Tapestry

Some months ago I was asked to share a few thoughts on what ‘integral’ means to me. If you are feeling poetic and contemplative, read on. If not, you may want to skip this post. Earl Grey tea and shortbread will make comfy companions if you decide to stay.

Okay, ready?

Try to imagine the witness of your life as a tapestry. What are the various components, themes, activities? What images would your tapestry include? Where are the holes?

These questions were put to me by way of a little book called, Wordeed Primer, published by Canadian Baptist Ministries. In true form, I took the liberty of changing them somewhat so I could respond more personally and found myself hopping down an unexpected rabbit trail.

This quote in the same book helped too and since I am a Wendell Berry fan, I have included it.

“It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.” Real Work: Collected Poems, Wendell Berry 1992

Does being truly integrated as a person begin with my need to recognize my not-knowing? How does vulnerability here create room for beauty in the exchange? Does our collective incompleteness have a part in fulfilling the longing for a truly integrated self. What part, if any, does it play?

Not knowing is unsettling, Lord.

My child, revisit my thoughts in John’s gospel.

John 1:14

The Word became.

The Word became flesh.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

My Son is the hue and tone between what you know,

On the backdrop of my creativity and imagination.

John 4

I am the Living Water.

The Word became flesh,

And threads into us cobalt blues of cleansing, brilliant yellows of rejuvenation and sea greens of quenchability.

John 6

I am the Bread of Life

The Word became flesh,

And stitches into us the warm oranges of nourishment and earthen tones of sustenance.

John 8

I am the Light of the world.

The Word became flesh,

And binds into us the golden glow of illumination.

John 8

Before Abraham was, I am.

The Word became flesh,

And weaves us into the iridescence of Himself.

John 10

I am the Good Shepherd.

The Word became flesh,

And knits into us the rich reds of receptivity, deep purples of knowledge and the spring greens of growth.

John 10

I am the Door for the sheep.

The Word became flesh,

And presses us into the umbers and charcoals of transition.

John 11

I am the Resurrection and the Life.

The Word became flesh,

And fasten us into eternity in royal blues of abundance.

John 15

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

The Word became flesh,

And draws us onto the singular, true path of pure white rebirth.

John 15

I am the true Vine.

The Word became flesh,

And crafts into us the solid greens of spirit-connection and the spectrum of fruitfulness.

John 17

I am glorified in them.

The Word became flesh,

And fashions holiness into our world, a tapestry of wholeness.

And Father, what of our part beyond reception?

My child, respond with healing hands.

Pay attention.

Stay near me.

“Seeing the work that is to be done, who can help wanting to be the one to do it? But one is afraid that there will be no rest until the work is finished. The love and the work of friends belong to the task and are its health. Rest and rejoicing belong to the task, and are its grace. Let tomorrow come tomorrow. Not by your will is the house carried through the night.” What are People For: Healing, Wendell Berry

As far as I understand, living an integrated life means living out my faith in Jesus Christ in every aspect of life and witness: the wounded parts of me, the secure and insecure parts of me, the healthy and whole parts of me, the faithful and unfaithful parts. Each one integral.

We are each a tapestry of God’s imagination, called to be at peace with not-knowing how or why and settled in this. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are, no more, no less.” Matthew 5:5 Across the spectrum of colour and imagination, in Christ, we can be new people, doing life together and bringing health rather than heartache to a world in desperate need of integrity both in word and in deed.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For from His fullness we have received grace upon grace.” John 1:14-16

Father, by grace we live in your fullness. Amen