“I am not skilled to understand, What God has willed, what God has planned.” Thank you Aaron Shust for starting my morning prayers.
There is something very profound in that line. It is very humbling. As humans we often have this strong desire to understand what God is doing, how it works, we as questions like “Why would God do X?” It gets hard sometimes to make sense of the contradictions that happen in our lives, and yet in that confusion and chaos is beauty and in that beauty is God.
Last night I went to the Common Cathedral auction at Andover-Newton Theological School. I love art, and there were certainly pieces I would have wanted…if I had money to spend. As an undergraduate who is attempting to save money for Seminary, I am not very superfluous in my spending. But that is not the point. I wish I could express in words the beauty and profoundness of the pieces I had the distinct pleasure of looking upon. I love art museums, but there is something raw and deeply emotional in the art of people who’s works will likely never make it into the MFA. I was touched, and moved by the stories told in the art. Some of the pieces, particularly of the landscapes and of the birds spoke deeply to my soul.
Meeting some of the artists themselves was a wonderful and moving experience. To hear their stories, to see their faces, and then look at what their heart says with paint and a canvas, there are no words. I thought writing this reflection for my blog post would be easy, but it is difficult to describe with words that which the eyes and heart feel together.
I think when we as a society think about less fortunate or otherwise challenged people we often De-humanize them. There are of course exceptions, but on the whole as a society, we don’t like to talk about “homeless people” as just people we know. The art and the pieces that were on display speak to that. Such talent and beauty that would impress anyone is so hard to really appreciate when our society meets the artist. That seems a little messed up to me. I remember walking with a friend (whom shall remain anonymous) through cambridge, and we were both relatively new to the Boston Area. I was struck at the contrast of the Ivy League buildings and the fancy coffee shops, with the homeless hiding in the corners and asking for spare change. My friend remarked that they hadn’t noticed the homeless people and thought I was making it all up. I was stunned, how could anyone not see such pain and burden? Seeing the artwork last night has taught me not just to see pain and burden, but joy and celebration. Weary hands hard at work making beauty, loving eyes looking on something that tugs at their chest. The collaboration of what I had the joy of witnessing represents the world that I want to live in. One where people are loved and appreciated for their gifts and their spirit nothing more and nothing less. I am not skilled to understand why or how God works, but it is clear to me that he is indeed working through this project.
Thank you to all at Common Cathedral and at Andover-Newton.
Amen.