Last winter there came an opportunity to do something I’d not done for a very long time. The opportunity? An all-afternoon art class with kids and a couple of adults. The subject? Each of us would draw a clown.
“You’ll get tips on drawing all kinds of clowns and for portraying hats, faces, clothes and shoes” we heard. Outlines and details were going to be made with black “Sharpie” magic marker, then water color paint could be used to fill in. It was sounding pretty simple.
Then, as each of us was handed our own huge poster size piece of paper, we heard, “There are only a couple of rules: 1) No draft drawing, no pencil sketching then erasing and correcting— just let yourself draw with the black marker. 2) Your clown must stretch from top to bottom, and from side to side—use the whole size of the paper.”
The Sharpie stayed still in my hand, and the paper stretched before me on the table. My thinking was full of “What? No sketch beforehand? No making sure I have the size right, dimensions matching, arms the right length, head not too big, hat just right, shoes looking like proper clown shoes? What? It has to be this huge? No making a little tiny drawing that can’t be seen by the others?”
As the kids launched in, the instructor could see that we adults were suddenly tense—“Relax,” we heard, “relax, just take the opportunity and start drawing; you’ll draw all kinds of clowns, and it will be fun.” And finally we did just that; relaxing, we drew all kinds of clowns.
Surprisingly, this class came to mind this week as I read the Gospel of John’s words of Jesus. “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:31)
Other times when I’ve read this verse, I’ve noticed mostly Jesus’ words, “as I am lifted up.” I’ve spent time wondering if Jesus was referring to being placed on the cross and lifted up on it to die, or referring to the Resurrection after his death and burial, or referring to being lifted up in the divine mystery of his Ascension in which he appears absent, but is fully present, still with his followers. But this time, I had that surprise recollection of my little art class and I noticed mostly Jesus’ words “I will draw all people to me.”
I find those words and the art class co-existing within me as I am drawn to the thought of God creating all of us, “drawing” us into existence. And I am drawn to pondering God creating within each of us a desire to know our Creator, drawing us to God. And I am “drawn to” “being drawn to” the source of Creation, God. It’s almost too much to ponder.
It is almost like I am again poised, Sharpie in hand, paper stretched before me—no idea of where to begin, then finding myself being drawn into the delight of just relaxing into the opportunity. Only this time, it is to being drawn by Creator to Source and Performer of Creation, along with all people, all creation.
Imagine what it means, being drawn to the Creator of all, and being drawn with all others, and having all that drawing being done by the Spirit of God. My words to myself, and to you, as this astounding opportunity stretches before us? “Relax, and let yourself be drawn.”
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Pastor Kris Garey, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hovland.
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