In art school (college).. a long time ago, our art instructor had us read the book, ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ by Annie Dillard. I purchased the book a few years ago so I could read it again, and still haven’t, so I’m aiming to do that now. I don’t exactly remember how it went, but there was a particular passage that so resonated with me, that I still think of it, even now. I have puzzled for years over why certain images, and moments, and feelings stand out; and I just recently had the revelation that it is, indeed, the very nature of God. God is always revealing who He is to us, but it’s when our senses are awakened and our heart is open, that the beauty of His creation can fully awaken us to who He is. I’ll share the passage so you might see what I mean…

“…Then one day I was walking along Tinker Creek thinking of nothing at all and I saw the tree with the lights in it. I saw the backyard cedar where the mourning doves roost charged and transfigured, each cell buzzing with flame. I stood on the grass with the lights in it, grass that was wholly fire, utterly focused and utterly dreamed. It was less like seeing than like being for the first time seen, knocked breathless by a powerful glance. The lights of the fire abated, but I’m still spending the power. Gradually the lights went out in the cedar, the colors died, the cells unflamed and disappeared. I was still ringing. I had my whole life been a bell, and never knew it until at that moment I was lifted and struck. I have since only rarely seen the tree with the lights in it. The vision comes and goes, mostly goes, but I live for it, for the moment when the mountains open and a new light roars in spate through the crack, and the mountains slam…” –Annie Dillard, ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ (1974)

I think life can always be this beautiful, especially for those who are tuned into their surroundings and tuned in to the mighty hand of God. However, I know that the enemy is also working overtime to distract and destroy. So in order to stay afloat in this wild world, we must fix our gaze on things above. We must slow down and allow for those moments when God absolutely overwhelms our senses, and just drink them in. Breathe in the beauty of our Creator as if it’s our first breath. We must allow His beauty to form us, to change us, and to inform the way we approach this life.

This summer I have been reading The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry, and in book 3, The Messenger, there is a powerful part where Leader says, “our gift is our weapon.” I believe that for all those given the gift of creativity, our gift is our weapon of warfare against the enemy. I hope to write more on this soon….

Happy Friday, y’all!