Powerpoint presentation for Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry-Through the Lens; Interpreting American Literature in Photography and Digital Imaging. Original presentation date: 7 December 2011

1. THROUGH THE LENS
7 December 2011

2. MADELEINE L’ENGLE
WALKING ON WATER
“We cannot seem to escape paradox; I
do not think I want to.”

3. A UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY
“When I start a new seminar, I tell my
students that I will undoubtedly
contradict myself, and that I will mean
both things. But an acceptance of
contradiction is no excuse for fuzzy
thinking. We do have to use our minds
as far as they will take us, yet
acknowledging that they cannot take
us all the way.”
A Circle of Quiet

4. Luke 2
8And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came
upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear
not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward
men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were
gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said one to another, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and
found Mary, and Joseph, and the
babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made
known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at
those things which were told them by the
shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things that
they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.

5. First Coming
He did not wait until the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy He came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He comes with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

7. …THE INCARNATION, THE SCANDAL OF
THE PARTICULAR, MAKES SENSE OF ALL
THAT SEEMING SENSELESSNESS WITH
WHICH WE ARE SURROUNDED…THE
BIBLE TELLS, BUT IT DOES NOT ANSWER.
(The Divine Interference chapter)
What do you think?

8. Well?
We must let go of Is she
“A HORSE NAMED HUMPHREY”
right?
our rigidities and
open up to the What
will you
wonder that God do with
so freely offers. that
idea?

10. PARADOX
Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Maker of
all the galaxies, gave up all power so that this
power might instead be human, mortal, finite, and
that we might understand that this very humanness,
mortality, finiteness, if we would only accept it,
would be made divine, immortal, and infinite by God
in the fullness of time.

11. HOMEWORK
Read chapters 7-12
Create an image from any part of those
chapters
Write a 500-1000 word personal response
to the Incarnation
Prepare a 5 minute presentation that
includes your image and your personal
response. This presentation should be
polished, professional, and practiced.