Lament is a deeply embodied practice (as is joy). Lament offers your aching and weary heart room to express the turmoil of living in the midst of a broken world. When you choose to reflect on the loss of life and dignity that is continually perpetuated by systems of inequity—and how you have been impacted by them—you begin to feel it in your body. Deep cries out to deep in the recesses of your soul, and you are undone. You shake, convulse, weep, and cry out in anguish.
This is good for your body—the body where God chooses to dwell. Embodying lament allows you to live with greater congruence with the multifaceted heart of God. Whether you are adversely or beneficially impacted by inequities, you come to the inevitable conclusion that the whole of humanity loses when all are not afforded the opportunity to flourish.
There is a popular worship song that asks God to, “Open up my eyes to the things unseen” and to “Break my heart for what breaks yours [God].” I (Vanessa) wonder sometimes if we are ready for what comes in the collective breaking of hearts as God reveals truth and unveils our eyes.
Music and art have a way of catching you off guard. An image, melody, photograph, poem/lyric or painting has the ability to capture you in such a way that for a moment you are wrapped up in it, swirling in and out of its movement, as you take it into your being. As you take in today’s Visio Divina, instead of asking, “What does this mean?” consider asking yourself, “What is being stirred in me?”
Visio Divina (Latin for divine seeing) is a prayer exercise in which you ask God to speak to the eyes of your heart as you meditate on an image. The image can be artwork, a photograph, a scene, or even an icon.
As you gaze at the painting below, consider the questions in quiet reflection. Some parts may speak to you while others may not. Allow about 5 minutes of contemplation per section, but there are no hard and fast rules. Simply be present to the image and allow God to speak to your heart without any particular agenda.
