The Art of Prayer, Part 9

   "Yet now he (God) has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it." Colossians 2:22-23

  The sweet smell of black currants is filling the kitchen. There were 16 cups of berries in the freezer, left over from the summer's abundant harvest. It was time to make some syrup because we used up the last bottle of nectar on the weekend. Basically, it is homemade Ribena. It is absolutely delicious in sparkling water or ginger ale. Apparently, black currants have more antioxidants than blueberries so not only is this a treat and a taste of summer goodness, it's good for the body!

  I just strained the fruit through a sieve, smashing it down with a soup ladle to extract as much of the juice as possible. It has to be re-boiled so it's piping hot before filling sterilized jars. I am just waiting for it to come to a boil again. 

  Some of the strained fruit is kept, too, to add to muffins. I experimented with creating fruit leather in the oven to use up the mashed berries last summer and it worked. However, it's unpleasant to eat with all the tiny seeds so it ended up tossed. But hey, if you don't try you don't know.

  And that's about as close to homesteading as I care to venture...home made preserves. (The sweet sound of lids popping verifies the jars have sealed perfectly. One down, four to go.)

  Now, to get down to business. What is next?

  I have no idea. 

  I've done my best to describe what happens when art is used as prayer. It's been a challenge to explain the subconscious "conversations" that happen when I approach the Lord this way. Maybe I need to recognize it's not all in my court nor is it all my responsibility to come up with something wonderful and earth shattering (Smile...earth shattering? Somebody's getting a bit big for her britches. LOL.)  

  Yesterday's art is a perfect example of the Lord taking the lead!

  Come to think about it, He's been leading all along. He's the one who opened this path. He's the one that didn't ask too much of me in the beginning. He's the one who taught me all I know and by doing so, gave me the gift of a language when words failed. He's the one who urged me to write. 

  This is where I belong.

  I am home.

  Oh, I had plenty of doubts. All I can say to that is if our thoughts don't build us up and encourage us, they are not of God. Maybe that's part of having faith, too. Simply trying will push doubt and fear aside...eventually...stick with it. 

  I've probably shared about my worship team experiences before. When I first started, the panic attacks were awful. This was something new. New things are extremely hard for me. I had a choice to make: quit and let the panic win or keep going despite the discomfort. It's taken several years to reach the point that I am home here, too, in this place of making a joyful noise. Even though I am sorely challenged by syncopated, funky rhythm timing...it's my nemesis...making music before the Lord is where I belong.

 I think of Peter stepping out of the boat in spite of the storm, in spite of the waves, in spite of the objections of the other disciples. (Mathew 14:22-33)

  Yes, Peter got out of the boat in obedience to Jesus calling him. But he quickly started to sink. That's important to remember. I wonder what demons wrestled with him in those few moments when the water starting rising around his body. I wonder if he felt inadequate to the calling. I wonder if he felt he didn't belong there, that the miracle of walking on water was way above his pay grade. 

  

  I think when Jesus said to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" it wasn't to chastise him. It was to get him thinking about the idea of having a big faith and the wonderous things that could happen because of it. Little faith had him walking on water! Can you imagine the possibilities?

  And maybe that's the key. Not the big faith, but having a little faith, that if you come to the table, if you enter into the Art of Prayer and offer your pen, your laptop, your time and your heart, Jesus' hand is waiting to lift you up.

  

  

  

  

 

   

The Art of Prayer, Part 8

   "For through him (Jesus) God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can't see--such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him." Colossians 1:16

  

  As worship music filled the hall at the beginning of yesterday's church service, this image erupted into my thoughts. I had no idea what it meant but there was a pressure, an urging, to do a drawing. The handout sheet was the only blank piece of paper I had. A ball point pen was the only tool. 

  As the teaching part of the service rolled on, the image began to evolve. Our interim pastor wrapped up the day with this...

  "Power under the posture of servanthood."

  That's when I knew what this image was all about. And I absolutely had to do a painting.

  God's light fills the Holy Spirit, represented by the wings. The Spirit pours down life into our upstretched arms. As we worship, the songs we sing or the art we make rises up to heaven. It's a letting go and a letting in. It's celebrating God's presence in our hearts. 

  It's circular...our energy up, the Spirit's energy infuses our hearts and minds. When we are filled, life flows within and flows outwards from us. 

  But here's the thing, God doesn't need us to be the "middleman." I have it on Good Authority (aka Jesus) that, more than anything, He wants us to be.

  Nevertheless, we have to want to fill the position. God will not force us to do anything.

  This painting of yesterday's sketch also illustrates the creative process when the creativity is given to God. God gives back. It's a wonderful, marvelous, holy, spiritual circle of life.

  When I first started learning how to use art as my voice, the thought of surrender was utterly terrifying. I thought it meant I had to give up myself and become some mindless God zombie who followed the rules. As a new Christian, I had some odd ideas about faith. Thankfully, I had a healthy dose of curiosity which overpowered my peculiar objections. 

  Watercolours were my key. I'd always hated them because they can be fickle and are more than happy to do their own thing regardless of what the artist wants to happen. Over time, I found myself following what the paint created as opposed to directing it. 

  Watercolours helped me learn to kneel.

  So did making a mess with finger paints but that was just having fun. Joy is part of worship, too.

  

  So, about this "kneeling" posture...Submission can be a scary thing but if we are willing... 

  (Smile.) Kneeling opened me up to learn that, no, I didn't have to become a God zombie to be His child. He helps me uncover my true identity, and frees me from being the person the world would have me believe I was.

  It's okay to be nervous. It's okay to not feel safe or vulnerable and unsure. It's okay to doubt your abilities or why you are even attempting something new. It's okay to worry about what will happen next. It's okay to be broken. (I'll let you in on a secret, all of us are.) It's okay if nothing happens right away. 

  Give it time. 

  Breathe.

  Be patient. 

  God will help you find your watercolours if you let him.

  Besides, there's this little thing called grace.

  Thank you, Lord, that you will honour our tentative attempts at surrender. Thank you that you will bless the moments, the minutes we spend practicing opening our hearts and minds to you. Thank you for filling us with truth and life. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

PS. I don't often do this, but I would like to offer you, dear readers, an opportunity. If you don't know Jesus, take a moment and ask him to be your Lord (your guide) and Savior (life saver). Breathe in the new life you have chosen.

  God bless you and be with you, for now and forever. AMEN.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

The Art of Prayer, Part 7

   "Then God said, "Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind--livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.." And that is what happened...And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals in the earth and small creatures that scurry along the ground...Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."...Then God looked over all he had made and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came marking the sixth day." Genesis 1:24-31

  God created humans "To be like us."

  Not, "Me."

  I've known of the triune nature of God for most of my life but it seems to have special significance this morning.

  "Us" is Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit in one. 

  Therefore, by being created in God's image, we have a triune nature consisting of body, soul and spirit. These separate traits are what make up the whole of us. 

  I doubt that's an earth shattering revelation. Bear with me. (Smile.)

  What happens if our spirits are crushed or our souls (hearts?) are broken? What happens if we struggle with body image?

  There is disunity...a cognitive dissonance. This dissonance extends beyond ourselves. The disunity within makes it difficult to be united with not only God but with others. 

  Taking time to pray is becoming like Adam or Eve before the apple was eaten. Prayer is walking with God in the Garden of Eden, talking with Him, sharing our burdens, our joys, our hopes and our life with Him.

  Yes, God knows everything about us already.. It's a good thing because so often we don't know the self God created in us! Prayer is not for God's benefit, it's for ours.

  

  I faced a lot of internal objections around using art as the means to explore the traumas of my past. It was two years before the people at the drop in centre I went to daily learned I could draw or paint. I also had to overcome the nastiest Yahbut, "It happened so long ago. It doesn't matter."

 "Yahbut," I replied (two can play at this game,) " I want to know God's truth."

  A lot happens when we allow God to reveal the hidden, non-verbal stories that make up us. Expressing them in a visual form takes finding the right words off the agenda. It pares down the wonderful, delightful complexity of life into manageable pieces. There's release and eventually relief. It might take more than one time to find healing and closure. 

  The art also helps to contain our emotions within the boundaries of the canvas or paper. When the feels are huge, when we unlock our hearts, it helps to be able to close the book for a time to rest, reflect and recuperate. 

  Rest is a big part of creation. I take frequent breaks when praying through the art or writing. They aren't long, but stepping away for a couple of minutes can leave an opportunity for further revelation or understanding to evolve.

  Prayer, giving the time to God, takes the act of creation to the next level, far beyond the borders of our internal, broken selves. Prayer unlocks us.

  "But how do I begin?" I asked God a long time ago.

  "Begin by starting." He replied.

  I had no idea art would become a matter of life or death a few short years into the future. I had no idea the simple watercolour image of a candle in the darkness represented what the art would become: a lifeline, a glimmer of hope when things were really bad. (I just realized this now, nineteen years after those first tentative brushstrokes. I thought the candle only represented God or Jesus.)

  It took many years before I began sharing what the art meant, finding the right words for what had been a confusing mess of unutterable secrets. First with God through the writing, then actually speaking with a few trusted friends.

  It wasn't always the tough stuff that appeared. I often celebrated my faith and gratitude through the art. It's important to take some time to play and enjoy the act of creation.

  So maybe that's a good starting point for anyone wanting to explore praying in this new way. Get a magazine or two. Ask God to lead you to the images and/or words that represent what you are thankful for. Put them together on one page even if it's only one word or picture that says it all. It's not about quantity. It's not about the art in and of itself. It's about quality time with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

  (Smile) my age is showing...maybe you can do this on your laptop by scrolling Google or Pinterest for images, too! Ask God to help you define what you are looking for because the internet is a big place. Copy and paste to your heart's delight if that's what works.

  If it takes several days, when minutes are hard to find, that's okay, too.

  It all starts with a beginning. AMEN!

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

  

intermission

   "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." Colossians 3:10

  After I wrote about the Yahbut, I was inspired to create one of my own. During the process, I came to realize my greatest enemy is the misconception that "putting myself forward" is an act of arrogance. 

  I spent some time last week on the Vistaprint website, creating a business card promoting my blog. The order was never completed. Self doubt, the cost (even though it wasn't much), more self doubt, and fear...the fear of appearing proud caused me to exit before finishing.

  I've also been struggling with some boundaries I have put in place. The Yahbut tells me that I am wrong to do this because, as a Christian, I should turn the other cheek. As a Christian, I should love my enemy. As a Christian, walking away from relationships is NOT what Jesus would do.

  I am thankful to have someone here to help me see beyond the old lies that governed my life even before I followed Jesus. Old Yabuts die hard.

  Hmmm...I just realized something. Jesus walked away frequently. He left when the crowds hated him. He left when they mocked him. He left when the upholders of the Law were offended by his message of love.

  So what are the "Yahbut Laws" that would see me stuck in a place of despair and confusion the moment I set a boundary?

1. I have no right to be treated well.

2. I have no right to feel the way I do.

3. I have no right to say no.

4. I have no right to express my needs.

5. I have no right to choose who I want in my life.

  There's more along the same line, swirling around my head and heart. It leaves me squirming with guilt at my audacity to not only expect better treatment, but to demand it!

6. I have no right to demand change.

7. I have no right to try and change the status quo.

  What a load of hooey. Yet it's a hooey that has governed so much of my life. 

  I now know what it is to be treated well, to have my feelings affirmed. I now know that saying no isn't a punishable offence. I now know I can share what I need with whoever I choose. And yes, I can demand that things change because the Yahbut Laws have no place in this new life Jesus died for.

  

  When Blogger revamped their service, they stopped making note of the country of origin for hits on the blog. I enjoyed seeing where my readers were from. It wasn't to "stroke my ego." If anything, it encouraged me to keep on writing. I know the writing has been spasmodic over the last few years, but Blogger still tracks reader numbers, just not where they are from. I was astounded to realize people were still reading in my absence.

  I am most grateful for all my readers.

  Oh! Guess what?

  Pride has no room for gratitude. That's the difference between humility and pride...the simple act of giving thanks.

  So, thank you, Lord, for all you have done. 

  Thank you that the Yahbut will be silenced and I will have no fear of teaching about the Art of Prayer.  I learned it from the best teacher of all. (Yes, there was a huge battle going on behind the scenes.)

  Thank you I have good people in my life to encourage and support me when the ugly ole Yahbut bites.

  But most of all, thank you for your gift of new life.

  And, Jesus? I give to you the ones who quote the Yahbut Laws through their words and actions. Strengthen my resolve to stay true to the person you have slowly unveiled since I turned to you.

  AMEN!

  

  

  

  

  

The Art of Prayer, Part 6

   "Then God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind." so God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird--each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth." And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day." Genesis 1:14-19

  Bunny rabbits have an evil cousin: the Yahbut. It's a fang-toothed, red-eyed, mangy, scar covered hare of a creature that stands in the way of success. It reeks of fear and doubt and indecision. Its droppings are shame and guilt. Its sole purpose is to stop us from venturing into uncharted territory. 

  God didn't create Yahbuts.

  They were born the moment Adam and Eve ate the apple. 

  I think what makes a hero is someone who defeats their Yahbut. We see this time and again through stories in the Bible...Moses, Saul (Paul), and nearly every one of the Disciples. I am sure there are others. The one thing they have in common is they couldn't understand why God or Jesus chose them because they believed they were inadequate to the task. (The Yahbut whispered in their ear.)

  "Trust Me," God says.  

   

  When God drove Adam and Eve from the garden, He made the first animal sacrifice. I often wonder how much it grieved God to kill His beautiful creation. He did it because He knew Adam and Eve were ashamed of their nakedness. He loved them enough to cover them so they were no longer ashamed. 

   God will meet you where you are at. 

  

  Even if you are intimidated by a blank piece of paper.

  What do I do with it? What should I draw or write? What if it isn't good enough? What if I get it wrong...Yahbut questions I've asked frequently until I realized no one ever had to see what I created. 

  

  It was for God's eyes only. 

  Sometimes the art is meant to be destroyed as part of the prayer process but not ever, ever because it wasn't good enough. Sometimes there's a need to start again. Sometimes it takes a half dozen tries before finding the right image. It's okay to change what was drawn or painted. God always allows the space to tweak our creations  (He gave us erasers for a reason.) Sometimes it's about simply practicing or exploring the possibilities every art tool provides. Sometimes the art is simply entering into a posture of play and has no higher calling than to be fun. (The Yahbuts might object to this. Just sayin'.)

  

  I haven't talked about the tools needed to embark on this journey of visual prayer. It needn't be expensive. Pick up a sketchbook or notebook that will be dedicated to exploring the Art of Prayer. It is good to have a place to look back on your creations and see the progress...there will be progress! Make sure you like the feel of the paper. I will recommend a spiral bound book because they lay flat on the table.

  I could list all the various types of drawing tools but realized this is a good place to begin dialoging with the Lord. The local dollar store has racks of art materials. Pause a moment, ask the Lord, then see what tweaks your interest over and above traditional back to school supplies. You'll need those for sure.

  Saving magazines doesn't hurt either if collage is something that interests you.

  Yahbut? You don't belong here any more.

   

  

  

  

  

The Art of Prayer, Part 5

   "Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth. And that is what happened. God made two great lights--the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day." Genesis 1:14-19

  There's an order to creation. Just like walking. First an infant learns to roll over, then crawl. Tentative first steps are made while hanging onto solid ground like the edge of a table. With a massive display of courage, the child steps out into the void, unencumbered by hand holds. Before long, the parents are chasing her as she runs, laughing, to escape bath time.

  God took the void and began the building of creation, filling the emptiness of nothing.

  Nothing begs to become something. Nothing is the bated breath held in anticipation of wonderful things like the child's first step that forever changed it. The void became an identifiable something...it became the distance between two things, measured by the steps of a child.

  Being still is entering the void, the place that both exists and doesn't exist at the same time. 

  Being still is becoming the birthplace of creation, a void waiting to be filled.

  Being still is where we allow our true selves, in all our brokenness, to come before God.

  Being still is allowing the void that holds all our memories and experiences to come to the surface. It could open doors you had long slammed shut.

  Don't be surprised if the first thing that wells up is emotion

  Don't be surprised if you can't identify what you are feeling. Many of us never had the opportunity to explore our emotions. We were taught to shut them down.

  It's okay to not understand. Understanding will come with time.

  It's okay to be nervous and uncomfortable in this place of stillness. 

  It's okay to want to leave. Stay here as long as you want. There's no time limit or expectations. There's no parameters or goal setting required.

  The void, the place of quiet anticipation, will wait for your return.

  Maybe, the next time or even the time after that, ask God to lead you to an image in a magazine which illustrates a piece of what you are feeling. Flip through the pages like you are doodling on the phone. Don't overthink things. It might be a picture or more than one. It could be a phrase or even a single word or something else altogether. Maybe it's the white edge surrounding an article. Cut or tear it out and glue it down in the inexpensive sketch pad you purchased for this purpose.

  It's your very first prayer using art and like an infant's first smile, it is something to celebrate!

  

  

  

  

  

The Art Of Prayer, Part 4

   "Then God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear." And that is what happened. God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, "Let the land sprout with vegetation--every sort of seed bearing plant, and trees that grow seed bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came." And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation--all sorts of seed bearing plants, and trees with seed bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind and God saw that it was good. And evening and morning came, marking the third day. Genesis 1:9-13

  I wasn't sure what was next but couldn't remember if I had stated the most important factor in the Art of Prayer.

  You don't have to be an artist.

  What defines artistic ability anyways?

  I have often wondered the same thing when I see works of "art" that leave me wondering why and how they can be worth so much! Art galleries are full of examples such as large canvases covered in blocks of colour, there's scribbles a two year old could create, or sculptures that looked like they accidentally melted. Yet somehow these works of art are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars!

  I guess the value lies in perception.

  So you don't have to be an artist because being an "artist" is indefinable.

  It's not about the value of the art anyways. It's that the art has value.

  It's also not about the purpose for the art either. It's that the art has purpose.

  Creation is a verb, a moving thing. It has life and fluidity and motion. Praying though art is surrendering to the process by letting go of expectations or preconceived ideas. It's an action, not a thing.

  Praying through art and opening yourself up to hear what God says is exactly like doodling while on the phone with a friend. Before you know it, the pen has run dry and the page is covered with art!(Thank you Lord, for this metaphor because I was struggling to explain what happens here at the table!)

  I regularly utilize collage. Cutting or tearing out pictures and words from magazines lends a physicality to the process. Action becomes ParticipACTION. (Smile, that's a Canadian made up word promoting exercise since the 1970's but it fits perfectly with the idea.)

  I wonder if it would help if I imagined dialing Jesus on the phone and sat there, "phone" in hand, to hear what He has to say?

  Find your "phone," your point or place of connection. Mine is the kitchen table. Could yours be music? Reading Scripture? Is it going for a walk? Would prayer help? 

  "Lord, I am grateful You are here with me. I am grateful for the opportunity to begin learning a new thing. I give thanks that You will calm my mind and enable me to be present in this moment. Set me free of anything that stands in the way of my inner creator. Forgive me for shutting my creator voice down and locking it away. Thank You that I have You to do all this in me and for me because it is for Your glory, not mine! Amen."  

  Nothing starts without first beginning. 

  Take a deep breath and jump!

  If you were to illustrate today's verse with one word or object, what would it be? Are you willing to put it down on paper?

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

The Art of Prayer, Part 3

   "Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth." And this is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space, "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day." Genesis 1:6-8

  God created space. He created a zone of nothing.

  There can be no something without nothing.

  Is it really nothing though?

  This space is a place waiting for God to finish His creative handiwork. The space between the waters will be where birds fly and clouds drift past. Space will hold the rain and the snow. But not yet.

  Until a few more days pass, the space is a place of anticipation, waiting to see what happens next. Space, literally, is holding its breath; a breath that will sustain God's creations who need air to live.

  Space is something so important that it needed to be created on the second day! 

  I have written about how art has been sorely maligned by society but then I awoke this morning with the understanding that being still is also a place of punishment.

  How often, as children, were the scolding words harshly directed in our direction, "Sit Still!!" 

  Perversely, sitting still was also punishable. "Stop wasting time, get up and DO something!"

  Sound familiar?

  Is there a need to give ourselves permission to give both space and time to/for God? 

  Is there a need to forgive those who taught us that both doing nothing and doing something was bad?

  Time is the enemy of space.

  Time was created by humans the moment we started living our lives according to the sun's movement across the sky. The sun became our god. 

  The sun was replaced by machines that tracked the seconds, minutes and hours of every day. The clock became our god. 

  So here we are, the clock ticking in the background, wondering where to find the time to create our own space to come before God.

  I suppose I need to ask the tough question, "Do you want to?"

  Can you be a space like the sky waiting to be filled with life?

  

  Lord, help me let go of the things, the lies, the half-truths that make me run from You. Help me find the patience to know opening my heart will take practice. Most of all, help me be aware that You are always with me, even when I am busy. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

  

  

  

  

  

The Art of Prayer, Part 2

   "Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day." Genesis 1:3-5

  Creation takes time. 

  Need I say more?

  I confess to finding it very difficult to put into words something that has evolved into an automatic pathway into my subconscious. It's hard to share how it feels to have the Holy Spirit inspire my inner creator. It's hard to explain how a Power beyond my own takes over the artistic process. It is utterly non-verbal.

  Surrender...Hmmm, that's a good word. Not in the sense of being vanquished nor is it giving up. Surrender is the act of letting go of control.

  Surrender is like a drawbridge. It's very human of me to sometimes block traffic by raising the bridge. 

  Creation doesn't only take time, it takes space.

  I have frequently shared how my kitchen table has become a sacred space. Because I am a visual person, pushing back one of the chairs is a tangible act of inviting Jesus to sit with me here. It serves as a reminder to give in to the process be it an artistic one or while writing.

  The Art of Prayer begins by preparing my heart for whatever may come.

  So, how do I do this?

  Sometimes it's using music. Sometimes it's playing a game on my phone. Sometimes it's something I have heard during Sunday's service that I want to pursue more. 

  Sometime it is an act of utter obedience to the call God places in my heart to come to the table.

  Sometimes I end up at the table because the emotions I am feeling are just too big and confusing.

  I guess the biggest element is simply having the desire to be here to hear God. 

  In the beginning of learning how to do this, I relied on many external practices to help me become still enough, to enable the bridge to be lowered. 

  In these precious moments, nothing else matters. 

  But realizing nothing else matters has taken practice, too. I have often felt guilty for sitting here, not accomplishing the day's to-do list. It took a serious examination of where and how the to-do list became more important than taking time in my sacred space. Culture, gender, history, the age of It's-gotta-be-NOW all played a role.

  The biggest breakthrough was coming to the understanding that I belong here, sitting with Jesus at my side.

  There's room here to play.

  There's room here for innocence.

  There's room here for my sinful self.

  There's room here for pride.

  And grace.

  And patience.

  But most of all, there's room here for brokenness.

  

  

  

  

The Art of Prayer, Part 1

 

  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

 

  Our church is delving into the concept and practice of Solemn or Sacred Assembly. In a nutshell, it’s about taking the time as a community or individual to be still and listen for God’s voice. Wednesday, we are gathering as a body to take part in our own assembly before God. The Meeting House Oakville’s explanation is very, very good so I won’t try and duplicate four Sunday’s worth of teaching in this space. Feel free to go on their website and check out Restored.

  Yes, we have remained with the Meeting House in spite of what happened with Bruxy. Personally, I like the direction they are headed in, a direction grounded in humility, repentance and grace.

  I didn’t know this idea of coming before God had a name and as I watched the teaching, I realized it’s what I do with art. I felt a nudge that led me to approached one of our church leaders. I have offered to do a group about The Art of Prayer. She was very excited because there had been some discussion about maintaining Sacred Assembly as an ongoing practice in our church.

  In trying to explain to a friend what happens when I sit down before a blank piece of paper, art supplies at hand, I realized that the Lord had already made Sacred Assembly part of my faith life. It started the moment I became a Christian.

  Baby talk. Yup. God gave me images about faith that were decidedly corny…a candle in the darkness, a star in the sky, an open door of invitation. I got the point. But the point wasn’t about the image in and of itself, it was about learning to sit quietly and wait.

  It was about nurturing the inner creator with the tender guidance of the greatest Creator of all.

  That same creator spirit is in every one of us. The task before me is how to help others unlock it. I get a strong sense that the Art of Prayer group is going to last far longer than a single gathering.

 

  A little boy knelt before his bed, hands folded, eyes closed. “A, B, C, D…”

  His mother asked what he was doing.

  “Praying,” he replied, “but I don’t know the words. I am giving God the letters because He knows what I want to say.”

 

  In praying through art, I give my hands, the paper, the materials to God because He knows what I want to say even if I have no conscious idea. 

  Ironically, it’s not about the art at all. The group won’t be about teaching others how to draw or paint. It’s about liberation and letting go of control.

  The other huge stumbling block is art in and of itself. I think back through church history when artists were arrested or killed for creating anything that did not focus on God or stories from the Bible. The church had a firm chokehold on anything that might deviate from their agenda. When I realize how much of a personal connection I have with Jesus because of the art, it makes sense those in power would see this as a threat way back when. If I had a personal connection, I wouldn’t need to pay a priest to intercede for me.

  The church eventually loosened their grip but the foundation was laid. Society picked up the hammer for them. Studies have shown that artistic expression is one of the first things children lose in school. By the age of 7, the marking system, scales of ability based on age, and criticism have crushed the creator spirit.

  It’s a good thing they can never, ever crush the Creator’s Spirit!

  The Art of Prayer is not just for those of us who are experienced artists. Stick figures speak a universal language, don’t they?