An Artist’s Eye and the Kingdom of God


Eyes they have but do not see.

I have a daughter who is an artist. Her art is a gift that eludes me. The wonder is not so much in the skill of her hands but in her eyes. For having watched this phenomenon grow up and mature, I am certain of one thing: she sees the world in a way I do not. It is not so much that she sees beauty and that I see none, but that she seems able to follow that beauty and make it flow out of her pen. When I look at her work, I am moved to ask not, “How were you able to draw that?” but first, “How were you able to see that?”

I have read whole books on the process of drawing (I’ve always wanted to have that gift and I do not).

Parenthetically, I took my daughter with me to a week’s workshop with the renowned iconographer, Xenia Pokrovsky. Xenia said to me at the end of the week, “You’re too old to learn. But give me your daughter. I’ll make her an iconographer!” It was kind of her to attribute my clumsy work to my age and not to my complete lack of talent.

But what I have learned about drawing is that it requires you to actually draw what you see. And that’s the strange wonder of it. For I think that the artist must be seeing something that I don’t – when, in fact, they are simply seeing what they see. It is the non-artist (most of us) who is blind to the world as it is.

From time to time, one child or another in the parish will present me with a picture – of me. Drawn in the service as a bit of a distraction, such drawings are always received with great thanks and a little marvel at what I see. And, I think, my art does not go far beyond theirs. For what I will see is not a picture of how I look (thank God!), but of how they think. Some things are very important in such drawings: the robes, not with detail, but the large phelonian for sure. Sometimes it is nothing more than a triangle with a circle on the top for my head. And, swirling from the circle is some representation of a beard (nothing on top, I fear). There is often a Cross on the triangle as well.

It is, of course, an abstraction – Picasso at age four. The process in which they are engaged, drawing what they think, will continue for the rest of their lives (if they are like me) and they will wonder why their art looks so little – like art.

But in time, and with some training, a person can learn to draw what they see. That sounds so simple – and it’s not. The habit of the non-artist is to draw what-they-think-they-see. But they do not see light and dark, shadow and shading. When I draw a nose, I try to draw a nose (the idea). When my daughter draws a nose, it is complex set of shape, shadow and shading. And – wonder of wonders – looks like a nose!

At this point in the article, you may be wondering if there is a theological point to all of this. Indeed, there is. For our perception of the world is equally abstracted – we do not see what we see – but what we think we see – and we constantly misrepresent the world to ourselves.

Jonathan Pageau, the Orthodox iconographer/carver, has written a number of articles (here, here, and here), that reflect on abstractions inherent in the modern mind. My favorite is his observation that “most of the time, the world is flat.” Meaning by that, that we perceive a flat earth. We do not see the earth turn, nor do we see it going around the Sun. We see the sun go around the earth. And so we speak of sunrise and sunset, not earthturn.

But Pageau notes that something has happened in the Modern mind. We now correct for ourselves the reality that we experience. We remind ourselves that what we see is not correct (scientifically). But, in fact, it is only true (in a relative, experiential sense) if we were standing somewhere in space looking back on our planet.

He describes this as something of an alienation from the world in which we live. We constantly “demythologize” our senses and pretend we see things from outer space. He notes that the language of Scripture and of the Church’s prayers accurately describe the world as we see it. Statements such as “the four corners of the earth” are completely understandable. Any child could follow what is being said. But the Modern must insist, with something of a knowing smile, “But the earth doesn’t really have four corners.” The Modern man, though living in the age of Einstein’s theory of relativity, becomes the least relativist of all men speaking of what “really” is.

Among the myths of Modernity is the insistence that truth can only refer to what “really” is in a very narrow, “semi-scientific” meaning of the term. With this shift in point-of-view (from our eyes to telescope, microscope, video camera, etc.) we slowly lose the ability to actually see what we see. Today a family sits around a table in a restaurant, all looking at their phones, while the world that is actually present goes unobserved, including those who sit at table. A new instinct is emerging: whenever we see something we like, our camera/phone immediately rises so that what we actually see can be shared with those who are no longer actually seeing. For the world we now inhabit has reached an extreme pitch of abstraction.

This abuse and loss of our eyesight also alienates us from God. For the God who is everywhere present, does not exist in the abstract. He makes Himself present. And we see that Presence more clearly when we actually see what we see. Our modern habit makes us do quite the opposite – we think about what we see – and, in order to see God – we think even harder about what we see – failing to realize that our very abstraction pushes us ever more distant.

I recently translated all of this into something of a space/time consideration. For Modern man is also Historical man. More than at any time in history, we are aware of history. It is Modern man who created terms such as “Ancient,” “Medieval,” “Dark Ages,” etc. No one in the Dark Ages ever thought to himself, “I live in the Dark Ages.” Indeed, he never thought much at all about “time in history.” That’s a particularly modern habit. And it is an abstraction.

My observation is that, rather than being present to things-as-they-are, we are often present to things-in-abstraction. We go to the mall, and come away thinking about how our culture is in steep decline (or something similar). We experience weather, but consider it under the heading of Climate Change. Abstraction on top of abstraction and we wonder why our lives are filled with anxiety and anger!

We live our lives one moment at a time. We cannot live in a period of history. The self-awareness created by such abstractions is not actually a self-awareness, but a false consciousness in which we actually perceive ourselves to be living in an ideological construct and never actually in the world.

The Liturgy of the Church demands that we ignore such distractions. “Now lay aside all earthly cares,” we sing. This is not a call to think abstractly, but to pay attention (“Let us attend!”). For the Kingdom of God is come.

Then Jesus turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.” (Luk 10:23-24)

About Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fr. Stephen is a retired Archpriest of the Orthodox Church in America. He is also author of Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe, and Face to Face: Knowing God Beyond Our Shame, as well as the Glory to God podcast series on Ancient Faith Radio.



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78 responses to “An Artist’s Eye and the Kingdom of God”

  1. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    When I watch a sunrise or a sunset, I am never thinking about rotation and/or axis. I am admiring the beauty of God´s creation, for it´s the love of beauty that tranforms the soul and the person.

    I cannot draw very well at all and what I do draw is basically what I think I am seeing. Oh … if I could only draw what I am really seeing!

  2. Burt Noyes Avatar
    Burt Noyes

    Thank you for this wonderful reflection Father.

  3. Al Lovecky Avatar
    Al Lovecky

    Thank you Father!

  4. Tara Avatar

    Lovely. Just lovely. Thank you for writing this.

  5. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    I find that paying attention is nearly synonymous with love. As the article says, we must ignore distractions in order to attend well. “Lay aside all earthly cares! Let us attend!” It’s funny, but one does not just pay attention well all of a sudden. I know I don’t. It takes training, rather grueling practice, for the mind to let go of distractions.

    I think “detachment” is a key word here. It is an act of self-denial to sit for a period of time and pay attention only to one set of words, eg. “Lord Jesus, have mercy,” and not give one’s attention (one’s love) to any other concepts or images. Hard work, it is! But the passions will rule us if we do not master them.

    Pray tell, why isn’t this path to freedom more widely taught to the common parishioner in Orthodoxy? For it has the power to give us that “singular eye” which Jesus describes (Matt 6:22). The true artist’s eye – the eye which sees and loves the beautiful (“philokalia”).

  6. Esmée Noelle Covey Avatar
    Esmée Noelle Covey

    I have noticed that I have a very hard time being where I am. If I am in Church, I am a million other places in my head. If I am reading, I am thinking I should be reading something different or, better yet, praying. If I am praying, I am doubting the value of my prayer and wishing I was reading instead. If I am doing something, I am thinking about how to capture it in a photo to share on social media. Blah, blah, blah. I could go on, but you get the idea. It is like this endless stream-of-consciousness, self-observation and self-analysis which continually interferes with my ability to simply be present in the moment. It seems to have a life of its own and it is very disturbing!

  7. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Owen,
    Last time I checked, that path was/is being taught in Orthodoxy – but, I would plead that Orthodoxy is currently in a great state of “flux,” not that it’s changing, but it’s trying to cope with huge changes (a large influx of new members, etc, world conflicts, etc., and a chronic shortage of priests – particularly in the U.S.). Orthodoxy is a glacier – it requires patience.

    I was at a conference a month back, and there was much discussion about right brain/left brain and attentiveness, etc. I came home and, among other things, I’ve started working a bit on drawing – just to “exercise” something that is too easily ignored.

  8. Skip Avatar
    Skip

    As someone who returned in middle age to photography as art, and had to re-learn much through disuse, this is very true. Like drawing, much of photography is of course technical (knowing how the camera and lens work together, understanding lighting and exposure, etc.), but much is also re-learning how to actually see moments in time and space, and learn how light and shadow give form to how we perceive things, and how we emotionally relate. It is moving beyond snapshots, and trying to glimpse into a type of eternity by portraying a mere moment.
    The best way I can try to describe it is how I told a friend, upon the birth of his first daughter “I remember holding my own first daughter, when all the world was new, and I glimpsed in her profile, still a rosy and rounded baby, the profile of her as an adult woman as she looked into the far distance, far away from me. And in that moment my heart broke.”
    But one has to pay attention to see these things, or to see how a beam of afternoon light through a church window wafts through the lingering incense haze to give a golden glow.

  9. Allen Avatar
    Allen

    I think I recognize that ship, isn’t it one of the replicas of Christopher Columbus ships that was travelling up/down the Tennessee River a few weeks ago? We toured it in Huntsville. I think it was working its way up the Tennessee River towards Knoxville after it left here.

  10. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Thank you for the response, Fr Stephen. I may have been a bit too vague in my question. My specific concern is with practicing the Jesus prayer: how to do it, why it works, etc. I had to discover these things for myself. This is meant as absolutely no disrespect to my parish priest! May God bless him and grant him many years! But the general advice I heard (not from him specifically) on entering the church was that one needs to be very careful about practicing the Jesus prayer.

    It’s true, we aren’t all monks. But the practice which the authors of the Philokalia describe as “divine meditation,” or “the prayer of the heart,” or simply “contemplation,” it just plain works. And it’s the only thing I’ve found that works to train the mind and tame the passions, to curb distractions and enhance detachment.

    As I’m sure you know, attentiveness – or, vigilance, or watchfulness – must be actively cultivated. And we have a method that works! Speaking personally, I can think of nothing more important to the spiritual life, to becoming divine. The capacity to enter the heart with unified awareness is a priceless power. I believe it’s the “one thing necessary” that Jesus alludes to. It just seems to me the Church should teach more explicitly at the parish level on the practicalities involved in realizing this blessed state. Not that I have attained it…

    Thanks again.
    Owen

  11. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Owen Kelly:

    Amen, brother!

  12. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Hello Owen, et al –

    I realize that it is a Catholic resource, but Fr. Thomas Keating´s famous book “Open Mind, Open Heart” does an absolutely excellent job handling the topic of the contemplative life. The discussion of detachment is a big part of the book. I just recently finished the book and was more than pleased with his assessment of all things contemplative, though I know there are many who will discount his ideas simply because he is Catholic.

    Nevertheless … it is simply very hard for me not to suggest a book that I thought was a great read!

  13. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    “Was” a Catholic in the earthly sense (he died), but “still” a Catholic in the great cloud of witnesses sense!

  14. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Owen,
    I have trouble with the language of “it works.” I’m not even very sanguine with describing the Jesus Prayer as a “method.” Having pastored for a number of years (and taught and encouraged the use of the Jesus Prayer) I’m more cautious than your description (and perhaps other parish priests are as well). I think I’ll just leave my comment at that.

  15. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Esmée,
    I have a mind that wanders (ADHD). One way I cope with it is to break things down into much smaller bits – I’m thrilled when there are moments of awareness, presence, etc. I also try not to judge myself too much – particularly with expectations such as “why is my mind wandering? why can’t I do better?” That’s like worrying about a foot hurting if it’s broken. Beyond all things – I just give thanks – even for my distracted thoughts. If it’s what I’ve got – why not give thanks for it rather than accusing myself?

  16. Byron Avatar
    Byron

    I have a Graphic Arts background–from back in the day when we learned to draw with pencils and not computers. I remember how joyful it was to feel one’s hand press onto a pencil and create a line. You are entirely correct, Father, art is a way of seeing.

    So many lessons from my school days involved “just draw what you see”. One lesson had us sitting across from another person and drawing them–but we were not allowed to look at our paper, only the other person! That, and so much more, trains the mind to see and present (on paper) what is seen. It is wonderfully liberating to do. Sadly, now I have lost my drawing ability and I have not found a class that will help me regain it. Everything today is based on computers…meh!

    But more importantly than all that, your point about abstraction is so true! “Thinking about what we see” instead of seeing. It’s sad as well.

  17. Byron Avatar
    Byron

    One more comment from A.B. Frost, a teacher of T.S. Sullivant and inspiration to many early cartoonists and illustrators.

    Said this artist, “Now don’t you suppose”
    An intelligent man like me Knows
    How a horse ought to go
    Yet you say I don’t know
    And trust what a photograph shows!”

    Now, it wasn’t so much a critique of photography (at it’s earlier stages back in 1884, I think), but a (tongue-in-cheek) complaint that a photograph “sees” more than the human eye. It strikes me that art, seeing, is a participation in the moment that requires presence and recognition–along with the skill to communicate it to others personally. Drawings, pictures, words all convey this participation and can quicken the heart and/or quiet the mind. I so love this!

  18. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Byron,
    I’ve learned from conversations with my daughter (and watching her across the years) that her art ability has also involved practice and training. I think that for a lot of years I sort of thought of it as magical. She had way more native ability as a child than I did. I also note that she’s left-handed, and therefore naturally more attuned to the Right brain than I am. The psychiatrist, Iain McGilchrist, has written a length about this (I’ve not read him). A number of people (Pageau among them) have discussed this. I recently heard his work brought up at the conference I mentioned in an earlier comment (I think).

    I’m doing some exercises with pencils (not to become an artist), but just to “exercise” my brain in a different way. I think poetry also has something of a Right Brain origin. Pondering good poetry is helpful to me. My favorite, hands down, is Gerard Manley Hopkins.

  19. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Byron,
    Art as participation – I like that – and I “see” it.

  20. Ook Avatar
    Ook

    The situation has gotten significantly worse with smartphones. At performances I see people focusing intently on the tiny screen in front of them instead of on the performance. This is tolerated, so it seems even promoters have accepted that the only reality is on YouTube.
    On a recent trip to Sydney, I relied completely on Google Maps in my rental car. The result, sadly, is that I have no memory of the city streets.

  21. Byron Avatar
    Byron

    Father, I completely agree with your daughter–art requires a lot of training! But you’ve hit the nail on the head in pointing out that it takes time. No matter one’s natural ability, it takes a great deal of time to actually shape it into its proper expression. It is akin to the saying that it takes (at least) 10 years to develop an Orthodox mind. I find the parallels so exciting–I’m shocked that I didn’t recognize this before now (which hooks right back into your post)!

  22. April Avatar
    April

    Thank you, Father, for reminding us to see and hear with our hearts the time and place God has put us in.

  23. TJ Avatar
    TJ

    To what extent does God “enter into” and “speak through” our creative process?

    More than once have I endeavored to write down my thoughts after a bout of Scripture reading (or another inspiring piece of literature) only to find that the “flood gates” had opened into a creative exegesis. What poured forth was colorful, meaningful, clarifying and incredibly touching. … At least to me, that is. The content is nearly always geared at framing God as a friend. I’m very tender, and easily startled by things I perceive as harsh. I always want to soften sharp ideas, especially about God.

    Can we assume that God (can) actively communicates with us through our very own hand while we draw or write, so long as what is produced does not contradict Church Tradition?

    I find that when my time of prayer hits the paper, the experience becomes more… real. It sinks in. I’d like to think that His presence is carried through the words. Maybe I feel safe to engage with God this way. While I don’t want fashion an idol within my imagination, I hope in some way… that it is actually Him. I hesitate to accept it fully.

  24. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    TJ, back in 1984 my mother put on a Dance Symposium during which she brought together international dancers of great renown to teach and showcase the beauty of their art. One of them was Geoffrey Holder, A man of Trinidad, 6’6″ tall with a deep, melodious, base voice. Among other things he created a black musical version of The Wiz.

    He commanded the stage. Before leading his Master Class, he took stage and said, “I have seen God, baby! And He is right here (pointing toward his physical center)! Everytime He wants to talk to me, He starts my body moving!”. He then proceeded to demonstrate. The beauty was extraordinary.

    I believed him at the time; I believe the concept now. God does communicate to artists through their art as long as it expresses His love of humanity which Mr. Holder’s did.

  25. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Father Stephen, your comment to Esmée brought me both tears and joy.

    Especially: “ Beyond all things – I just give thanks – even for my distracted thoughts. If it’s what I’ve got – why not give thanks for it rather than accusing myself?”

    I’ve always fetishized the “mind route” to God, but what happens is I end up in fantasyland, distancing myself from Him.

    For me personally it would be better to engage with the “simple” day to day things in reality, and to give thanks always for all things. Apparently it’s not so simple… 🙂

    Reading your comment, a weight fell from my shoulders, Father. Thank you so much!

  26. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    TJ,
    In humility, we don’t make more of such experiences than they warrant – but, in truth, God is in every breath we take, with the beat of every heart. Surely He is in our thoughts and hands as well. Discerning “what’s me and what’s Him” is not clear. Simply give thanks for all things.

  27. Lewis Hodge Avatar
    Lewis Hodge

    This blog is, literally, eye opening, Father Stephen — and heart and mind opening, too.

    A common question opens a door to your teaching: “What do you see in her?” Recently, we answered this question. Months ago, we saw a picture of a new family-member-to-be through marriage. Later, we spent most of two days with her and her husband-to-be. There was no comparison between the picture and the person!

    I think your teaching also shows us the relationship between “seeing and knowing” and “seeing and believing.”

  28. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Father, thank you for your feedback. I believe we can only “polish the mirror,” that is, work to still the mind. Any and all enlightenment belongs to the Lord. In this sense, the Jesus prayer “works” for me. But I could also understand that it may not work for everyone.

  29. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Michael, thank you for the encouragement!

  30. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Matthew, I appreciate the recommendation. Another Catholic I appreciate in Keating’s general school of thought is James Finley. He has several profound works of contemplative teaching. Some are only in audio format, I believe. Thomas Merton was his great inspiration. Thanks again.

  31. Vlad Avatar

    Jonathan’s “most of the time, the world is flat.” always makes me remember that moment in Sherlock Holmes when Watson is speaking of Sherlock’s willing ignorance of heliocentrism.

    “His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politics he appeared to know next to nothing. Upon my quoting Thomas Carlyle, he inquired in the naivest way who he might be and what he had done. My surprise reached a climax, however, when I found incidentally that he was ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System. That any civilized human being in this nineteenth century should not be aware that the earth travelled round the sun appeared to be to me such an extraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.

    “You appear to be astonished,” he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. “Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it.”

    “To forget it?”

    “What the deuce is it to me?” he interrupted impatiently; “you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work.”

  32. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Vlad,
    The situation for Sherlock might be different if his penny earned relied on his understanding of physics. When it doesn’t then I suppose that such is quite true.

  33. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Skip,
    Thank you for your beautiful comment. I’m hoping to get back into photography too at some point. My life at this time however is a situation where a lot of flotsam is hitting the windshield. –Not so conducive for deep reflection and creativity.

  34. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Last comment for this evening:
    Owen, I’m not sure your understanding of work and method aligns with Father’s meaning.

    I too say the Jesus prayer. I don’t know whether it ‘works’ or not. But it is my personal way of holding the hand of Christ, like that of a child, in hope and trust and love. The rest is an unknown for me.

  35. Esmée Noelle Covey Avatar
    Esmée Noelle Covey

    Thank you, Father Stephen, for the reminder to simply give thanks for all that God has given me. I am currently living next to Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga and one of the Nuns, who is 81 years old, uses a manual clicker counter that she carries on her belt to keep track of the number of time per day that she thanks God. She said that when she first started, it was only about 5-10 times a day and now it is 30-40.

    I think one of the biggest challenges for me is having so many choices: to read, to listen, to watch, to pray. I think it was Father Roman Braga who said that he didn’t learn to pray until he was imprisoned by four walls and had no books, as even the good books become a distraction, an addiction.

    Steve Robinson recently gave a talk and he quoted a monk who had visited an anonymous elder on Mount Athos who told him, “God love you and he isn’t as strict as you think.” I suspect that God is far more gentle with us than we are with ourselves.

  36. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Esmée,
    I think that the giving of thanks is the most powerful form of prayer.

  37. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Hello Esmee (sorry, I don´t know how to accent the first e).

    I like the story about the nun and her thankfulness clicker. 🙂

    Fr. Stephen … from an Orthodox perspective why is being thankful to God so important?

  38. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    “Among the myths of Modernity is the insistence that truth can only refer to what “really” is in a very narrow, “semi-scientific” meaning of the term.”

    It is kind of confusing to read this. When I was meditating with the Thai Buddhists in St. Louis they insisted on “Right thought” and “Right Speech” and it so happens that they criticized the persistence of language that reinforces inaccurate perceptions of the world, like the sun setting and the sun rising. In other words, for the Buddhists it was a matter of discipline and mindfulness over thoughts and speech that we correct such phrases. For me it seemed like a trivia thing: As long as you know what I am talking about who cares? But, for the saffron robed monks it was a matter of discipline and mindfulness. The sun does not set and the sun does not rise. The universe does not turn around the earth. The earth is not the center of the universe, and so on. For us to know our proper place this change in perspective was necessary.

    What you seem to be arguing for is a noetically-themed Barfield foundationalism. I am just really surprised that your opposition to modernity is such that it pushes back against revolutionary paradigm shifts in perspective created by technology.

    Personally, I am grateful to know that the earth doesn’t sit at the center of the universe and that the scale of the universe is such that it would be easier to pick out a specific grain of sand out of all the earth’s grains of sand than it would be to find our planet amidst the vast cosmic superstructure. I am grateful for that. I want that very concrete observation to influence how I see myself and human existence. It is not an abstraction to know that the sun doesn’t really set or rise. That is a concrete observation. You know what is an abstraction? Ideas about ontology. Ideas about theology. Ideas about epistemology. Those are all abstractions and they are speculative. They are hypotheticals.

    I am really kind of confused by the article. Maybe help me understand where I am misreading?

  39. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Simon,
    I’m not arguing for one way of seeing. Rather, I’m suggesting that modernity (inasmuch as it applies) has a tendency to move us towards a one-way only manner of seeing, and confusing it with what is “real.” Our technology has, in many ways, distanced us from seeing what we see.

    Artists who write about the Left-Brain Right-Brain issues in art note that Left-Brain tends to abstract and draw an “idea” of a man rather than what they actually see in front of them. Much of the abstractions that we moderns have are actually just abstractions. I’m not arguing, however, that modern technology makes us see things wrong – or that it’s bad – only that it often makes it difficult for us to see (or think) in another manner.

    I would argue that people tend to see the sky as an abstraction – we’ve got lots of Star Trek and pictures from off-planet so that we look for something that we think about but don’t look at what we see. Very few modern people have ever seen the night sky in anything like its nakedness, and don’t bother themselves that this is no longer possible (light pollution, etc.).

    You mentioned Barfield. I would say that we lose the ability for Original Participation because of our modern tendencies – and that this is a true loss. It doesn’t cancel what a modern sees – it’s just that modernity is not without its costs on our perception.

  40. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Matthew,
    I think that to give thanks to God is the primary vocation of human beings – it is the sound of our priesthood – Eucharist.

  41. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks so much Fr. Stephen.

  42. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Matthew, recently I have found that, for me, the best way to give thanks is to repent. Then the Joy of the Lord comes from the depths of my soul and I can give Him glory.

    The Jesus Prayer helps immensely as does checking with my spiritual Father, my parish priest and my brother (who is a retired Orthodox priest).

    Thus my guiding Scripture My 4:17. “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

  43. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks Michael.

  44. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Dee, thanks for your comment. I admit I take a more pragmatic approach to these things. The Jesus prayer, for me, is a tool that works to produce a certain result. It is work and includes a good bit of effort. Like working a muscle, strength builds over time relative to effort and consistency. Healthy diet, i.e. the practice of the virtues, is essential to this training. I interpret all of this to correspond with what St. Maximus calls natural contemplation. It is our effort put forth, which is necessary but not sufficient.

    We realize natural contemplation, but God, says Maximus, must realize mystical theology. That is, we do not force God to reveal Himself; we only, in the words of Isaiah, “make straight His paths.” Stilling the mind is like polishing a mirror into which we gaze and see the face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We cannot force Him – mechanically via a method – to appear to us. But we train and remain watchful in hope. He promised to come like a thief!

  45. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Just to add one caveat, I do believe that grace precedes all our effort. There is a desiring for spiritual Truth that can’t be conjured. Indeed, I believe grace is at the ground of our being. We are graced in our very nature as spiritual creatures. The path of stillness promises further illumination. It’s grace upon grace.

  46. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Owen,
    The nature of my own caution surrounds prayer treated as “cause-and-effect.” It is why Orthodox teaching never describes the Jesus Prayer as a “method.” It is prayer – and it can have lots of variations. The most essential part of the prayer itself is the name of Jesus (When Fr. Zacharias of Essex was giving me instruction on the Prayer, he said, “pay special attention to the Name.” The Name itself carries within it the Divine Energies in some manner. It is our union with God – “Christ within us the hope of glory” – that is its point.

    Now, the question is: “What effect will Christ within us have?” To that, we should have no answer, for it is Himself. He is not and cannot be an effect. I am quite willing to admit that Christ in me might make me perfectly miserable at certain times – He is my God and I am His. He is not my possession. As someone nurtured in modern consumerism, I am suspicious of anything that tempts me towards a consumer’s spirituality: “I want this, here’s how to get it.”

    Rather, in the Prayer, I may be able to say, “I want God, and I will give myself to Him in this manner.”

    As such, the Prayer cannot be compared to any prayer technique of other religions – for its object/subject is Christ – not ourselves or our experience.

    So, I’m reactive and cautious on that basis. Hope that clarifies.

  47. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Psalm 118 in the New King James Bible comes to mind. Especially verse 24: “This is the day the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in it!”

    In the context of the whole Psalm that means rejoicing even as the world is against us.

  48. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Thus on one level, the Jesus Prayer seems one of deep praise even as it reveals the levels of darkness between our Lord and us.

    In any case, His Mercy and Grace are with us IF we persist in repentance. That is why we can Give Glory to God For All Things!

  49. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    Father, I understand your caution and appreciate your response. Thank you kindly.

  50. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Michael,
    The mercy and grace of God are with us regardless of our repentance. Without His mercy and grace we simply would not exist. I appreciate how important repentance is to you and your experience – but there is not such an “If” in God.

  51. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Simon,
    Well, there’s that word “method.” I stand corrected, though I think it can create misunderstandings (note how many things the chapter has to say that the Jesus Prayer “is not.”)

  52. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Yes, Father. All of it IS of Jesus no matter. I just have to take it apart a bit to allow the experience to filter through.

    He opens us in His arms if we approach Him honestly.

    Is that better?

  53. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Michael,
    Forgive me, but I still offer a correction. What you’re saying still puts all the weight on our side of the equation. He is faithful regardless of what we do. Rather, I would say: “He opens us in His arms, therefore would should approach Him honestly.” There is nothing conditional on God’s side. His love is unconditional. The Cross is the final statement on the love of God. Christ died for us “while we were yet sinners.” At the end of which, He says, “It is finished.”

    It’s important that we say these things carefully, because some of us are wounded, hurt, and crazy, and fear that God doesn’t love us and that we must do something to make Him change His mind, etc. God is love. There is no qualifier attached to that statement in the Scripture. It just is.

  54. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Simon,
    From that passage in Sophrony – a wonderful statement: “To believe in Christ one must have either the simplicity of little children – ‘Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 18.3)-or else, like St Paul, be fools for Christ’s sake. ‘We are fools for Christ’s sake … we are weak … we are despised … we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day’ (1 Cor. 4. 10, 13).”

    I’m working on the fool part…some days harder than others.

  55. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    I get that, Father. I am still struggling with the language. Thank you for the correction. You never have to apologize when I need one.

  56. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    This is a great conversation.

    I would agree that we probably shouldn´t use the word “method” (as the word is understood in the modern sense) when talking about contemplative prayer.

    That said, I think I agree with Owen that there is some sort of work (for lack of a better word) involved when we desire to move into a contemplative state. I speak only from experience. It is NOT easy detaching from thoughts. It is not easy quieting one´s self. Saying yes in our hearts to God´s presence and action; moving toward union with God; these things are not easy.

    God´s grace … ultimately though … is what is most important. God IS love.

  57. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks Michael!

  58. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Father, everything I know about Jesus, He has shown/is showing me. Either through others (as here and in the Sacraments) or directly by His Grace.

    I know He is real because He reveals Himself. A process which began when I was born, but started to be conscious for me in 1967. A reality of which I am unworthy but it happens anyway. .

    Glory to God!

  59. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Matthew, Farther,

    Thinking about giving thanks I’m reminded of Fr. Hopko’s explanation of the first beautitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”, see

    https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/the-beatitudes/poverty-in-spirit

    We might think we can do an awful lot, but it’s not us who’re doing?

    Please bear in mind that I’m only just introduced to the Christian way. I’ve started reading the Bible, attending Divine Liturgies, etc. As a matter of fact I have some conflicting feelings (as a “modern”, and former atheist) because sometimes it feels like I do have to do something myself – it can feel quite violently – which is dragging myself to Church.

  60. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks Ben, et al. This conversation, plus a quick return to the book I just read about the contemplative life, leads me to offer up a bit of a correction to my first insights. Fr. Thomas Keating said:

    1. Human effort depends on grace even as it invites it. Whatever degree of divine union we may reach bears no proportion to our effort. It is the sheer gift of divine love.

    2. Jesus did not teach a specific method of meditation or bodily discipline for quieting the imagination, memory, and emotions. We should choose a spiritual practice adapted to our particular temperament and natural disposition. We must also be willing to dispense with it when called by the Spirit to surrender to His direct guidance. The Spirit is above every method or practice. To follow His inspiration is the sure path to perfect freedom [or union? – my question].

    I think we always need to be aware of technique; like saying if I “do” this then I will “get” this outcome when it comes to the spiritual life. That said, am I not participating in the process, somehow, when I walk the path of union with God? Am I not trying to get someplace?

  61. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Fool or little child. Where does recognizing and accepting the Divine Joy of our Lord, Jesus laughter bubbling up from one’s deep heart fall?
    All I am trying to say is 1. Jesus, the Christ, is real (He has introduced Himself to me). 2. He is who He says He is and Holy Scripture says He is; and 3. Who the Church and the Holy Sacraments reveal.

    That is my testimony. Weather my words, demeanor or understanding are correct on the specifics–best I can do.

    I have been awake all night. Partly due to Psoriatic Arthritis pain; partly due to the particular Joy He brings me. Frankly, I am not sure which brings me closer to Him.

  62. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    We will be praying for you Michael. Try to get some rest. Thanks so much for your comments here on the blog.

  63. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Ben,
    The best way to think of this is under the heading of “love.” God’s love for us is unconditional and is not based on a response to what we ourselves do. Nonetheless, our actions are important. St. Anthony of Egypt described our “work” with a vivid example:
    1. A slave works our of fear
    2. A servant works for a reward
    3. A son works out of love

    In the first two examples – the person working has their attention on themselves. In the case of a son, his attention is on the object of his love.

    Yes, we work. Sometimes the work is hard and difficult. But the point of the work isn’t myself – it is God (Who loves me). Even if I work badly, or my work “fails” (whatever that might be), He still loves me.

    What is the work? The most important work is that we keep His commandments (to love, to forgive, to share generously, etc.). Christ said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). One of the Church Fathers said (I think it was Chrysostom) that He who feeds the poor does a greater work that someone who raises someone from the dead.

    I always recommend that people “begin small.” We do not become great giants of prayer in a short time. If someone is going to practice the Jesus Prayer, which I recommend, then they should start by praying a “single rope” (around 100 to 150 repetitions of the prayer) with their attention on Christ Himself. Do not have expectations. We simply do the prayer as a good thing. Much more important is the daily “struggle” to keep the commandments – to love those around us – to be kind and forgiving and generous to them and to be honest about our failings.

    Ben – I have had to violently drag myself to Church (or confession, etc.) more than a few times.

    BTW, you’ll not find any resource to be better than Fr. Thomas Hopko. I still miss him.

  64. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Michael,
    What a long night! I appreciate your witness – all of us do. May God sustain you in this great struggle.

  65. Michael Bauman Avatar
    Michael Bauman

    Thank you all for your prayers. Please pray for my wife, Merry as well. She, too,is in a lot of pain due to as connective tissue disorder. She did sleep well this night.

  66. Jeff Sanders Avatar
    Jeff Sanders

    What a beautiful way for a father to talk about his daughter.

  67. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Dear Michael,
    May our God grant you and Merry rest and ease of pain. I too appreciate your witness and your presence here.

  68. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Ben
    You’ve come to the right place for edification and learning. I too came here out of recommendation from my priest-catechist. And I too was not a Christian before my conversion through the Orthodox Church. It isn’t easy to begin such a path, and sometimes the struggles are indeed difficult.

  69. Dee of St Herman Avatar
    Dee of St Herman

    Father,
    I greatly appreciate your stance regarding “work” and “method”. My spiritual teachers have expressed similar concerns. When I first began on this road, I read spiritual materials for edification and for learning the Orthodox Way, with guidance and instruction. And still do this. We live in a culture of DYI and its a struggle to not ‘stay in our heads’ in our learning this path, as I was once critiqued. I’m very grateful for such instruction and it’s benefits become more obvious over the years. Since coming into and living in Orthodoxy there have been significant struggles for me of various sorts. I know that my capacity for persistence is not a strength I cultivated other than to do my best when I could to just be present in the services and to adhere as best as I could to the commandments. Whatever grace I received was indeed a gift, a gift of love, not a success of effort. Such grace received while having so often failed and fallen only increased my love and deep gratitude for Our Lord. Glory to God for His mercy and love.

  70. Owen Kelly Avatar
    Owen Kelly

    I’m reminded of St Paul’s words,

    “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.”

    It’s all by the grace of God, 100%. Likewise, in a real sense, it’s all up to us, 100%. A true synergy is at work here, I think, and there is no competition between the two.

    I believe the truest work is letting go: denying my own will (the false self), so that God’s will might shine through. As one poet put it,

    “It is not we who shoot the arrow;
    we are only the bow.
    The archer is the Lord.”

    God will see us through in the end.

  71. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks so much Dee and Owen.

  72. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Father, thank you for your guidance! Funnily enough, your advice appears so simple (in a good way), and yet so profound in that it really sets my mind straight. By the way, the “setting straight” has happened so many times already. It’s both wonderful and worrying.

    With trepidation I’ll set myself to this “work”, hard and difficult, God bless it be meaningful.

  73. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Owen,
    Well said. Over the years one of my realizations has been that I don’t know what I need, nor even what I should “work” on. Our salvation unfolds as a mystery. In truth, we don’t really know ourselves very well. Our life is “hid with Christ in God.” So, I tend to focus on the commandments of Christ and the sacramental life, and live with patience. As time passes, I can, in hindsight, see some of the things God has been unfolding in me. Grace surprises me – always.

  74. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    Dee, thank you for your encouragement. I really appreciate your perspective in the discussions. The way you present it, with kindness and humility, is a great example.

  75. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Fr. Stephen said:

    “Our salvation unfolds as a mystery. In truth, we don’t really know ourselves very well. Our life is “hid with Christ in God.” So, I tend to focus on the commandments of Christ and the sacramental life, and live with patience. As time passes, I can, in hindsight, see some of the things God has been unfolding in me. Grace surprises me – always.”

    Maybe I don´t need to do so much more than I am already doing …..

  76. Fr. Stephen Avatar

    Matthew,
    That’s between you and your confessor. Be well.

  77. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    Thanks Fr. Stephen.

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  1. Thank you for sharing, Matthew. I know I only pop in and out of the comments every once in a…

  2. “O Taste And See, Taste And See The Goodness Of The Lord, Of The Lord.” Amen

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