Blog Archives

Fra Angelico and faith~

3/29/2017

     I’ve been thinking about a powerful message I learned in childhood, one that was reinforce in college art history courses, and continues to remain as intellectual dogma to this day. It goes something like this: religious paintings are beautiful as art, but we enlightened individuals (including sophisticated Protestant Christians), don’t need them to tell us about Jesus. After all, we can read and interpret.
     For as far back as I can remember, I’ve been bothered by this interpretation. Finally I’m admitting that for me, such a stance is full of hubris and arrogance. It doesn’t fit with my belief that God loves everyone and that everyone is equal in God’s eyes. Nor does it resonate when I view medieval and renaissance paintings in Florence.
     This was made clear to me this morning as I viewed Fra Angelico’s frescos in the monks’ cells at the Convent of San Marco. I was in awe. My faith needs these picture to help me learn about Jesus, and follow his teachings.

Church and Convent of St. Francis in Fiesole

3/27/2017

Here they are again: Pictures of the Church and Convent of St. Francis in Fiesole. Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco and a hike up the hill. Everything is in miniature, the cells, cloisters and church. No distractions. God is there. Amen

Walking with God in Lucca

3/26/2017

San Michele

Lucca is a lovely walled medieval city an hour and a half train ride from Florence. I went there yesterday to wander through the streets with God. With such a beautiful day before me, the only church I entered was San Michele, where I lit a candle for some friends. Today God was most present out of doors. To be simplistic, that’s where God wanted to be.

Trinity of love~

3/24/2017

Let me explain the photos on the slideshow accompanying this post. They are of people I passed on the street, people to whom I sent out loving kindness, which Pema Chordron explains as the Buddhist’ practice of Maitri.
This same principle applies to us as Christians; love begets love, and we reap what we sow. Jesus’ teaching can be distilled into one guiding principle, love: love God, love yourself, love others. It’s a trinity of love. They all go together. I believe that prayer can change the world. My small part might just be to think positive (i.e. loving) thoughts and send loving kindness out into my universe, which for the next twelve days includes the streets of Florence.

Travel gratitudes~

3/22/2017

     I’m on the train from Rome to Florence thinking about all the gratitudes I feel, and renewing my commitment to start they day expressing them and to continue to do so throughout the day. A good model is St. Paul, who began and ended his letters giving thanks. It’s a good habit, and habits come with practice. Another model comes from a friend of mine who, in emailing about some challenging changes in her life, started by expressing gratitude by naming specific things her friends had done for her.
     Today I am thankful for a safe flight and early arrival in Rome: that my hotel room was ready; that I enjoyed taking the bus to Castel Sant’Angelo and the Pantheon: that I have the stamina to walk and a good digestive system to enjoy tagliatelle with shrimp and zucchini: that things work out well in my life so I can take these solitary trips. Hmm, those graitudes are all about me.
     I desire to expand these beyond myself and into the wider world. As a start, I’m grateful that the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome has declared itself to be a sanctuary for refugees. Awareness comes with prayer.

Italy again~

3/16/2017

I’m going to Italy on Monday for two weeks, spending one night in Rome and then taking the train to my beloved Florence, where I’ve rented an apartment for thirteen nights. When asked, I tell people I’m going to write, to walk, visit museums, read, to pray, and eat. To some I say that I’m going to walk around with God. That is always true but it can be off-putting to some. By their very nature, solitary trips are personal.

Be thankful in all circumstances~

3/11/2017

This morning as I started thinking about what I was grateful for, Paul’s message in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came to mind. “Be thankful in all circumstances….” All circumstances, he tell us. Really? It’s easy to be grateful for a beautiful day or good things happening in my life, but what about the tough times? I don’t think Paul is suggesting that we love everything that happens. Rather, I believe he is asking us to see the possibilities of good in whatever takes place. He’s asking us to take a deeper, more nuanced look, and give it time.
Jesus’ followers couldn’t have been thankful as they watched their friend on the cross. They didn’t know the good news that was to follow. In the moment it is impossible to be thankful for physical and emotional pain.
God’s invitation to be thankful in all circumstances invites us to live in God’s kingdom, not our own, which means to wait out God’s plan with hope. This morning I’m thinking of a difficult situation that I am a part of and trying to be thankful for the ways that God is shining through it.

Lenten presence~

3/3/2017

     We are three days into Lent. It seems that the Lenten conversation, whether it be with ourselves or with others, often centers on two questions: What should I give up? What should I take on? Notice the word should, which seems to imply something I HAVE to do. But who said? Not God, not Jesus. If that isn’t the point, what is?
     Taking a Biblical route to sort this out isn’t the rocky road I am being shown this year. Rather, I’m being led toward the presence of God, which is a relatively smooth, uncomplicated path—just do it. I was shown this path at the beginning of year when my reading for compassion project led me toward God’s presence, and now in March my Lenten pondering is doing the same.
     Being present with (not to) God is the ultimate call, the reason for everything we do, be it giving something up or taking something on. To be at one with God—atonement, on-one-ment—to be in God’s presence. Lenten practices, be they fasting or taking on some responsibility, keep God in our consciousness and keep us in communion with God. They are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. Being with God, that’s it.