There are two seasons during the Christian calendar when we are given a special opportunity to get our personal spiritual disciplines in shape. There’s Lent, our somber and introspective time, and Advent which is four weeks of joyful anticipation. Though very different in character, they are both times of getting ready–of letting the Spirit cleanse the thoughts of our hearts and help us prepare for a Great Event.
This Advent I’ll be sharing illustrations from a variety of artists who tried to make the Bible more vividly present to our imaginations. Some will be from the Old Testament and some from the New; many will be from children’s books. They manifest the great diversity of Christendom and sometimes the odd and fascinating reality of the Church in the World.
I hope they will give you occasion to remember familiar stories, and perhaps look up a few passages to compare the scripture with the artist’s interpretation. Like the prayers and verses we memorize, pictures from Bible storybooks stick with us and become part of the way we weave God’s word into the fabric of our daily living. And in the end, isn’t that the purpose of all our spiritual disciplines? Enjoy!