Lent is a time to ponder, reflect, meditate and pray. This is the image of one of the carvings on one of the entrances to the old building. The angle catches the pondering image of the old man; he's off in thought. And further to that, the black background highlights the features of the reflective stance he has taken. I wonder what he's thinking about; I wonder what heaviness is burdening his heart and soul; I wonder if he's experiencing some kind of desolation. And for us too, when do we look like this old man? What are the things that weigh us down? Is it as evident when we are pondering life? I wonder.
These are 2 images of the "Crucified Woman" statue outside of Emmanuel. The images are stark and a clear reminder of how much brokenness there is in our world. And how much more profound that the image is that of a woman, especially given the oberservance this week of "International Women's Day". Women have born so much grief, injustice, violence and oppression over the years. The truth remains that they still do in so many places. As I saw the lines and cracks on this statue, my prayer went out for all who feel themselves to be crucified by what's going on in their lives, and especially by the things they have little or no control over. And in particular, I said a prayer for women who are in that experience; that God may grant them liberation and freedom and the gift of healing in all that causes them pain and suffering.
I was struck by the cracks in the various sidewalks. They reminded us that all of us have cracks of one form or another in our bodies, our hearts and even our souls. Part of the human condition is that we are easily broken, and for so many reasons that we can't avoid. Some cracks go deeper than others; some are just on the surface. But, they all inevitably affect us in how we feel about ourselves, in our relationships with others around us, and in our relationships with God. Concrete filler might repair the cracks in the sidewalk, but wear and tear eventually leads to the crack returning, sometimes even worst than it was originally. Isn't it true in our lives too; we can bandage and repair the crack, but unless we reflect deeply on what caused it in the first place, the repair will only be temporary. Healing requires intentional reflection and prayer that leads to more than a patch work repair job.
Finally, this image struck me profoundly. Through the cut glass we can see the burning candle; it's not quite focussed; it's a bit fuzzy. However, the light is there; it is burning; it is glowing. Isn't that true of life too. Sometimes the hope is clouded by a fuzziness and so we can't clearly make it out. But it's there, even in the darkest moment; even in the desolation; there is hope. And, just to catch a glimpse of of light in a dark place can be comforting and bring even a small sense of peace in the midst of stress and turmoil.Lent is about recognizing that we are a broken people, but that we are equally a hopeful people. We've witnessed a lot in our world lately that leads us into despair: the floods in Australia; the earthquake in New Zealand; the violence in Libya; the unrest in Egypt; and so many other things that are going on in our world. There are so many places that are troubled because of nature or war. And yet, we've also seen glimpses of hope: in the volunteers who have gone to Christ Church to dig out the rubble; how the world has come together in prayer for healing and peace; as resources to rebuild have been offered.
Lent is about preparing for the desolation of the cross, but equally for the hope of the resurrection. May we keep ourselves open to see and experience the profound mystery of both. Amen
deep reflections Mark...thank you. Your sidewalk observations reminded me of the "crack-filler" that my Mom uses on her wrinkles, and it leads me to thinking that cracks provide an important view into the whole, maybe especially for those whose image of Creator is elderly...may you be blessed this Lent with continued insights.
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