Glimpses - A reflection on art

In the middle of Paul Tillich's Our Ultimate Concern, he poses a question:

"Have you ever experienced the almost intolerable feeling of emptiness when you turn from a great work of art to the demands, ugliness and worries of your daily life?"

In a recent conversation with a writer and fan of fantasy novels I remarked that I did not have time to indulge in such nonsense, that fictional works were candy, and I prefer the meat and potatoes of theological and philosophical works. Throughout the conversation, I could see that I had struck a little bit of a nerve. But upon further reflection, and deep dives into Theologian Tillich and Philosopher Kierkegaard, I still think works of fiction are candy. But candy is the sweetness of life, a wanted and welcomed treat, a tiny bit of joy embodied.

My Reflection:

Tillich - Ultimate Concern

“Have you ever experienced the almost intolerable feeling of emptiness when you turn from a great work of art to the demands, ugliness and worries of your daily life?”

Do we escape into fantasy or do we long for something we cannot quite name? Lost in time and space to a great work of art, for some, is seeking to see and know something beyond themselves. Beyond their creaturely identity. Beyond the needs to survive. But in order to find this connection that lies beyond space and time, the body must not be in demand of our attention. 

What does the body demand of us?

Sustenance like food and water and air. The building blocks for our being. The very fuel that keeps the human machine humming. Another pressing demand of the body is protection from the environmental elements. In other words, clothing and shelter. Clothing to help regulate body temperature and to protect from pests and dangers. Shelter to have space to rest and restore the body in sleep protected from extreme weather and predators. A final demand upon the body is that of safe connection. From birth unto death we are ultimately and, simultaneously, never alone. We as individual human creations are singular in our creaturely body that inhabits a very specific time and place, thus alone. But in all essence we are always in relationship, thus never alone. Our very existence could not be if two other humans did not exist, and from this relationship all others are grown. 

As human creatures we are very aware of our aloneness, yet seek relationship. We seek relationship from an inescapable awareness of just how alone we are. We seek connection to our very creator. The one that set in motion all of creation and in doing so our very being.

As we seek connection to our creator, a basic need of being a human creature, we share our stories through our co-creating capabilities. This is God showing up through our creative efforts. Through art we find connection to another human’s story - their joy, sorrow, fears, hopes - all that could be humanly and Creator expressed. These are glimpses into another’s lived experience. Glimpses into their being in their time and their space. The more connections created the more relationship with the Creator of all being, time, and space grows.

Diana Brown