Art for Lent .. "One thing I do know; I was blind and now I see"

​There are a number of artists in our church (First Presbyterian Church of Marietta) who mostly keep to ourselves. This year, however, we've been asked to make a contribution in the form of a piece of art to be used on the front of the Sunday worship bulletin during Lent. Each of us are creating a piece which reflects our impression of the scriptural text for that day. 

Tomorrow is the Fourth Sunday in Lent and my art represents the blind man gaining his sight at the hands of Jesus. This scene is especially poignant for me since I spent my professional life as a Rehabilitation Counselor, responsible for helping disabled individuals find fulfillment despite their functional impairment or despite the view of a society unable to see potential even in those tagged with the title "disabled" .

Unfortunately, many of our churches will be quiet tomorrow, stilled by fear and reality of pandemic effecting normal styles of life and worship. If you are spending some time tomorrow in quiet contemplation, and if you happen to turn you eyes to John 9, I'd encourage you to keep in mind Who is really in charge!  We are being distracted by what we see on the media, hear on twitter and newsfeeds, speak (or don't speak) in fear of creating awkward discourse.

Whatever your faith, your world view and/or sense of spirituality, I think it may be helpful to think and pray in the simplest of terms and not get bogged down in details.  All that we're going through individually, together and worldwide, I believe has a much larger purpose. We may not be able to see it yet, like the blind man, but it helps to know that this too will end someday and offer new opportunity.

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