THROUGH THE LENS7 December 2011

MADELEINE L’ENGLE WALKING ON WATER

“We cannot seem to escape paradox; I do not think I want to.”

A UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY

“When I start a new seminar, I tell my students that I will undoubtedly contradict myself, and that I will mean both things. But an acceptance of contradiction is no excuse for fuzzy thinking. We do have to use our minds as far as they will take us, yet acknowledging that they cannot take us all the way.”

A Circle of Quiet

Luke 2

 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

He did not wait until the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy He came

to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

He comes with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

First Coming

…THE INCARNATION, THE SCANDAL OF THE PARTICULAR, MAKES SENSE OF ALL THAT SEEMING SENSELESSNESS WITH WHICH WE ARE SURROUNDED…THE BIBLE TELLS, BUT IT DOES NOT ANSWER.

(The Divine Interference chapter)

What do you think?

“A

HO

RS

E N

AM

ED

HU

MP

HR

EY

”

Well?

Is she right?

What will you do with that idea?

We must let go of our rigidities and open up to the wonder that God so freely offers.

PARADOX

Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Maker of all the galaxies, gave up all power so that this power might instead be human, mortal, finite, and that we might understand that this very humanness, mortality, finiteness, if we would only accept it, would be made divine, immortal, and infinite by God in the fullness of time.

HOMEWORKRead chapters 7-12

Create an image from any part of those chapters

Write a 500-1000 word personal response to the Incarnation

Prepare a 5 minute presentation that includes your image and your personal response. This presentation should be polished, professional, and practiced.