Jesus de Montreal
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Last Sunday's Insight! Event was seeing the film "Jesus of Montreal" at the Westport Presbyterian Church and coffee afterward. Katy, Tim, Jill, Melanie, Jody, Jimmie, Ann, and I attended. It's the story of a group of community theater actors hired to jazz up the local Passion play; their version attracts attention, and the actors' lives begin to mirror the Passion story.
I can't write too much, because I recommend the film highly to anyone who is interested. But it's no surprise that as the actors delve into Jesus' story (literally "living it out"), they get into some trouble.
Never for trouble's sake, but for love's. Love for each other, and love for the story. Do I have that love? The actors find their love in the context of art and creative expression. I found a note from our discussion of Insight! #2 (KC Symphony String Quartet); Jody said that aesthetic experiences require us to open ourselves to the art - and holy experiences are the same. A posture of openness and receptivity is essential. We lower our boundaries, becoming less mindful of our individual selves and paying more attention to everyone and everything around us. I'm starting to sound new-agey, but this is really important! The actors lowered their defenses, invested themselves in Jesus' story, and suddenly found themselves filled with a Christ-like disruptive love.
What I'm saying is, it's no accident. We're called to do the same.
To lower our defenses against new people, new experiences, new art - especially when they seem threatening. When we notice our own boundaries flashing up, that's precisely the signal to proceed ahead (carefully, if prudent, but still ahead). To invest ourselves in Jesus' story in Scripture, Christian discipline, study, and art.
To practice the love we seek to have, until we have it. -h
Last Sunday's Insight! Event was seeing the film "Jesus of Montreal" at the Westport Presbyterian Church and coffee afterward. Katy, Tim, Jill, Melanie, Jody, Jimmie, Ann, and I attended. It's the story of a group of community theater actors hired to jazz up the local Passion play; their version attracts attention, and the actors' lives begin to mirror the Passion story.
I can't write too much, because I recommend the film highly to anyone who is interested. But it's no surprise that as the actors delve into Jesus' story (literally "living it out"), they get into some trouble.
Never for trouble's sake, but for love's. Love for each other, and love for the story. Do I have that love? The actors find their love in the context of art and creative expression. I found a note from our discussion of Insight! #2 (KC Symphony String Quartet); Jody said that aesthetic experiences require us to open ourselves to the art - and holy experiences are the same. A posture of openness and receptivity is essential. We lower our boundaries, becoming less mindful of our individual selves and paying more attention to everyone and everything around us. I'm starting to sound new-agey, but this is really important! The actors lowered their defenses, invested themselves in Jesus' story, and suddenly found themselves filled with a Christ-like disruptive love.
What I'm saying is, it's no accident. We're called to do the same.
To lower our defenses against new people, new experiences, new art - especially when they seem threatening. When we notice our own boundaries flashing up, that's precisely the signal to proceed ahead (carefully, if prudent, but still ahead). To invest ourselves in Jesus' story in Scripture, Christian discipline, study, and art.
To practice the love we seek to have, until we have it. -h
Jesus de Montreal posted by St. Peter's UCC at Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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