Reflections by Rev. Danah Cox

As many of you know, I did not come to my faith until much later in life.  Perhaps less known is how central the visual arts were in my call to ministry. So at this time, I'd like to share a little bit about my journey, and also do a little bit of promotion of my upcoming events. My hope is to give you a better understanding of me, my programs, and what I hope to share with you.

Years before I became a reverend, I called myself an artist. Growing up in a secular household, the idea of the spiritual in anything was not discussed or even encouraged. So, for many years in my mind, claiming to be “an artist” was not consciously connected to any other worldly considerations. I say consciously because I believe the connection was always there, it just took me a while to realize its presence. Because, even when I completely rejected the idea of the divine, whenever I was in the midst of the creative process, I couldn’t deny a sense of wonder at how ideas and images seemed to come to me. 

Many other authors have said the same thing - basically that when you’re deep in the creative process, it’s hard not to feel a sense that information seems to flow from something larger than yourself.  So for me, while it would be years before I could name it as the Holy Spirit, I had to claim it as something real. Acknowledging this was the first step on my journey towards Christ and Christianity. And to be clear, while I do hope to create images that are interesting and inviting to others, it is being in the act of creating that is core to my call. I've experienced this sense of the Spirit individually, and also when creatively brainstorming with groups. 

Going forward, and starting with the Lent Art Walk, I hope to offer opportunities for anyone who is interested in experiencing and exploring this same wonder. But have no fear, all my activities will seek to be fun and entertaining. Further, because no one is the same, my aim is to help people discern how the use of the arts as a spiritual practice can most effectively speak to them. This could take the form of me helping people unpack certain scripture readings, to providing an atmosphere conducive to inviting in the Spirit. 

This also means, if you're a beginning artist, I will share techniques and give some nuts and bolts understanding of the medium you choose to work with. If you're more experienced, we can share them. Of course, we will hope to create some interesting images to share with the community. But a great part of the joy is from actually coming together, creating together, and thus experiencing the Spirit together…

I know I have only scratched the surface with my description. So, I hope that anyone interested in participating in any of my programming, or would just like to hear more about my sense of the connection between art and spirituality, will not hesitate to reach out to me.  I truly look forward to finding many new and exciting ways that we can connect to each other, to the Spirit, and the community that surrounds us. Because as much as anything, I do believe that freeing your creative self, frees your whole self.