Commentaries and critiques on the visual and performing arts in the greater Canton, Ohio area
Thursday, December 23, 2010
All of a Peace
All of a Peace
By Tom Wachunas
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” - Revelation 21:23 –
“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” - Jeremiah 29:11 –
I know of no other season than this one wherein my heart abides, with equal measure, in joy and sorrow. Joy for the greatest gift I’ve ever received - undeserved, unearned, and only by grace and faith. Jesus Christ himself. And sorrow for so much of this world that chooses not to receive what was and still is so freely bestowed upon it.
But this post is neither a judgment on recalcitrant hearts nor a doleful plea to disconnected ones. Rather, it is simply an offering for your consideration. It is accompanied by my hope that it not rest unread in cyberspace, but be a source of reflection and encouragement in the twilight of A.D. 2010, before the dawn of a new year, and well beyond. To you my loyal readers, and all the artists whose work inspires my words, I remain humbled by and ever grateful for your energy, interest, and support. To those who, by His grace, might casually come upon this site for the first time, welcome. To all of you, I beg your indulgence and ask only that you read, with opened minds, this praise of the greatest gift ever given.
It is a providential gift that guarantees for all of us abundant, everlasting life. It is a gift fully illustrated - catalogued, if you will – with user-friendly instructions throughout the Bible. Consider this partial inventory of Scriptural descriptors:
Almighty God, Alpha and Omega, A man of sorrows, Author of Life, Author of Salvation, Beginning and End, Bread of Life, Christ, Deliverer, Despised and rejected by men, Eternal Life, Everlasting Father, Great High Priest, Good Shepherd, Heir of All Things, Immanuel, I Am, King of Kings, Lamb of God, Life, Light of the World, Lion of Judah, Lord, Lord of Lords, Love, Mediator, Messiah, Morning Star, Our Peace, Prince of Peace, Resurrection and Life, Rock, Saviour, Son of God, Son of Man, the Truth, the Way, the Word, Wonderful Counselor…
MINE.
And YOURS for the asking, for the believing. OURS, then. Spread the wealth.
So, thank you for your attention to this matter. May your Christmas be filled with His light, and all your seasons blessed.
Photo: My 2010 Christmas image, oil, 8 ½” x 11” – an annual tradition in lieu of Christmas cards
Just opened your column this Christmas Morn. Thank you for taking the time to write such a peaceful thought. I try to keep it simple in matters of the spirit and one bit of 14 Century mysticism works for me. It's derived from the Anchoress Julian of Norwich, simply: All will be well. There is an obscure movie about that way of life on Monday at 1:30 at The Cleveland Museum of Art in fact they have movies of that nature all week. I would be interested to read your commentary on any of them.
ReplyDeleteSincere best wishes for 2011!
Thanks as always for your reading. I'm not familiar with any of the Cleveland Art Museum films currently being offered, with the notable exception of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal." One of those "art" films from 1950s era, but one that I think still holds up as a masterpiece of austere simplicity, and still darkly (and sadly) relevant in the sense that many still urgently search for a God who is not silent but can speak to us amid darkness, despair, doubt.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your comments and all the thought behind them, as usual, Tom. Merry Christmas to you and yours and may your days in 2011 be filled with a deeper love and commitment to the One you hold out before us here. "Peace"
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