Awakening

December 6, 2007 · by Christine

Yesterday morning I awoke at my hermitage and stood in the kitchen to make some breakfast with my back to the window.  I eventually turned around and saw a small rainbow across the waters of the Hood Canal over the Olympics.  Leaving behind my food, I grabbed my camera and hurried down the steps to the beach.

One of the readings last Sunday from the Christian lectionary is from the letter St. Paul wrote to the Romans.  This line has been lingering with me the last couple of days: “You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.”  I don’t like the rest of the reading with its emphasis on apocalyptic endings and leaving behind the evil darkness. My theology isn’t salvation-oriented, and is much more cyclical and embracing of the gifts of darkness.  However, I love the image of awakening.  It is the theme of our expressive arts program for spiritual directors and is a great metaphor for our journey of transformation. 

When I heard Michael Meade speaking a few weeks ago he talked about how the primary metaphor in Western religion is that of the fall, we are a fallen humanity needing to be redeemed and so the emphasis becomes salvation. But in Eastern religion the metaphor is of a humanity that has fallen asleep to our true nature and forgotten who we are, so practices emphasize learning how to re-awaken to our truest and most authentic selves.  One of the great gifts of inter-religious dialogue is the expansion of vision we have for how the world operates.  Each is a metaphor, a way of thinking about things.  Each contains some kernel of truth.  These two ways of seeing the world may seem at odds, but the nature of religion is paradox, and so each offers us a part of the whole.  And one vision is never the entirety of what is possible or true.

Advent is very much about awakening, shaking off our slumber and opening our eyes wide to see the sacredness of everything we encounter.  So awaken my friends, and begin by breathing in some beauty that was a gift to me on a quiet morning.

    

 

-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts

Posted in Photos, Advent |

11 Responses to “Awakening”

  1. Waverly Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 12:57 am

    You really captured the darkness of Advent, as well as the light with these images. I think that’s why I like the one in the upper lefthand corner the best.

  2. Sue Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 5:46 am

    You have also captured a fair bit of my journey at the moment :) I am much more aligning with the eastern conceptions, God save my heretic soul

  3. Christine Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 8:25 am

    Thanks Waverly, I like that one too for the same reason, but also the one with the heron as I adore those birds and was thrilled that one flew by for me.

    Sue, I will join you in the heretic camp, I think its a much more interesting place to be. :-)

  4. lucy Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 9:42 am

    sue & christine…count me in your camp!

  5. Suz Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 9:47 am

    My favorite, too. I guess I am a Christian/Heretic. And some days, I think I am a Buddhist. Time to get out the Marcus Borg again…I could not wrap my arms around Christianity without him.

  6. claire Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 10:38 am

    too beautiful - thank you for sharing this precious moment us :o)
    you wouldn’t believe what i’m reading? (see my blog) the sentence ‘My theology isn’t salvation-oriented, and is much more cyclical and embracing of the gifts of darkness…’ just leapt off the screen - wow!!

  7. Christine Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 10:57 am

    sue, lucy, and Suz, sounds like we could start our own little heretic’s club :-)

    Claire, I love that we’re reading the same book — I am moving through it slowly, but loving every bit of it.

  8. eileen (the dream) Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am

    Beautiful photos, Christine. What a lovely and loving morning gift!
    I am awake … and grateful for it.

  9. Christine Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 2:02 pm

    thanks eileen! :-)

  10. Bette Says:
    December 6th, 2007 at 11:58 pm

    wow, those photos are breathtaking — awakening! i agree with the eastern spiritual metaphors, but also believe that parts of many religious beliefs make the whole. it has taken me 50 years to figure that one out and i’m still learning. and now i’m embracing the gifts of fruitful darkness more and more. Joan Halifax’s book “The Fruitful Darkness” has taken top priority in reading for now :)

  11. Christine Says:
    December 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am

    Thanks Bette, I am still reading the other book on darkness but hope to get to the Halifax one soon.

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