Consistent Prayer, in process collage, Marcia Carole
Sunday, as we wrapped up a study in the book of Job, a book in the Old Testament, my pastor ended with the verse, below, about comfort. It really struck me, as he was speaking, that comfort is from God and is to be shared with others. I sensed it was almost three-dimensional, something that could be handed to someone else, but from God. We can be the vessels bringing it to others. So, what would comfort, Godly comfort, look like in real time and space?
The idea started perking in my mind, and then I thought, “What if I made a set of tags or flashcard-like cards to represent comfort? What would they look like, and would it be helpful for me, and others, to go through the process of making this type of art?” Perhaps care-givers, lay leaders of care-giving, etc might benefit in making the art. I shared the idea with Lori and then with Marge, via Skype. They encouraged me to keep exploring the idea.
I am in the midst of that process right now, doing more on days when I have strength and a spring in my step. (Hardly! You ring the doorbell and I limp down the stairs like a sloth.) One day, I laid out colorful materials for seven cards. Phew, that’s enough for today, I thought. (I came up with seven cards to represent the letters in the word comfort.) Another day, I actually started work on one card – the one pictured above. It represents, “Consistent prayer.” Nothing is glued down, yet.
I am finding, as I often do, that the process of making the cards is really causing me to carefully think about what Godly comfort might look like. I am also bringing some of my experiences, of being comforted during this time, to the project. I’m thinking of what has been most comforting, even ministering to my soul. And, I am thinking and reading in the Bible, about what did and did not bring comfort for Job when he was suffering, for Jesus, for Paul as he was suffering, and for the early church as it was being persecuted.
I am still in the middle of my marathon, I don’t know what the outcome will be, but, I’m hoping to make some art that might help others understand what Godly comfort looks like. Maybe you’ll make some comfort cards with your friends, one day, too!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
