A Painting and a Song for you this Season of Giving

Winter landscape always brings with it a time of inwardness, in stark contrast to the jubilance and joy of the festive season. Inwardly, I’ve been contemplating the meaning of the season at this difficult moment in humanity’s unfolding. And outwardly, as a gerontologist, I’m filled with inspiration through individuals, families, groups, and organizations I’ve had the honor of working with this year.  I bring sadness for the state of the world, but also celebration through the work of artists. With gratitude to artists everywhere you bring a big “Hallelujah” to our hearts!

 

In the spirit of the Joy of the Season, I offer two gifts for you – a painting and a song.

 

You might like to listen to the song while experiencing the power of the painting. Once you’ve read the artist’s description of the image and heard the song in a contemplative moment or two, perhaps you can ask yourself, “Where will I find my Hallelujah this season?”

THE PAINTING

 

Hearing testimony of the Mother Emmanuel Church Shootings breaks our collective hearts.  And out of this horrific tragedy a poignantly beautiful painting was created by artist, Janet McKenzie, called The Night Visitors.  I am fortunate to see it every time I visit Mepkin Abbey. Scroll down to read the artist’s statement about how it came into being.

 

Beauty and tragedy side by side.  Sorrow and Hope.

 

The Night Visitors, ©2015 Janet McKenzie Collection of Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, SC (36" x 48", oil on canvas)

The Night Visitors, ©2015 Janet McKenzie
Collection of Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, SC (36″ x 48″, oil on canvas)
“This is a painting about a journey taken at night, led by a star. The Night Visitors traveled under the bright light of a star to honor a newborn baby – this child sent for our salvation. It is also about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, present to the child at birth, and onward, and it is about a strong, young mother, Mary, who was called by God.

 

Mary is the voice and the action of this painting and she looks at us with eyes conveying sadness, longing and admittedly, doubt. She presents the Christ Child yet holds on to him tightly, this swaddled baby whose sleeping face is circled in cloth. Only he has a simple pink halo. The Night Visitors pays homage to the nurturing side of men. The quiet and gentle male spirit is not celebrated often enough.

 

On June 17, 2015, nine innocent souls lost their lives at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, SC. Recently a friend attended the National Black Sister’s Conference in Charleston and had a prayer service at the church. She said what touched her most was seeing the late Reverend Clementa Pinckney’s chair in the sanctuary draped with black cloth. Her memory became mine. While working on The Night Visitors day after day and hearing the news coming from Charleston the painting took on a life of its own and this tragedy infused the painting. Perhaps the darkness of the spirit deepened, perhaps eyes are closed more tightly and perhaps Mary looks at us with larger questions behind her eyes.

 

It is my hope that viewers will experience The Night Visitors as a beacon of possibility, one that encourages hope over despair and like the congregation at Mother Emanuel have chosen so inspirationally to do, may it invite forgiveness and love.”

 

This edited statement from the artist is shared with permission from Father Guerric, Mepkin Abbey Retreat Center Director.

THE SONG

 

Leon Weiseltier, writer, philosopher, and recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for the Humanities addressed the paradox when writing about his long and deep friendship with Leonard Cohen.  He described him as “a friend of melancholy and an enemy of doom.”  Cohen has said of his well-known song, Hallelujah: “It explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value.”

 

I invite you to listen to Cohen’s Hallelujah sung by my husband, Barry Sherman (songwriter, musician, social worker), with apologies to Cohen, who, at one time, called for a moratorium on covers of his song!

 

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About The Author

lyndallblog

4 comments

  1. The painting and song are soothing yet challenging, encouraging but respectful of the pain experienced by many. Thank you for sharing

  2. Lyndall, thank you very much for the gift of the painting and Barry singing Hallelujah. Both beautiful and touched me very deeply. This has been a year of loss and grief for me in many ways. Trying to find the hope and hang on!
    Hope all is well with you and Barry. Wishing you many blessings this holy holiday season and in the coming year.
    Going to CA for Christmas and will go to see both girls and family. One in Irvine, S. CA. -the other in St. Helena. Will be back mid January. Would love to get together with you for lunch if you have any available time in your schedule, maybe in February.
    Best to you,
    Jacque Borland

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