Prayers in college this morning was led by not only reading the Bible (always good!) but by allowing us to reflect on both art and poetry. We were told of the work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo who at one time had a style that was slightly unusual. One of her paintings is called Diego On My Mind and is a self portrait which also includes the face of her husband on her forehead. The idea is that what is central in her mind and takes up much of her mind 'appears' on her forehead. The challenge was what John saw in Jesus when he exclaimed 'Lamb of God!' in John 1. Maybe he saw a picture of a lamb on Jesus forehead? But it made me think, what would be the picture in the middle of my forehead? Would it be Jesus? Or would it be something else? If others were to look at me and place in the middle of my forehead that which they think occupies my mind, what would they see?Equally am I prepared to be where people will see through me at all? Prayers was finished with a poem that I do not know the origion of - only that the person reading it recieved it from an older person, in their church I think. It connected not only to prayer, but also to some of my reflecting on yesterday and what it means at times to be here and present. With the poem I end this post and leave its challenge to 'hang in the air' ...
I said, "Let me walk in the fields."
He said, "Nay, walk in the town."
I said, "There are no flowers there."
He said, "No flowers but a crown."
I said, "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din."
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "there is sin."
I said, "But the air is thick,
And the fogs are veiling the sun."
He answered, "Yet hearts are sick,
And souls in the dark undone."
I said, "I shall miss the light,
And friends will want me, they say."
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town.
He said, "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He,
And I walk in a light divine
The path that I feared to see.
3 comments:
The poem is by George MacDonald (1824-1905). He was a Scottish poet, author and Christian preacher back in the day. Interestingly, the artwork by Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo does not paint a happy picture of her life. Her facial expressions are stern and there is a sense of pain in her works and she adopts a similar style to fellow surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The symbol on the forehead is interesting. One could argue, all Christians have a symbol as such to declare that we are God's children, but as we walk on different paths that lead to Christ Jesus, who can say we will leave this world with the same symbol? Is there a CSI-like UV scanner that can manually detect such sign? One example I'd like to share is from listening to an early morning breakfast show one Sunday morning with Aled Jones on BBC Radio 2 about an English vicar who left her post because her daughter was killed in the London Bombings three years ago. No longer could she preach sermons of peace and reconciliation, she stepped down. A woman of God stepping down... does she still have faith in God? How is she finding peace with God? Does she still carry the symbol on her forehead? The symbol that the devil cannot touch her, but instead the daughter was taken away... <><
Thank you for the extra information. If you don't mind me asking though, who are you. Some of your thoughts are adding some new layers to mine, your contributions are very much appreciated ...
I am someone that you know, have met and spoken to, but mainly on the surface, for your knowledge of me is the same of my knowledge of you. One does not need to search hard to find the answer to your question, but let not the identity confuse or trouble you for that is not important, but continue to focus your eyes on Christ in your studies, devotion, family, church, work and allow Him to reveal the path that He has laid out for you... <><
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