This painting is titled The Terrace, by the French Impressionist, Henri Martin (1860-1943). It is late spring or early summer. Perhaps it has rained through the night and the terrace is wet, or it is still raining softly. The ground and air are at different temperatures and so the fog is dense, blocking the hills beyond. The trees are filled out and roses are blooming in white planter boxes; geraniums in clay pots have been placed on the balustrade.
The perspective is low - as if the artist is sitting comfortably, taking in the scent and feel of the morning air. And he isn't looking through closed window panes, but has opened the doors. Doors are full of symbolism and everything changes when doors are opened and we pass through:
Everything is changed when we pass through a door. It's raining (or has just stopped raining) in this painting. And rain symbolizes heaven's involvement with us or the falling upon us of grace (spiritual life and energies). Jesus says as much, "But I have come to bring them life in its fullness." Other translations say abundant life. I want to open the doors and step over into abundant life. And abundant life is now. Heaven may be the completion of that, but the experience or realization of abundant life is now. Let's not cheat ourselves.
And what is this full life? In 2015 the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu got together as friends for a week in Dharamsala, India to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama. The week's conversations and interviews resulted in a book titled, "The Book of Joy." On the 4th and 5th days they talked extensively about what Buddhism calls the Eight Pillars of Joy. Imagine opening the doors to these deeply human/spiritual aspects of living:
We might be thankful to Buddhism for organizing the ideas, and go through the doors of our own source: the Gospel words and deeds of Jesus where these Pillars of Joy are on full display - inviting us to enter and live.
- For Christian martyrs death was the door to eternal life.
- Lamb's blood was put on the Hebrew doorpost to keep them safe from the angel of death.
- Jews place a mezuza by the door - a small containor holding scripture texts.
- Some people put smelly onions or garlic by the kitchen door to keep evil spirits away.
- A bride leaves her family home and enters her new home by the front door.
- Aristocratic St. Clare left her home at night to join St. Francis by sneakng out the door through which the dead were removed.
And then there are these words of Jesus speaking of himself:
Jesus gave them this illustration but they did not grasp the point of what he was saying to them. So Jesus said to them once more, "I do assure you that I myself am the door for the sheep. All who have gone before me are like thieves and rogues, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If a man goes in through me, he will be safe and sound; he can come in and out and find his food. The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy, but I have come to bring them life in its fullness. John 10: 6-10.
Everything is changed when we pass through a door. It's raining (or has just stopped raining) in this painting. And rain symbolizes heaven's involvement with us or the falling upon us of grace (spiritual life and energies). Jesus says as much, "But I have come to bring them life in its fullness." Other translations say abundant life. I want to open the doors and step over into abundant life. And abundant life is now. Heaven may be the completion of that, but the experience or realization of abundant life is now. Let's not cheat ourselves.
And what is this full life? In 2015 the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu got together as friends for a week in Dharamsala, India to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama. The week's conversations and interviews resulted in a book titled, "The Book of Joy." On the 4th and 5th days they talked extensively about what Buddhism calls the Eight Pillars of Joy. Imagine opening the doors to these deeply human/spiritual aspects of living:
- Perspective: There Are Many Different Angles
- Humility: My Life Is On Loan To Me
- Humor: Laughter Is A Better Way
- Acceptance: The Only Place Where Change Can Begin
- Forgiveness: Freeing Ourselves From the Past
- Gratitude: I Am Fortunate to Be Alive
- Compassion: Something We Want to Become
- Generosity: We Are Filled with Joy
We might be thankful to Buddhism for organizing the ideas, and go through the doors of our own source: the Gospel words and deeds of Jesus where these Pillars of Joy are on full display - inviting us to enter and live.
