For the last three years in the spring, during a season called Eastertide, I have reflected through art on different theological issues. In 2011—Where do you find heaven? In 2012—Where do you see G-d* in the world? In 2013—What is a call to ministry? I wrestled with these traditional theological premises: afterlife, G-d, ministry, but with a twist. Instead of looking for answers in a far-away perfect, unattainable place, I asked myself, and often people around me, to engage these religious questions from an earthly perspective.
You see, Eastertide is a little known celebration in the Christian calendar, commemorating Jesus’s walking the earth for fifty days after his death. As I thought about this celebration, I wondered what Jesus, as a bodhisattva (an enlightened being of compassion), might give the world. Or, what indeed, each of us gives one another when called to expression of love.
The question I will pose for myself this year—What of forgiveness? From Easter to June 8, I will grapple, through art, with this question. I have already spent some time reflecting on the times I have missed, or simply not taken, opportunities to act out of love. I am going to wrestle with what it means to be forgiven for these and here is the human twist—I will, when possible by whatever means, ask for forgiveness from another and I will ask for forgiveness from myself. I will practice asking for compassion in part by learning to be compassionate. . . I am reminded of the beautiful Rumi poem, “out somewhere is a field beyond right doing and wrong doing, I will meet you there…”
I wonder if you might join me. If, on one or more of these days, you might engage this question for yourself in a creative way. If you might stop for a moment to reflect on forgiveness and self compassion. If you would like to share your holy wisdom as expressed in the arts, please let me know. I would gladly post your work as well. As always, peace.
Karen
(*I spell G-d with a dash to signify I cannot know the full meaning of that word.)
You see, Eastertide is a little known celebration in the Christian calendar, commemorating Jesus’s walking the earth for fifty days after his death. As I thought about this celebration, I wondered what Jesus, as a bodhisattva (an enlightened being of compassion), might give the world. Or, what indeed, each of us gives one another when called to expression of love.
The question I will pose for myself this year—What of forgiveness? From Easter to June 8, I will grapple, through art, with this question. I have already spent some time reflecting on the times I have missed, or simply not taken, opportunities to act out of love. I am going to wrestle with what it means to be forgiven for these and here is the human twist—I will, when possible by whatever means, ask for forgiveness from another and I will ask for forgiveness from myself. I will practice asking for compassion in part by learning to be compassionate. . . I am reminded of the beautiful Rumi poem, “out somewhere is a field beyond right doing and wrong doing, I will meet you there…”
I wonder if you might join me. If, on one or more of these days, you might engage this question for yourself in a creative way. If you might stop for a moment to reflect on forgiveness and self compassion. If you would like to share your holy wisdom as expressed in the arts, please let me know. I would gladly post your work as well. As always, peace.
Karen
(*I spell G-d with a dash to signify I cannot know the full meaning of that word.)
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