Braided Vision
Monday, March 9, 2009 at 6:45AM 
This is a new painting finished last month. It is called, "Braided Vision". It is in a series of paintings that deal with my pondering over the verse from the Bible, "We do not look to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are passing away but the things that are unseen are eternal". With this verse the question becomes, how do we look at things we cannot see, what are these things and where are they?
When Moses came down to the Red sea with the army storming down behind him with the lives of all his people in great jeopardy, all he had in that moment was his stick and a promise. The promise of course was from God, that he would be remain with Moses and always help him take care of his people in every situation. The promise was not something Moses could see in that moment. The immovable sea he could see. We know how that story goes on to turn out but Moses didn't before he raised his stick. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you will know that Brenda and I live in this wonderful if not scary reality all the time. It is a walk of faith to make art, interact with our children and neighbors, cook meals, garden and just go on day to day living our life and the whole time trusting God that there will be enough money to pay the next bill due and trust that there will be enough to buy the food for the next series of meals. God has always been faithful in his provisions even if his timing is often a bit scary but then that last minute rescue seems to be a running theme in many of the Bibles best stories.
Reader Comments (3)
What a gorgeous, gorgeous painting, Rick! Another beautiful creation in our world. I too have been spending time with Moses. I want to learn his trust.
Spiritual vision certainly goes beyond the natural world but a spirituality devoid of the natural world is not Christian spirituality which affirms creation as “good” and the body as something worth resurrecting. As you said on your flicker page this is a “spiritual vision which goes beyond the the natural world though [is] still connected to it.” But the verse you are pondering actually seems to have less to do with the natural world and more to do with the temporary situation of suffering and persecution which Paul is enduring The things seen in this verse are the present tensions and distress and the systems which result in suffering and injustice. To keep our eyes focused on the unseen in this particular circumstance is to keep the eyes of faith on the now in-breaking and eventually completed kingdom of God where all the seen sufferings and injustice of the world fade away.in the light of the coming resurrection and final redemption. So there is no duality present in Paul’s theology here between the physical and the spiritual as some interpret it or imagine.
But I digress, braided vision is an awesome metaphor. How what is unseen is still present, braided in. Great painting and vision.
"to keep the eyes of faith on the now in-breaking and eventually completed kingdom of God" wonderful way to describe that mystery, thank you Brent.
And Thank you Lorilyn for your kind words. I feel a persistent pull to visit your home soon and be inspired.