Speaking to an artist recently,
he described how a painting took shape. He starts off with an idea in his head but he is never
quite sure how it will work out in the end. He said: ‘I like the painting to speak to me.’ There is a sense in which the painting
itself guides him.
It’s not unusual to find artists
and writers describing their work in this way. I once heard a poet say he never finishes a poem without a
sense that in some way it has been given to him. Paul McCartney promoting his latest album said he will never
tire of writing songs because of the thrill of seeing something being produced
out of nothing.
None of this should really
surprise us. There is something
about the creative process that is beyond our understanding. But when you believe in a God who
created the Universe out of nothing and who has created humankind in His own
image, then to engage in any kind of creative activity is to be touched by His being. That is why there is so much
satisfaction in building, painting, gardening, writing, knitting,
decorating. All of this draws us into the Source of all
creation.
I suppose, however, that God’s
biggest current project is re-creation.
Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk writes: ‘From being a garden of peace and
sweet encounter, the world became a laboratory of selfishness, violence and
warfare.’ But God has not turned His back on His
ruined creation. He is working
towards the day when we will be returned to the garden. Through His death and resurrection
Jesus has made it possible for us as a renewed people to take our place in a
renewed creation. He has emerged from the laboratory of selfishness, violence
and warfare as the Risen Lord showing in Himself what God has in store for us
when this ‘old and weary earth’ gives way to the new heaven and the new
earth.
The season of Remembrance brings
to mind the worst of times for so many people but along with this we hold the
faith that Jesus is building the best of times for us all.
