the hitchhiker’s guide - the journey forward to the ancient roots of our faith

March 9, 2008

A community for Orthodox arts — not a solo journey

This morning I was ceremonially welcomed and prayed for as a catechumen into the Orthodox faith; and with tears welling up in my eyes I finally felt like I was nearer and nearer to finding and coming home to where I feel God has been drawing me. And what is even more exciting to me, I am finding a few answers to questions that I have had going into this journey from the very beginning.

My past couple entries have reflected my struggle to find contemporary expressions of Orthodoxy in the arts — photography, music (that didn’t consist of chants or a capella, or music that come down to traditional music of a given culture), and other expressions of art that were truly contemporary. I had shared how it was of no comfort or consolation that some would make reference to artistic greats such as Rachmaninov, a composer who died decades ago; and that there seemed to be little community out there for artists outside of iconography and participating in chanting or the choir. Those are fine within the context of the Liturgy, but outside the service the arts should flourish and express what happens inside Orthodoxy and the process of becoming more and more like God (theosis).

So over coffee, falafels, flat bread, and other delicious middle-Eastern delights, I posed this question to a few of my new friends and brothers in Orthodoxy. What is artistic expression — outside of iconography and chanting — supposed to look like within the Orthodox faith when we have little to look to as contemporaries? I elaborated on the question, citing my love for photography and my once-active song writing and performing past time; and I spoke of my uncertainty what to do with these disciplines and what it ought to look like as a soon-to-be Orthodox Christian.

The answer I was given was simultaneously illuminating and comforting.

One of the guys there simply said that if it reflects the nature of returning to unity with God, unity with each other, and unity with God’s creation, that is about as Orthodox as it gets. For God desires to be in union with us, and that we’d be in unity with one another; and to express this through the arts is giving God another means of expressing His desire for unity with us, that nothing would separate us from His love that is in Christ Jesus.

That’s great, but how does one go about creating that sort of art? What does it look like? What does it sound like?

The good news that I was given, is that I’m not on my own — and nor should I go at it alone! Instead through vigilant prayer, absorbing myself in the scriptures, guidance from my spiritual father, and from our priest, I can look to those sources for guidance and counsel as I create my art and my expressions. Continually the question ought to be asked, “does this edify and aid in the process of theosis?” And if it does, it’s probably safe to say that it is a good expression of Orthodoxy outside from the established liturgy that we celebrate each week.

This gives me a lot of hope, and as I am entering my first Great Lenten period, I think about what I am going to deny that I would become more fixated on Christ and spend that time in communion with God. Admittedly, I really enjoy playing World of Warcraft (I can hear the gasps of shock and horror for those that oppose such things); and perhaps I enjoy it a bit too much now and then, blowing two-thirds of my weekend away leveling up and advancing further in the game. But I think for this Great Lent I am going to set aside my Wednesdays and Fridays for much more edifying things; and will return to creating music on Friday nights. This has been a long-neglected gift I’ve been given and I’ve brushed it off for one reason or another. I think it’s time to become a contributor to the far-too sparse collection of contemporary Orthodox music that exists today. But because theosis is a life-long process, I know the process of creating music and art that expresses that journey to union with God will also be life-long and will take some time.

I ask that you would remember me in your intercessions, that God would help me deny myself, seek to become more like Him, and to fully utilize the talents and gifts He’s given me to create art that is pleasing to Him and edifies the Body of Christ. I cannot make this journey by myself and need the input, guidance, and involvement of my brothers and sisters in the faith. This isn’t a solo affair.

Written and posted by Michael on March 9, 2008, 1:24 pm.
Filed under: Catechumen, Culture, Orthodoxy, Transformation

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the hitchhiker’s guide: the journey forward to the ancient roots of our faith

March 9, 2008

A community for Orthodox arts — not a solo journey

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