This Black History Month, we have licensed four of artist Steve A. Prince’s social justice artworks to feature. We will post one artwork each Sunday, with questions and prompts for you to do Visio Divina, or “sacred seeing,” an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into the image to see what God might have to say to us.
Meditate + Reflect
“Living Epistle,” Linoleum Cut on Paper, 36″ x 50″ 2007
Description from Steve:
Epistle, by definition; means a written letter. The woman has three crosses surrounding her, and by proximity, they create a triangle, which alludes to the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The swirling marks around her body represent the power of the Holy Spirit.
The text on her body is reminiscent of a maze, which was used in the early church for prayer and meditation. When a person would walk the maze, they would pray with their hands upraised as a symbol of surrender. When they would reach the center, they would walk out with their hands down by their side as a symbol of acceptance. The woman stands with a double posture of praise; hand-raised surrendering to God, and a hand-down accepting the call on her life.
The woman’s body is emblazoned with a paraphrased scripture quote from 2 Corinthians 3:3, “I am a Living Epistle….written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone but in fleshy tables of the heart.” And on her stomach reads, Living Water, from John 7:38, “He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” The image encourages us to be a Living Epistle, a Living Letter for all to read.
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• Consider your first impressions. As you take in the image, notice your breath and your body. Allow your eyes to stay with the very first thing that catches your eye. Ask the Spirit to speak to you through what you’ve noticed, and leave room to listen. Slow your breathing and gently bring your attention back when it strays. What thoughts come to mind as you consider where your eye first lands? What emotions surface?
• Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. Let yourself begin to take in the picture as a whole, considering other parts of the image that catch your attention. How does the entire image make you feel? What questions does it provoke, or what memories does it stir up? If you were in the image, where would you place yourself?
• Look for God. Has anything in the painting become sacred for you? Is there a name for God, Jesus, or the Spirit that arises for you? In silence, sit with what you have received. It may be tempting to rush through the steps, but remember we are practicing keeping company with Jesus. Talk with God about what comes up for you.
• Return. If possible, return to the image throughout the day. This is an opportunity to continue to ponder and listen for God in an ongoing way.
Visio Divina prompts created by and used with permission of Vanessa Sadler and the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace. |
Learn more about C4SO’s celebration of Black History Month.
