Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. (Georgia O’Keeffe) Georgia O’Keeffe, a pioneer of modern art, is famous for her close range paintings of flowers in the 1920’s. Her intention was to get busy New Yorkers to see what she saw. Her paintings of flowers, especially the poppies (1928)* are compelling, as they are bold, rich in color, and take us to the very center. Her work radiated light, energy and awe, as she expressed more than the flower, but the essence of the flower. O’Keeffe, like so many other outstanding artists in history, was pointing us to something greater and beyond the obvious. In a similar way, St John the Baptist and Jesus pointed to “another,” greater than themselves, for us to seek and follow.
At Christmas we highlight significant people in our lives by searching out a nice gift for them. Through them we receive and manifest Christ’s light, love, wisdom, healing and hope. Meister Eckhart once said, “What good is it that Christ was born 2.000 years ago if he is not now born in your heart”. So the tradition of gift giving is an opportunity to celebrate not only Christ born 2000 years ago, but the divine presence experienced in loved ones with whom we are committed in life’s journey.
While we keep certain traditions alive, we cannot ignore the growing, deep conviction that something new is being born. At this time in history we are entering into a new frontier and more vast relationships with space surrounding our world. Research tells us the cosmos is bigger and grander than we ever imagined. Mystery and sense of the sacred abounds. Our circle of relationships takes on new responsibility. The evolving Mystery and meaning of the Divine, challenges our knowing, as it did when O’Keeffe painted her flowers. We are now awakened and building on the rise of a new consciousness.
TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION:
Identify two qualities of the Divine that you witness in one significant person in your life that you will remember in a special way this Christmas
MUSIC VIDEO:
John Rutter and Cambridge College Singers – Look At the World - https://youtu.be/Rb0g- npfVcI?list=PLIgiJuhPPH7e9w9UMhiKCS6a-QdZ6TV91
WHILE WE WAIT – ADVENT REFLECTIONS 2016
Spiritual Ministries Network of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada – London Site
Text: Sister Patricia St. Louis, CSJ
*Oriental Poppies 1928 is now a part of a collection at the University of Minnesota Art Museum, Minneapolis. Found at: http://www.georgiaokeeffe.net/oriental-poppies.jsp