? No thank you.
Shortly after that I upgraded to Psalm 111. How amazing are the works of the Lord. All who delight in him should study them.
Well, I thought, I am a work of the Lord. Maybe I should study me.
Through
books. I have about 8-10 books on the topic of human and faith development
lengthy conversations with friends What? You are experiencing that too?
and suffering through old age jokes. (Here’s one: Hymns for the Old: Blessed Insurance - instead of Blessed Assurance, do you remember that hymn?)
I began to listen to my life.
My initial response after months of shocked silence was, “Why didn’t anybody tell me this years ago?”
You know the adage …. The teacher appears when the student is ready. I guess I wasn’t ready. And I bet you weren’t either.
My first spiritual practice then is study. I love to study. I am asked by God to study.
The second practice is the practice of Visio divina, translated as divine or spiritual looking.
Jesus asks us to think about God’s love by looking at birds, flowers and grass.
Jesus urged Simon to look at this woman as a way to compare his behavior with her affection.
The psalmist says when I consider the heavens …
I am asking you now to look at these four paintings. Really LOOK at them.
Notice tree sizes and thickness or thinness of branches. Notice the position of the 4 people. How would you describe the way they look and what they are doing?
Notice what the painter calls the grid on each of these paintings. These are the small squares that lay behind each tree. When is this grid most small, most big? The painter explains that the grid is the structure or meaning and purpose of our lives.
Reflect on the words the painter chooses to depict each season: Earth. Fire. Water. Air.
Can you feel these words as emotions or physical responses in your body?
Do these words describe for you how you have experienced your life so far and what does that tell you about how your life has been shaped all these years?
What has been the gift AND the cost of those years?
Finally, pull away from looking at the pictures.
Pull away from your study of them.
Do you notice a question rising?
Do you notice a desire emerging?
Speak with your God, loud or quiet, angry or subdued, confused or certain …. Just talk with God. And listen.
For more analysis of this painting set, click the link or paste it into your browser.
https://artasillumination.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/bruce-herman-qu4rtets-the-four-seasons-of-life/
I would enjoy hearing any feedback from your reflections. You can use this blog when you have your quiet times or on a half day retreat. Do it with others, too. Always good to learn from others.
My email is: franlewislove@gmail.com
