The title of this painting is "Supper at Emmaus"...but it could well be a Lenten Supper. A Lenten Supper is any meal--which becomes MORE than a meal. A Lenten Supper is a meal where the soul is nourished along with the body. These are times we long for to connect; be known, be heard, be understood and be loved.All of this is happening in this painting and it is my profound experience that this deep and soulful connection happens many times when I gather with a friend for lunch and the lunch becomes MORE than a lunch. The time becomes--encounter. The time becomes church. The time is when Jesus is suddenly in our midst and we feast on him, not just our Cobb salad or tuna fish sandwich.Lent is our time to slow the mind to run in sync with our souls. How does this happen admits our busy lives and demanding schedules? It happens when we create space and linger in time allowing Jesus to show up. In his presence we find ourselves alone no longer. In his presence our agony is assuaged. In his presence there is the fullness of joy.I want a Lenten Supper with my closest companions. I want Jesus to show up in our midst. I am wanting Easter real bad right now.This is my Lenten Journey!The painting is my reflective work this week using Juliet Benner's book. It's by Caravaggio.Stephen W. SmithPotter's Innwww.pottersinn.com
Our Lenten Hope
This amazing painting by Caravaggio is compelling. In the painting, the artist invites us to join this amazing dinner party. It's the scene after the first Easter and is titled, "The Supper at Emmaus." It's a favorite Bible story because Jesus reveals himself to his companions at the table. They did not recognize him on their long walk. They did not recognize him anywhere but at the table. There they recognize the nail pierced hands, the love of Jesus in their midst and their hope for many more Easter experiences. As Jesus broke the bread, their dullness of insight was also broken. Everything changed because of the table--and who was sitting around the table.This Lenten Season, I've sat with this painting explored more in depth by Juliet Benner in her remarkable and inviting book that I'm using this Lent.What must these followers of Jesus be thinking? Be feeling? Be experiencing at this moment of transformation when their eyes were opened? Imagine this as you study the painting. I so want to be there with them...with him.I like it that Jesus' hand is outstretched to me. It is as if I, too, belong there. I like it that there is room at the table for me. I like it that in that scene of intimacy, I too, would have my eyes widened and opened which I so need these days. I long to sit at a table like that. Don't you?As you find out in following Blog entries, this picture has so captivated me for some years now since it first came to may attention that it lays the foundation for our own ministry to begin having intimate gatherings, around the table, where we can too, experience the love of Jesus in our midst. It is what is missing in the fast pace, hurry sickened, fast food nation that we are living in. There seems to be no time for such intimate dinners. But why?The table of Jesus is where he did most of his teaching; where many were found by the love of God and where men and women were ushered in the church of two or three that Jesus spoke about and wanted us to also experience.This is the Jesus Meal.This is where I belong.This is where I am invited.This is my only hope.Caravaggio knew something that I'm wanting to know. Through the medium of his art, I can find my place at the table where I belong. Where you belong.It is our Lenten Hope.This is my Lenten JourneyStephen W. Smithwww.pottersinn.com
Lent: Lost in Space and Time
I was reading a favorite book of mine this morning and stopped when the author penned this line: "Implanted in the monastic heart is the desire to learn how to make a life rather than just a living." It's found in Macrina Wiederkehr's book, Seven Sacred Pauses. Her book is about living in rhythm by embracing a life of prayers similar to the Benedictines which have captured space in my heart over the past few years. Their old ancient wisdom and lifestyle offers us our best shot at learning a new way to live.Macrina's words are not new to me but this morning, they found a barren place in my soul. For the past three weeks, Gwen and I have been on the east coast leading three different ministry events--events for others, not for ourselves. We returned home near mid-night on Sunday knowing that the first thing we both needed to do was to find our center again. Life and the demands of ministry had somehow swooped down causing us to lose our equilibrium in nearly every way.Travel does that.... we cross time zones and lose our perspective. We have to meet other's expectations while burying our own. We feel out of sync. Imagine a life like this.... a life...not just a few days or weeks.Now, I can return to my Lenten Journey...how is yours going? A few weeks ago, we embarked on a 40 day walk to the Cross. It's fast, coming to an end. Now I must prepare a Maundy Thursday sermon that I've been invited to preach and I'm drawn to reflect on what it means to spend a time in vigil--an old word from an old world but it was a time when people seriously waited---waited for a soldier to come home; waited for someone dying to take their last breath; waiting for a new life to begin.Now, perhaps you, like me, can embrace the idea of entering an Easter Vigil--to regain the land that we have lost in our busyness and to live our lives and not to merely eek out an existance. Easter is our only hope!If you can scroll back to my last Lenten entry...the busy, busy painting and try again to find Jesus in the midst of the chaos. He's there. Do you see him?This is my Lentern Journey.Stephen W. SmithPotter's Innwww.pottersinn.com
Busy, Busy Lent
Hurry sickness is a malady that is infecting many of us this Lenten Season. Perhaps you had good intentions like I did to spend meaningful moments with God this Lent but the busyness is already sucking the life out of some of us. This Lenten Season, I"m reading Juliet Benner's beautiful book, Contemplative Vision and focusing on a piece of art each week to allow myself to be drawn in and to find the meaning for my own heart and soul. It's my way of trying to become more focused this Lent.How appropriate that Benner chooses "Census at Bethlehem" as one of the pieces she uses to help us understand the movement from busyness to becoming contemplative. Take a moment and study the painting. It's busy. Lots of people scurrying around; lots of people accomplishing tasks. Lots of people doing things. You can barely notice the pregnant Mary and the determined Joseph in the painting at all--but they are there indeed. Have you found them? Look half way over and at the bottom of the painting and you'll find them.To see Jesus, we have to look. We have to search. We don't always enjoy epiphanies and burning bushes on our journey do we? Looking for Jesus has to be intentional in our busy world--otherwise we might miss him--miss the holy moment that awaits us when we finally find him or he finds us. Lent is the intentional choice to look...and to look for meaning.In Lent, as Spring unfolds the majesty, resolve to lessen the load of your busy days but considering these action steps.1. Take a 10 minute walk OUTSIDE to look for Jesus.2. Take a 10 minute break in the midst of your day--like I am right now to even write this meditation. I came home after a meeting and rather than driving back to the office to "do" more, I'm using this time to withdrawn from the busy, unfolding day to have a moment to breathe. I need that. Do you.3. Read a book that can draw you into "seeing" Jesus in a whole new way this Lent. Like Benner's book or something you've had but have not read yet. Let it become your Lenten Journey--an intentional choice to think daily about the journey to the cross.I'm aware in Breugel the Elder's painting here that many people are doing many things. It was his intent to show us that we can miss Jesus.What if you are so busy that you miss the resurrection? What in you needs to come back to life? That's a Lenten Question worthy of stopping and having a cup of tea with or coffee over and pondering to see if you can find Jesus in the midst of a busy day, busy Lenten Season and busy Spring.This is my Lenten Journey.How is your's going?Stephen W. SmithPotter's Inn
My God Chair
I have a chair in my living room which we call, The God Chair. This is my perspective when I'm sitting in it. I'm staring at Rembrand's "The Return of the Prodigal" which you can only see the bottom of in this photo. To my right, which you also cannot see is a full, front view of Pike's Peak. I am watching, this morning, the golden sunrise reflected against this majestic mountain this morning. As the sun comes up, it's like an artist's palate has gone wild with colors on the mountain. Glory!I'm sitting here this morning, relaxed. But I'm fully aware that the past months have been anything but relaxed. Last night, before Gwen and I went to sleep, we laid in bed talking about how full our plates have been; how much I need to be done with some projects--like my book, and the renovation of the barn. To be truthful, I'm not sure how God has sustained us to move through all that has happened. It's been alot and has required focus and attention---much like the focus and attention of my mornings in the God chair.We call it a God chair because when you sit here, you're drawn by the painting inside and the mountain outside to consider a majesty that cannot be manufactured. You sit in quiet and somehow one becomes aware of God. That's one of the reasons I am being drawn to enjoy Juliet Benner's book which I'm using and encouraging others to get and use. I cannot remember a book that I have enjoyed---enjoyed-- reading and using. It's inspiring me to catch my breath; let my soul catch up with my body and stop all of this hurry sickness that I get caught up in from time to time.This is my Lenten Journey! How is hurry sickness affecting you in Lent? Do you have a God chair? Do you know what I am talking about here?Lenten Blessings,Stephen W. SmithPotter's Inn
Waiting and Listening in Lent
This is Johanne Vermeer's painting of Jesus in the house of Mary and Martha. It's one of the "visio divina" (sacred visual "seeing" God) art pieces that Juliet Benner devotes an entire chapter to in her wonderful and highly recommended book, "Contemplative Vision." I'm using this book for my own Lenten journey this year on my 40 day walk until Easter. It's an amazing experience for me to use Benner's book this Lent and I encourage you to get it and order it and follow it with me this Lent. We'll learn a lot together, no doubt!The art depicts the scene where Jesus is being waited on by both Mary and Martha--but in different ways. One is busy. One is waiting and listening. Both count and matter but one matters more to Jesus. That's the first level of "seeing" this painting.Vermeer's painting is fascinating on many levels but none compare with this insight that Benner offered me this morning. Take a look at the clothes that Mary and Martha are wearing. They are dressed like Flemish women living in Vermeer's day and age. The house looks Dutch. The table cloth is typical Dutch. But contrast that to what Jesus is wearing. He's dressed like a 1st century Rabbi.Why is that so compelling for me? Because this Lenten season, I'm writing a book which is really my life's work so far. It's entitled The Jesus Life and will be published in January 2012. In the book, I'm taking the reader on a journey to explore why the Abundant Life that Jesus promised us is so elusive today. Why are there so many followers of Jesus who are now the "tired, worn out and burned out" ones that Jesus addresses and says that we can "recover the life" that we have lost.Vermeer's painting depicts what needs to happen to 21st century believers. We need the real, the old, the time-tested Jesus to show up in our lives today. We need the Jesus truth to help us find the Jesus Way so that we can live the Jesus life. I need Jesus now--March 9th, 2011 and I will need Jesus to show up as he really is--every day of my journey into Lent. I don't need a contemporary Jesus dressed in fashionable clothing with gelled hair and a suave cadence. I need the Jewish Rabbi who will show me the ancient truths and real way that has been clouded by our fetishes to be relevant, timely and "different." I have grown weary of such attempts in my 56 year journey to live my life.I love Vermeer's way of reminding me that I just need Jesus, the Jew to show up to me as an American and tell me how to live my one and only life.This is my Lenten Journey. How do you need Jesus to show up for you and should he choose to do so, would he be dressed like Vermeer has him or in a way that you are imagining right now?Stephen W. SmithPotter's Innwww.pottersinn.com
Lenten Meditation #2: The Raising of Lazarus
This is one of the last oil paintings painted by Vincent Van Gogh. It shows the raising of Lazarus which is it's title. Jesus is not in the image but Lazarus is really a self-portrait of the artist himself, Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh saw himself as dead rising again to new life.See the sun, an ever present symbol in Van Gogh's work giving light, hope and presence. Notice Mary's surprise. Did she not really believe that what Jesus said could actually happen? Do we believe this?Lent is the 40 day journey that we walk towards Easter. We wonder now if we can make the journey. It's only the first day. On the first day, we sit with this question:What's dead in me that needs to be raised to new life?As I sit here and ponder this myself my mind roams to my weariness of my writing a new book. I"m ready for it to be done. The past two days have been painfully disappointing because I cloistered myself to work and work on the manuscript only to read the first chapter and to hate it. Hate it so much that I'm starting over with it. It's an uphill journey like the journey to Easter is for me right now. What feels dead is the very thing I have focused on the most this past year. I wonder today, if I will feel the life again; the passion again to find the right words.This is my journey to the cross I suppose. To be willing to lay down what I have valued most in order to be free to walk towards Jesus and to walk with him.As I write this early this morning, I'm aware of my own weariness and the need for a soul rest. Sometimes our minds can be so active like a pin-ball game--a machine where there is a lot of action with balls bouncing, things to avoid, traps to fall into and more. We want the peace.Yet, unless there is a resurrection, there will be no peace.This is my Lenten Journey. How would you describe yours?Lent helps me gain and re-gain perspective on the journey ahead of me. 40 days until Easter.Lenten Blessings!Stephen W. Smithwww.pottersinn.com
Lenten Meditation #1: Becoming Like Paul in Becoming More Aware~
This is Rembrandt's painting of the Apostle Paul. It's the first piece of art that I purchased 30 years ago. I liked this image so much as it seemed to captivate my thoughts on how Paul was inspired to write his letters to the eager churches that needed guidance, direction and counsel. Notice Paul's posture. He seems a bit lost, as if he's really 'lost in space' or drawn in his mind to contemplate the things of God for the people of God.He's not writing. He's pensive. Thinking and in his thoughts as if trying to capture the right word, the right phrase that would communicate the right thing. For Paul, there's no hurry here. We don't know how long he's already been seated at the desk nor do we know how long he will be there. Perhaps, he, himself does not even care. All that matters is saying the right thing in the right way.In this season of Lent, we all need to find the right thoughts and attempt to express them as the truth of our own lives. Perhaps you are new to Lent, like I am. It was not a part of my spiritual shaping but now in my life, my margins have widened to explore truth outside the lines of my childhood and very Baptist faith. Lent helps me to focus my attention like Paul on the things that really matter.This year, I am using Christian Art painted by the Masters to help me "see" beyond words what I might have missed in my decades of life. I will be using Juliet Benner's new book, "Contemplative Prayer" as my guide. I invite you to join me in this Lenten season. I'll be sharing some insights here on my blog. Please feel free to comment here; share and let's experience together a deeper journey to the cross in 40 days ahead.Let's become like Paul ridding ourselves of this 'hurry-sickness' that seems to plague our lives and choose to be purpose-filled in listening to God's voice. See Paul's right hand, I do note that he was right handed--unlike me. He's ready to write what God says. Are you? Am I?Lenten Blessings!Stephen W. Smithwww.pottersinn.com
2010 in review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here's a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 2,000 times in 2010. That's about 5 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 34 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 52 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 35mb. That's about 4 pictures per month.
The busiest day of the year was February 4th with 65 views. The most popular post that day was The Take-Away from Donald Miller's New Book.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, pottersinn.com, twitter.com, blogger.com, and mail.yahoo.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for stephen w. smith, farming oilpainting, gary and jan wingo, steve smith aspen inn, and potters inn.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
1
The Take-Away from Donald Miller's New Book February 2010
1 comment
2
About January 2010
3
Being Mad as Hell About the Value of My Life May 2010
5 comments
4
I'm Going To Look for Jesus... in the wilderness September 2010
1 comment and 1 Like on WordPress.com,
5
The Jesus Life Is Not the Church Life April 2010
3 comments
The Vigil of Waiting in Advent
We are officially in advent--that season of waiting and preparing our hearts to enter into the time of Christmas celebration. The entire church year begins with this season of waiting. Every 11 months, we get one month of waiting. It's an interesting rhythm which should affect our cadence of busyness and distraction.A word that has captured my attention for a while is the word "vigil." It's a focused time of being awake and alert. In times gone by, people would keep vigil for ill friends by staying up with the family; keep vigil with a pregnant friend who was waiting to deliver her child; keep vigil in the hospital as you waited on further word from the doctor about a loved one who was ill.We don't like waiting. We don't like vigils. We are consumed in a cult of speed and a flurry of activity.Currently, I have two very sick friends. Both have cancer. For both the prospect and prognosis is not good for healing. I find myself keeping a private vigil for them in my heart. They are most always on my minds as are there wives and children. I'm concerned. The vigil I keep for them morphs into prayer and releasing them to the hands of God. Keeping vigil is something I'm learning about and having two sons in Iraq has helped me enter a vigil time of life where everything it seems was put on hold.One of the gifts of Advent is the simple gift of getting a candle and practicing lighting it and sitting in the illuminating glow of beauty and a bit of warmth. That single act alone will help you enter the vigil a bit more. The simple act of even looking for the right candle to do it, can help you focus on the advent of waiting; of preparing your heart; of responding to an inner tug that something is amiss in your world and you want and need to stop; reflect on what is bothering you and then simply move out in the light of the candle.OK. For some of us, it will be simply putting the computer aside and lighting the candle of advent and turning down the music or turning off the TV and sitting for a moment in vigil.... sitting with our self and sitting with our God and allowing the quiet of the moment to assuage our fears of all the things we have not yet gotten done.When we light the Advent candle, we really are doing a very basic thing. We are practicing the sovereignty of God. By that I mean, we are simply keeping vigil... waiting and realizing that the world is not on our shoulders; we realize a very important fact.... Life is not up to me. It never was and never should be.Ready to light the Advent candle now? I think so.