Posts
The art of story-telling is a language that targets the heart, and as Jesus said, “he who has hears to hear, let him hear what the spirit is saying.”
Slowly I am continuing to peck away at reading more of Brennan Manning’s books, the one I’m in right now is, “A Glimpse Of Jesus” and it too is deeply touching my heart, hearing the truth as freeing as it is, is also very painful!
Something (there are so many things I’d love to share from this little book) that spoke volumes to me today was from Manning quoting (which he does a lot of) journalist and Christian apologist Malcolm Muggeridge.
“Only mystics, clowns and artists, in my experience, speak the truth, which, as Blake keeps insisting, is perceptible to the imagination rather than the mind. Our knowledge of Jesus Christ is far too serious a business to be left to theologians and exegetes alone. From the Middle Ages these professionals have monotonously neglected art and the imagination as guides to religious truth. I find myself in complete agreement with those who wish to reinstate the mystics, clowns and artists alongside the scholars. The imaginable is the believable.” To modify Wittgenstein: ‘What we cannot imagine, we must confine to silence and non-belief.’
Rich
7 comments:
And what if I had no label to put on? What if I am an ordinary man who wakes up in the morning. Goes to the work. Then goes home. Plays with kids. Talks with his wife. And later goes to sleep.
I just can't agree with Malcolm Muggeridge that only mystics, clowns and artists speak the truth.
I believe that the only truth is the Truth - Jesus Christ. And I do believe He is my very life. How could I lie? Or maybe I am His mystic, clown or artist without a worldly fame - being only for Him? In the secret. I am His. As He is able to speak through the stones, He is able to speak through me either.
I couldn't agree more. This post reminds me of that movie "The Bridge to Terabithia" where imagination broke through barriers, even the religious, to the discovery of power of relationships.
It's sad that the glorious creativity of Father has been dominated by "silence and non-belief"
And what if I had no label to put on? What if I am an ordinary man who wakes up in the morning. Goes to the work. Then goes home. Plays with kids. Talks with his wife. And later goes to sleep.
“What I was sharing here didn’t having anything to do with wearing ‘labels’ it was a visual contrast the quoted author was using to show how the “truth” is guarded and kept by the gate-keepers of all that is sacred and holy, which is a lie! Anyone who thinks they can be the authority alone, confined to a certain demographic is not conscious of the fact that their cheese has fallen off their cracker.”
I just can't agree with Malcolm Muggeridge that only mystics, clowns and artists speak the truth.
“For all intents and purposes Jesus was viewed as just that, a clown, mystic and perhaps a misguided artist, definitely not anyone who could speak of God in a relational intimacy.
Religion leaves no room for anyone to breathe deep into their being the very breath of God, let alone, move, live and discover their very being!”
I believe that the only truth is the Truth - Jesus Christ. And I do believe He is my very life. How could I lie? Or maybe I am His mystic, clown or artist without a worldly fame - being only for Him? In the secret. I am His. As He is able to speak through the stones, He is able to speak through me either.
“Our brother Paul said, “I am a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?” Or as Bob Dylan said so poetically, “You have to serve somebody no matter who you are.” Michael Jackson reminds me of a crystal prism, hold it up to the light (of God) and suddenly the invisible world realm of colours invades my black and white world..oh to God for that reality to shine forth from us all that claim to know Him!!!”
Bob,
Thanks for what you saw in this and for what you shared.
It is in my opinion, the experiencing of His unconditional love that awakens in us not only Whose we are, but brings for a animated living breathing ability to see, imagine so much that exists outside the lines of static one dimensional thinking!
As long Love is a mere word, it has no great impact in one's life. But when Love shows up through whatever It wants to, it makes much more sense. It changes the whole Universe. To know God as Love is the best I can ever imagine. I am forever grateful because He is loving me so much. Love is the most important "thing" in my life.
We are who we are – scholars, mystics, clowns, and artists. And a great deal of us feel like nothing more than bungling fools for Christ. He has and is knitting us all into His Body to be His witnesses, His very Life expressed to all who have ears to hear and eyes to see. I am not a scholar. I often feel quiet stupid actually, when I compare myself to others who appear more wise and learned than me. But, when the dust clears and silence fills the air I remember who I am, in Whom I live and Who lives in me. I see and hear those other fools for Jesus, marching forward through and living in a world of doubt and pain.
Who are we? The only label my heart really wants to wear is, "I am Christ's!"
aimdavea,
Thank you so much for what you shared, words right from our Father's heart this was!
Slowly as His perfect loves finds more access/inroads to mt heart, the comparing competing crap seems to be lost in the misty smoke and mirror tactics that once ruled my inner thinking.
Indeed He IS knitting us all into a living tapestry, each strand, each thread, is vibrant and pregnant with His goodness and kindness...oh how I LOVE my Father, and my siblings!
Post a Comment