Gathering In

This is my fourth blog. The others were art blogs, and so is this one in part. But it’s more. It’s the container for my creative thoughts. There will be some theology, some spirituality, some artwork, some thoughts about creating, some reflections on and for prayer, for body, mind, soul and strength. There will probably also be some on mental health, disability, healing, community, nature, dance. For me at least, these are all of a piece. They flow through, around and within each other. They are, together, wholeness.

I’m a theologian, an artist, a spiritual director. They ascend in importance in that order. The more I live in faith, hope, love and art, the more I find that thoughts and attempts at explanation are a poor second to experience, particularly when it comes to love, to prayer, which is simply outpoured love. I can not convince anyone of God’s existence by rational argument. All I can do is advise people to pray. Not the paltry prayer we learn at most churches: to ask for what we want for ourselves and others, and to tell God what we think God ought to do. By prayer I mean questing out in longing for the love that flows through and beyond all things, including ourselves. Prayer, simply put, is loving attention, by which we long for God and become more loving in response to love received. This is the prayer that transforms us, and by it we know God rather than trying to think God.

This blog, then, will be a meandering journey through my experience and response to faith, hope, love and art. I begin as I move into dedicated studio space to begin a more intuitive body of work, perhaps watery, perhaps prophetic, moving with the Divine Feminine and the sacred dance of the Trinity. I begin in order to remember significant conversations that I’ve been part of recently. I begin with hope, that this blog will flourish and grow many branches in which many may find home.