Lectio Divina

I looked up Lectio Divina and the definition of it is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to produce communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and pray or even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul.

            The process is to begin by Lectio, simply listening to and “be aware” of the reading, to write down the words or phrase that stands out to you, followed by a moment of silence. Secondly is, Meditatio, where the reader reflects on the word by being “aware of a thought or reflection that stands out to you.” Third is Oratio, responding to the word. This is where the reader “is aware of any prayer that rises up in your heart.” And finally is Contemplatio, where the reader “rests in the word” or in the Spirit.

            As the class did this exercise in class for, Sonney’s Blues, I found myself looking at the text in a new way. Different things stood out more and I was able to reflect deeper upon the story. I am excited to try reading the Word of God in this way because I believe that I will meditate on it more so. I looked up some pictures for Lectio Divina and thought the image portrayed this method of reading well. It is a scene of meditation and relaxation. 

In Class Painting and Response to the Book of Joel

After doing my own drawing in response to the book of Joel, we were given the same opportunity to paint in class. I tried to find a different approach. I painted four different colors: blue, green, yellow, and black. The blue and green represent the landscape of Israel. The yellow is representative of God’s judgment. In the bottom right corner I painted black and that is meant to be a depiction of the locusts the prophet Joel warned of. I splatter painted with black paint and that is symbolizing the land being destroyed by the locusts.

I really enjoyed painting in response to the book of Joel. I think that it is important to find different ways to demonstrate what you have gotten out of reading. To only talk or write about what you feel gets old. Not only was it beneficial to paint yourself, but also it was beneficial to see what others paint. Getting into my small group and seeing the things they painted was really intriguing and it helped me to see the book in a different aspect. 

Reading aloud, looking at it as literature, most important line?

The book of Joel is a very interesting book of the Bible. Reading it just left me lost and confused. Reading it twice helped me to grasp it a little further, but the most beneficial way of reading it was for me to read it aloud. Reading to an object, like the lake or a tree, helped me to actually understand the intensity of the book. The prophet Joel is trying to direct the reader and warn them. Reading it like he would speak helps me to understand the purpose behind the book. 

The Bible is the word of God and to read it is very intense and should be kept in mind, but to look at the Bible as literature gives it a whole knew meaning. It is so easy to focus in on a certain scripture and lose the point of the whole book, as one classmate pointed out. The scripture contains metaphors, poems, and much more. The true intellect and knowledge of the writers is very evident when I look at the Bible as a piece of literature.

Throughout the book of Joel are a lot of warnings and prophetic words from Joel but my favorite part is found in chapter 2 verses 12-13. It says, “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” I love these two verses because they show God’s mercy. No matter what we have done he desires for us to return to Him and it is never too late. 

The book of Joel

I drew this picture in response to reading the book of Joel. In the book of Joel Judah is devastated by a locust plague. The Bible actually says the locusts invade like an army destroying everything- the fields of grain, the vineyards, and the trees. Joel symbolically describes the locusts as a human army marching and this is to be viewed as divine judgement against the nation for their sins. If the people repent of their sins they will be saved and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be upon them. 

The picture is a description of the book in my view. The left side is the trees, vineyards, and fields of grain that are being destroyed and the black represents the locusts and judgement. Then on the right is the promise of God represented by the cross and rainbow. 

"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"

The poem, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” by Walt Whitman was a very difficult poem for me to follow. He writes this eulogy upon hearing that Abraham Lincoln died. You have to really study the things he writes and focus in on the meaning behind the words of every line or else you will lose the purpose of the words. My favorite line was, “But I saw they were not as was thought” in line 180 because it reminds the reader that death is not the end and there is more on the other side. One of many very challenging lines in this poem is, “Falling upon them all and among them all, enveloping me with the rest, appear’d the cloud, appear’d the long black trail, and I knew death, its thought, and the sacred knowledge of death.” Prior to this line he describes the ocean and the harbor, the houses and streets. I believe that Whitman is saying that he was either sensing death or someone was coming to tell him of the death and he could sense what it was.

Personally this poem affected me because recently I lost my grandfather so I was able to put myself in the pain of loss and reflect on death in general. I think a trip to the cemetery is going to deepen the experience of reading this poem because we will see death first hand. So long as everyone approaches the cemetery correctly and with respect I believe that it will be a very moving experience that everyone can learn very much from. I look forward to it. 

I measure every Grief I meet

I measure every Grief I meet   

by Emily Dickinson

I measure every Grief I meet

With narrow, probing, Eyes – 

I wonder if It weighs like Mine – 

Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long – 

Or did it just begin – 

I could not tell the Date of Mine – 

It feels so old a pain – 

I wonder if it hurts to live – 

And if They have to try – 

And whether – could They choose between – 

It would not be – to die – 

I note that Some – gone patient long – 

At length, renew their smile –  

An imitation of a Light

That has so little Oil – 

I wonder if when Years have piled –  

Some Thousands – on the Harm –  

That hurt them early – such a lapse

Could give them any Balm –  

Or would they go on aching still

Through Centuries of Nerve – 

Enlightened to a larger Pain –  

In Contrast with the Love –  

The Grieved – are many – I am told –  

There is the various Cause –  

Death – is but one – and comes but once –  

And only nails the eyes –  

There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –  

A sort they call "Despair" –  

There's Banishment from native Eyes – 

In Sight of Native Air –  

And though I may not guess the kind –  

Correctly – yet to me

A piercing Comfort it affords

In passing Calvary –  

To note the fashions – of the Cross –  

And how they're mostly worn –  

Still fascinated to presume

That Some – are like My Own – 

I think this is a beautiful poem by Emily Dickenson. She begins by writing of the grief she sees in other people’s eyes. “I measure every Grief I meet with narrow, probing, eyes – I wonder if it weighs like mine – Or has an easier size.” She begins to question the depth of their grief, how long it has lasted, or if they would chose to die. Dickenson notes that some attempt to “renew their smile” but it only looks like “an imitation of a light that has so little oil.” In other words, they are struggling to be happy but they only have so much in them left to give. Next she questions the cause of their grief. Are they grieving death, want, cold? Emily Dickenson ends by saying that though she may not guess the kind of grief, there is a comfort in the “passing Calvary” and “of the cross.”

         In class we talked about five other poems that in my opinion, correlate with the poem “I measure every Grief I meet.” Each writer is talking about emptiness, sorrow, or sadness.

 

 

Love

This drawing is a little different, but in my mind it portrays Christ's love for us. The corner of the drawing where the red is coming from is the love of Christ and the middle is black and green and blue and that represents the worldly things that we would think could separate us from Christ. The bottom is yellow and the little drawing red drawing is supposed to be Christ holding our heart. The red from the top left corner spreads through the entire picture because it displays that Christ's love has no barriers. Romans 8:39 inspired this drawing for me because as it says, "...Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God..." I think this goes along with what we have been learning in class because we have been learning a lot about love and the struggles humans have with it. The only perfect love is the Love of God and without God true love is impossible. 

The Things They Carry

The struggles of an American soldier in the Vietnam War become real through the story, “The Things They Carry.” Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is in command of some men in the war. Each of the men carries different possessions. Some things were for protection, others for comfort. Regardless of the difference in duties, they all carried personal baggage. Lieutenant Cross carries the memories of a woman, Martha. He is in love with her- often considering whether or not she was a virgin, reading and re-reading the letters she would send, day dreaming of spending time with her, and mouthing a pebble she sent him as a good-luck charm.

Eventually Lieutenant Cross becomes overwhelmed with the love he has for Martha and feels at fault for the death of one of his men. He vows to forget her in order to give his men and the war his all.

Overall this story was interesting. It gives the reader the insight of a soldier in the Vietnam War. Struggles and hardship are close at hand. The idea that soldiers often act brave because they are embarrassed to think that the other men will look down upon them is heartbreaking. The Vietnam War was a gruesome struggle and “The Things They Carry” gives good insight on this fact. 

What We Talk about When We Talk about Love

Love has been debated for years. What is love? Four companions debate love in the story, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love.”  As I read through the passage I began asking myself the same question, what is love and what does it mean to me? Love is defined as a very strong affection, but that does not even begin to define the true meaning of the word. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Paul does a fantastic job of defining love. He writes, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” And although most Christians have heard this many times, it is the most powerful description of love that I have ever heard.  In” What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” one character believes that her ex-husband truly loved her even though he abused her and ultimately kills himself trying to get her back. Each person voices their own opinions of love and Mel says he once loved his ex-wife but now wishes her dead. Was it ever true love?

I believe that love is a choice. When speaking to my grandparents, whom have been married over fifty years, they agree that it is a choice. They tell me that they have to work hard at their relationship and it is possible to fall in and out of love but when you are committed to someone you stick out the hard times.

Love is putting yourself last. Love is devotion and a decision. There is no fear in perfect love. Love is indefinable and indescribable.