Playing and praying with Art

I love art and design.  

From early childhood 'masterpieces' proudly displayed on my bedroom's cork board, to now messing about with a variety of mediums in my basement I really enjoy the act of creating something new.

Just for the fun of it.  

That statement is huge from someone who has spent her life in uniforms.  Participation in Brownies, Girl Guides, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, as a church Acolyte and Server, with the Canadian Armed Forces as an aviation technician and chaplain, and for the past twenty-five years in the unofficial black 'clericals' of the Anglican Church tradition keeps me in a very regulated colour palette.

Most of the time.

For anyone to survive uniform institutions there needs to be an element of activities such as humour in clowning, using puppetry, and bright civilian clothing choices.  My subversive rainbow colours were allowed out during 'children's church' in all the civilian churches, and many very beige military chapels.  For a military organization who prefers 'cad pat' as its daily work dress thereby earning the moniker of 'the relish suit', the contrasting decor of the buildings can leave much to be desired.  Shades of 'Oatmeal' and 'Cream of Wheat' comes to mind, never mind the fifty shades of airforce grey or the navy's iron blues.  

But, enough of editorial comment.  

My pre-computer concentration in Commercial Art at a vocational high school was my first official platform of learning in art.  Everything done by hand, not by vectors.  Sometimes it would be so quiet in class that you could hear a pin drop.  Occasionally, I would be concentrating so closely on my work that louder conversations would simply fade into the background.  

I didn't realize then that I was meditating in art mediums.

Most of us begin our spiritual journey with a longing for connection to something larger than ourselves.  This need for a universal sense of peace is sought through many and quite varied practises.  My area of experience is within Christianity, especially in the teaching of mysticism and quiet prayer.  Most of the authors I favour paint beautiful pictures of relationship with what is given to the 'people of the book' as the name, 'I Am'.  

How deceptively simple.  How magnificently great.

And that is how I managed to come to relate to the divine mystery, both through religious practises, and in spite of them.  While contemplating a colour wheel, walking a labyrinth, or singing in worship the great 'I Am' finds me.  Sitting in defeat, standing in opposition, limping forward, or lying down in sorrow does not deter the holy from entering our lives.  Where am I in the great I Am?  I'm considering colour, and play, and light: in the air, on the water, and under my feet.  

I am journeying in 'I Am's love.  Won't you come out and play?

Peace be with You,

Sue+