Painting God

Rothko No.14

 

Please bear with me while I riff a while longer on wording a Radiance/radiancing the Word. By now I am searching for ways of expression which communicate and convey and are wordless. Art, music, gesture come to mind.

I was recently moved by the testimony given by Chris Hoke in his book Wanted. It reminded me of Father Greg Boyle in Tatoos on the Heart as he, like Chris, recognized the injustice in our systems and the power of mercy. Unfortunately, for Hoke, this witness brought periods of dark despair and he found himself in an art gallery gazing at a painting by Mark Rothko. All despair of the world seemed to disappear or be absorbed in this dual colored painting which merges into an unexpected unity. The painting’s power and beauty and mystery spoke volumes. It might come as no surprise to you then that when asked what he was trying to paint, Rothko replied “I am trying to paint God”. 

I wonder at the graceful simplicity of this expression of the Mystery. Blessed are the artists, for their wordless grace points to eternity. Blessed are the viewers as they may know wisdom and comfort.

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