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Inspiration |
 24" x 36" Oil/Wood |
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Remembering
Toward Heaven
Seeds of the Spirit ‘God…brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.’ (The Message, Galatians 5:22-23) Technique: A family of three, each in their own ‘quiet time’ reflecting upon the heavens. The seeds of the Spirit spilling from the heavens and sprouting the Holy Spirit as it bears fresh olive leaves to the family. The background imitates stained glass windows of churches. "Remembering Toward Heaven" - ever since the experience I had with my dad, I've had this desire to recapture that 'glimpse to eternity'. I remember so clearly feeling the disappointment knowing that I was not to go home yet. I was so prepared. Being here on earth just makes me have to fight all the worldly influences and natural tendencies that appall me about myself. "This life," wrote Jonathan Edwards, "ought to be spent by us only as a journey towards heaven." That's the only story worth living in now. The road goes out before us and our destination awaits. Hebrews 12:2-3 (the Message): Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed---that exhilarating finish in and with God---he could put up with anything along the way; cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Jesus remembered where he was headed and he wanted to get there with all his heart. These two themes, memory and desire, will make all the difference in our journey ahead. Without them, we will not run well, if we run at all. "The whole of life of the good Christian," said Augustine, "is a holy longing." Sadly, many of us have been led to feel that somehow we ought to want less, not more. We have this sense that we should atone for our longings, apologize that we feel such deep desire. Shouldn't we be more content? Perhaps, but contentment is never wanting LESS; that's the easy way out. Anybody can look holy if she's killed her heart; the real test is to have your heart burning within you and have the patience to enjoy what there is now to enjoy, while waiting with eager anticipation for the feast to come. In Paul's words, we "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly" (Rom. 8:23). Contentment can only happen as we increase desire, let it run itself out toward its fulfillment, and carry us along with it. As our soul grows in the love of God and journeys forth toward him, our heart's capacities also grow and expand: "Thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:32 KJV). Redemptive remembering reclaims the haunting we've known. The pull is especially powerful when life is pressing in and really requiring me to be His image. Sometimes we need to lose the very things that have brought us a taste of that eternity in order for our heart to move toward the real thing. The most unredemptive kind of remembering is what many people call "nostalgia". How sad to visit elderly friends and relatives to find them sitting around listlessly, pining for "the good old days." They have no life in the present and little vision for the future, because they are locked in the past.
Olivia Cameo Lewis |
