The word hope I take for faith; and, indeed, hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.
John Calvin
Month / April 2020
Enjoy Slow Art Day
Way before things got weird, April 4 was declared Slow Art Day. I had not heard of this until I read a British magazine (The Simple Things) that said Slow Art Day is more than a decade old and celebrated worldwide. It’s the one day a year when museums and galleries invite visitors to linger … even stop … in front of works of art to observe them.
The article’s author, Susie Hodge, quoted Georgia O’Keefe on the need for slow art. She said she created her huge flower paintings because “Nobody sees a flower — really. It’s so small it takes time — we haven’t time — and to see takes time.”
We can’t go to a museum today, but we can look at pictures online. I have a Pinterest board called My Own Art Museum, filled with works of art that I enjoy. You might want to create your own version.
For Slow Art Day, the experts suggest we look at an artwork, noting its colors and the impact that it is having on us. After 30 seconds, look away and try to remember what you saw. Then, look even closer, thinking about shapes, lines, colors, textiles, composition (layout), materials and subject matter.
Here are some questions to help:
- Can you tell what story the artwork is telling?
- What setting, time and place are being depicted?
- What’s the mood? How do you know that?
- What do you think the artist is trying to communicate?
- What does it remind you of?
A Message of Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Thank God for Water
Appreciating nature is one of my life standards. Today, let’s be mindful in appreciating water. What a gift from God!
Water covers three-fourths of the Earth’s surface, but only 0.8% is fresh water. (And about 70% of that goes to agriculture.). Salt water is about 97/4% and ice is about 1.8% (and falling) of the water on earth. We are so blessed that something so precious is so easy to obtain in our civilization.
Today as we wash our hands repeatedly and thoroughly, let us thank God for the gift of water.
Do a Home-Based Retreat in April
This quarantine is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What kind of experience is mostly up to us. April is a great opportunity to have a home-based retreat. If you are alone or at home with adults, you have the ability to schedule times of solitude and silence. We can look through our bookshelves or online, asking the Lord to show us the way.
If you are at home with children, this is an opportunity like no other to teach them about character, faith and perseverance. A retreat with your children could be a great creative experience with scheduled times for learning and listening. For example, you could create your own Vacation Bible School for the young and work through Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline for the teens. Amazon also has some books of guided reflections for children that could help.
This virus is from our fallen world, but the Lord can redeem our time, calm our fears and teach us lessons in this time. We can open ourselves up to ask God what He has to show us. We can read, pray and reflect.
God has shown up how fragile our civilization is and how interconnected we are with each other. I also feel that God is working with us to deepen our faith and give us the strength to choose calm and peace.
What has God planned for you this month?