Praying outside the box: part 1a

Advent 2024

Praying without words?—absolutely, it’s possible!

Absolutely! God is the magnificent creator, and every time we unleash our creativity, we reflect the divine image within us.

This post is a celebration of creativity, shining a light on the inspiring works of others. Reflecting on a piece of art can truly resonate with our souls. I have been captivated by the spirituality in the works of El Greco since the moment I first encountered them: I’m excited to share an interpretation of one of El Greco’s masterpieces for meditation, but you can decide to choose another image.

This is quite the pickle for me! Here I am, attempting to chat about a mystical form of listening to God that doesn’t require any words, yet I’m doing it in a blog post, using… well, a whole bunch of words. Talk about irony. It’s like trying to serenade a mime at a silent disco!

I have mentioned how I incorporate images into my prayers; when I pray for someone who is unwell, I vividly picture them healthy and thriving, confidently saying, “God, make this happen!” While there are still words involved, they are minimal. With my visual mind, I believe that if God can inspire visions in some through imagery, then I can share my own uplifting visions with God in prayer.

Meditating on art has a long history. It even has a name, Visio Divina which means divine seeing. It can be used as a starting point for prayer, but like the meditation on words of scripture, Lectio Divina (divine reading), there is no compulsion on God to do anything back. If you get nothing, stop and leave it at that, you have not failed.

Creating art is a beautiful expression of worship and prayer, and there’s so much more to explore in the next post!

Meditating on art can beautifully ignite a spirit of prayer, or it can serve as a joyful form of prayer itself. As you engage with a work of art, invite God to speak to you. You might find yourself inspired to intercede or even confess, discovering pathways to connection that your usual preparation may not reveal.

I have included an image above, but feel free to choose another. This is meant to be a slow careful interaction, so make sure you are relaxed. A relaxation technique, such as listening to your breathing, can be very helpful. I have used step by step instructions from upperroom.org.

• Pick out an image from a website: a photograph, painting, or icon.
• Look at the image and let your eyes stay with the first thing you see. Focus your attention on the part of the image that first catches your eye. Try to keep your eyes from wandering to other parts of the picture. Breathe deeply and let yourself gaze at that part of the image for a minute or so.
• Let your eyes now gaze at the whole image. Take your time and look at every part of the photograph. See it all. Reflect on the image for a minute or so
  • Consider the following questions:
  • What emotions does this image evoke in you?
  • What does the image stir up in you, bring forth in you?
  • Does this image lead you into an attitude of prayer?
  • If so, let these prayers take form in you. Write them down if you desire.
• Offer your prayers to God now in a final time of silence.

This approach can also extend to paintings that may not seem overtly religious, like beautiful landscapes or even abstract art; you’ll be surprised by what you might discover. Give it a try.