Creating Culture
Creating Culture
Blueprint for a Personal Revolution
(Continued from the previous entry-Sept 23)
Okay so I am lonely. What does that mean?
Without a doubt, my primary community is found in my workplace. I have other significant friends, and other places that I intersect with people, but my workplace is my primary people connect. I really like the people I work with, I really do. But as I sat at that table at that planning meeting it became abundantly clear that I am alone. I bring a perspective to our process that is unique and is generally appreciated but I am almost always different, fringe, off-step or contrary. If I am not voicing it I am thinking it.
What I bring is important, but it is rarely easy. I am usually trying to convince, teach, prod or confront — and because I have deep convictions and am what some would consider sensitive : ) — those confrontations cost me a lot. There are many times I hold back, bite my tongue and don’t bring an Idea to the table because I am just to tired to do what I know it will take to paint the picture in a way that other people will understand, appreciate or accept — OR I am not prepared to stomach the jeers or wide eyes that my assertions can sometimes hasten.
•The people I work with are not out to get me and I know they appreciate what I bring (feel free to set me straight on this guys).
•It is a free country. I choose to do this. I could do something else.
•I believe I am called to be in the position I am in and it is often wonderful and terrifically gratifying.
It’s just — lonely.
What do I mean by lonely? It is the realization that there is no one “around the table” that totally understands where I am coming from. They may get parts of it — enough to reach an agreement on a course of action — but they don’t get all of it — they can’t and I don’t expect them to (anymore).
Now it is my guess that there are two fundamental groups of people reading this; Those who are sympathetic the gravity of what I am communicating, and those who are saying “So... Nobody is ever totally understood, Farkas. Get over it.” For those of you in the latter group, don’t worry, I am over it — well wait a minute, that is not true. I don’t think I will be over it this side of eternity but I do think I have it much better perspective than I used to. You may want to read on because it may help you understand your “fringey” neighbor a little better. For those of you in the former group, I hope this will offer you some hope, perspective and an idea or two.
The ideas communicated in the next few paragraphs are a mixture of my musings integrated with ideas presented in a lecture I heard nearly nearly 3 years ago by a man named Miroslav Volf. Volf is an influential Christian theologian and currently the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale University Divinity School and Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. When I initially heard the lecture I must admit much of it flew past me but in the midst of this little crucible, I went back and listened to a recording of it and was overwhelmed with its pertinence.
Volf entitled his lecture “Artists as Reconcilers” He points out that the world is a complex system of boundaries that define social norms and interaction and that art is fundamentally transgressive, that is - it is art’s job, to cross, move, push, change or otherwise challenge those boundaries. I am an artist. That means that by nature I am a transgressor. I stir the pot and endeavor to make people see things differently. It is what I am created to do.
Here is my challenge and my lesson:
I am not created to be an indiscriminate transgressor. Without boundaries there would be chaos. Art, when given to the gravity of this world can be hideously harmful and offensive. Much of why art is seen as such a threat in institutions is due to the of frequency of indiscriminate transgressions. The call of the Christian artist is press through the transgression to be a catalyst for reconciliation and redemption. That is true art.
Look at the fundamental nature of the first creative act:
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Gen 1 3-5)
The first thing God did was to draw a boundary and all His subsequent acts of creation introduced an increasingly complex system of boundaries, into which man eventually enters. Volf points out that “in order for artists to function as a reconcilers we need a strong doctrine of creation that celebrates goodness of boundaries; while at the same time taking seriously the doctrine of the fall which understands that since creation man has managed to introduce many boundaries that have been drawn incorrectly to exclude, demean and dispossess. In the name of well drawn boundaries we need to call into question the wrongly drawn boundaries.”
He continues: “The artist who wants to be a reconciler also needs to have a strong doctrine of redemption. The ability to say “yes” to something and “no” to something else.” “It is what we see instantiated in the person of Christ; the ability to say “no” to human sin and at the same time be able to say such a fundamental “yes” to sinners that one is willing to sacrifice one’s own life on their behalf... the ability to tear down or name what needs to be torn down and yet to profoundly stand in solidarity and love with those who may be on the receiving end of what needs to be torn down.”
“If we don’t have love of enemy if we don’t have the the grace of generosity where we give a little bit more than we expect to receive; if we don’t have the grace of forgiveness where we don’t count against somebody the wrongdoing they have committed against us; we can have negotiations, we can have settlements, we can have pacifications but we cannot have true reconciliation.”
Finally we need a strong doctrine of consummation: We need a goal in front of us, the goal of redeemed community so that we can have the courage to go on the journey with those who we are walking with in the process of reconciliation. We need to have our eyes focused past the challenge of the immediate conflict toward the greater goal that is to come. It is what Christ did on the cross, it is what enabled him to submit to the nails being driven into his wrists and still be able to say “forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”
Volf asserts: “Something like that needs to be possible for us as we engage those with whom we are in conflict for redemption to take place. Why would I go on such a journey? What would secure my own identity if I take such a journey?” It is our decision to entrust our lives to the Spirit of God which leads this world and us in this word to the final consummation.”
You have likely noticed that here Volf has highlighted the work of the trinity in our lives: the God who creates, God who redeems and God who brings all things to fruition. (What I really want to do is transcribe his whole lecture but I guess you will just need to go get a copy HERE or you can borrow mine.)
Okay, so my goal is the reconciliation of what our culture would define as “artists” or “art” itself to the church. Churches are fundamentally conservative institutions. Oh don’t get me wrong, I think our church is pretty progressive but it is a church and thus inherently fraught with boundaries; most good and necessary - but not all. More boundaries - more opportunity for bad boundaries. More boundaries - more opportunity for transgressions. I have spent my whole career transgressing in boundary laden environments. Sounds like fun eh?
Much of what Volf outlined in his lecture were things I had at some level had contemplated before but 7/8 of the way through he said something that hastened this little revolution of mine. He said if we are going to be successful as a reconcilers we must care for our souls. “There is a spiritual commitment... a spiritual struggle in order to engage - truly - in reconciling activity and it is imperative to have a place to stand outside of the stream of conflict in which one finds oneself. Outside... of the stream of culture which one inhabits.” It is only when we find that place, and not only find it but truly spend time standing — resting there, that it is possible for us to be reconcilers. It is only when we find that safe place outside the stream, that we can genuinely, somewhat objectively and critically reflect on what is truly happening in the stream.
This was my revelation that predicated my revolution. I have incidentally and occasionally happened upon those places of oasis in my life but it has been accidental; fortunate and wonderful, but not something that I had intentionally initiated or intended for the care of my soul. What Volf is pointing toward is not personal time of reflection and retreat, although that is obviously of great value. I believe what he is outlining is the need for a table to draw in to where we are understood, a community of like or similarly minded thinkers. Not sympathetic lemmings but people who understand me well enough to legitimately challenge my thinking or encourage me where I need to be challenged or encouraged.
Even the thought of moving in this direction has been hugely encouraging and some of the preliminary steps I have taken have been wonderful. Something I am going to do, potentially pertinent to any of you in the Nashville area, is to host a book discussion group. The first book that I am targeting is “My Name is Acher Lev” by Chiam Potok — one of the never ending list of amazing books that I have yet to read. We will meet @ 7:45 Thursday mornings starting in November. Interested? E-mail me and let me know to expect you. Feel free to invite others. The only requisite is that they have read the last two blog entries.
Swim well!
— John Farkas
Friday, October 10, 2008