This year, I am beginning the practice of Visio Devina, which is a method of connecting with God through visuals, often religious art. Many churches, including mine, have chosen to forgo stained glass, icons such as crucifixes and statues, religious art, and other visual manifestations of the Story. The philosophy is lovely: the people are the church; the church is just a building to in which to gather, the Word of God stands alone.
But in my own quiet time, I benefit greatly from using art to accentuate my understanding of the Story and to connect with God. Like Lectio Devina, I spend slow time with the image and listen for God to speak. I research the symbolism. The art is not necessarily inspired by God as is the Word, but that is ok. I do not worship the art or the artist, but I allow the art to lead me into worship.
Today, in the midst of Advent, while I wait for Christ's coming, I think on Mary. There are so many wonderful paintings of the Annunciation, when they angel visits Mary with the life-changing news, but this one has always been my favorite for its simplicity and its "holy buckets, what's going on here" sentiment.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation)1849–50
Here are some things I ponder as I study this picture:
I wonder how the dear teenage girl in our church is doing with her little son? I will pray for her.
I wonder what it felt like for Christ to leave heaven.
I wonder how my friends are doing, the ones who have had life-changing events this year.
What is that red thing in the picture?
What is the gender of the angel? Does it matter?
What does it feel like to be a refugee? A pregnant teenager? An angel?
Here is a song from my Christmas CD that I wrote from Mary's perspective.
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