Art for all Seasons

So... after a couple of weeks abstinence from blogging, initially because I was largely staying away from my computer and then because I was swamped with everything I had to do (and still have to do) on my return to the desk, here's a short piece and a little video. The video is a compilation of all the #Advent/Christmas/EpiphanyArt pieces prompted by the Daily Lectionary readings that I have posted on social media recently, which I put together while fiddling with my computer the other night in a post-New Year attempt to stop snacking! But I am posting it to mark the end of this series of daily posts.

During Lockdown Mark 1 I posted #Lent/Easter/PentecostArt posts, and then suggested that others might take up the baton after that for a series of #ArtintheOrdinary posts... but no-one seemed interested...

I'm suggesting it again, so if anyone wants to join in feel free, but I will carry on regardless, although it perhaps will not be every day... I do it not because I have any expertise in art (someone during advent described me as an "art aficionado" even that's stretching it - but then they said a number of kind things that were also stretching credulity) - if anything I turn to art as a window on the text of scripture to force me out of my comfort zones and think of the text in different ways... particularly over-familiar texts. I hope that my offerings have helped to do that for others, especially in these lockdown days. Because where we cannot "get out and about" - at least not further than 10 miles unless we are going for an eye test - it is important that we get out of the ordinary in our thinking at least... and that is true even in the ordinary days of the lectionary...

Selah

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LentArt: Washing the Disciples' Feet

Today's #LentArt post is "The washing of the disciples' feet" by Ghislaine Howard, another piece from the wonderful Methodist Modern Art Collection. It has clearly struck a chord with a number of people, and I am delighted that tonight's guest blog is by my friend and fellow 4 Corners Director, Father Martin Magill, who, he will be embarrassed to have me say, is for me the epitome of a servant leader. Indeed it was interesting to have a friend and artist respond to my earlier post saying that this time last year she remembers having her feet washed by Martin... How much has changed in a year: This painting (completed in 2004) was inspired by these words from the gospel of John in today's lectionary: Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water ...

Living under the Empire... (2) Where is Babylon?

We were driving back from school last week, talking about books that we had been reading and my younger son, Ciaran, asked me "Where is Babylon?" I have to confess that my history is better than my geography, and I said that it no longer exists as an inhabited city, but its ruins were to the north west of the current capital of Iraq, Baghdad. When I checked however, I discovered that it is actually about 50 miles south of Baghdad and the modern town is the administrative centre of the province of Babil... But just as the modern city is but a shadow of the historic capital of 2 ancient empires, first under Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE and then the "Neo-Babylonian" empire (under Nebuchadnezzar etc) in the 6th century BCE, so the earthly Babylonian empire/s was/were fleeting in comparison to the enduring metaphorical idea of Babylon. The original Empire under Hammurabi was probably the ultimate origin of some of the early Biblical stories, including the ...

A Woman of no Distinction

Don't often post other people's stuff here... But I found this so powerful that I thought I should. It's a performance poem based on John 4: 4-30, and I have attached the original YouTube video below. A word for women, and men, everywhere... "to be known is to be loved, and to be loved is to be known." I am a woman of no distinction of little importance. I am a women of no reputation save that which is bad. You whisper as I pass by and cast judgmental glances, Though you don’t really take the time to look at me, Or even get to know me. For to be known is to be loved, And to be loved is to be known. Otherwise what’s the point in doing either one of them in the first place? I WANT TO BE KNOWN. I want someone to look at my face And not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth and two ears; But to see all that I am, and could be all my hopes, loves and fears. But that’s too much to hope for, to wish for, or pray for So I don’t, not anymore. Now I keep to myself And by that ...

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