Elasticity by Umberto Boccioni, 1912
Oil on canvas, 100x100cm: Museo del Novecento, Milan.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Revelation 19:6
Umberto Boccioni, in Elasticity, created a Futuristic masterpiece of contorted forms, bright discordant colours, and multiple light forms to create an impression of movement and action. An ordered confusion, if you will.
Kurt Vonnegut, in Breakfast of Champions writes, ‘The things other people have put into my head, at any rate, do not fit together nicely, are often useless and ugly, are out of proportion with one another, are out of proportion with life as it really is outside my head’.
For it is true, our minds are often jumbled. Added to this the confusion of the world that surrounds us; in our case a government seemingly in disarray, the rise of AI, reports of wars around the world, argument overriding debate, the lasting problems caused by the lockdowns, civil unrest, strikes, national and local services in crisis... What confusion!
So what should we do? I would suggest that, as Christians, we should do as we always should, turn to our Bibles.
A few weeks ago, during Lord’s Day worship at Clarendon Park CC, we looked at how the Old Testament can appear confusing; a jumble of styles, genres, the mundane and the extraordinary, the complex and simplistic, of joy and pain.
The following week was Palm Sunday, and the readings and sermon highlighted the utter chaos that would have fallen upon Jerusalem that fateful day. The day that leads us in to Holy Week, a time itself of incredible contrast of emotion - the cheering crowds, teaching, anger, frustration, praise, denial, a friendly meal, betrayal, prayerful solace, the baying crowds, the darkest of endings, fulfilment... The triumphal procession that leads to the cross.
A few weeks before Holy Week, on Mothering Sunday, we often consider the feelings of Mary. When we read the New Testament it is easy to forget the human impact on Mary. We can scarcely imagine the extremes of emotion she experienced during her son’s life. Although thankfully not on the same scale, we all, as human beings, live our lives in a confusion of emotion and situation.
In a month’s time, on Whit Sunday, we shall no doubt read Luke’s famous description of that famous Pentecost when a cacophony of languages filled the air bringing harmony to the discord, and the people asked each other, ‘What does this mean?’.
Which brings us to the conclusion; we shall never fully understand what this means. We can never understand God’s providence. But of one thing we can be sure; throughout all of the confusion is a constant. That of God.
The mysterious Father sits above us. We have our Scripture, and we have Christ to show us the way. So let us all, in this confusing world, submit ourselves to God and fully trust the Spirit to lead us wherever may be.
For there is peace among the confusion.
Using Psalm 25:4-5 as a basis for prayer –
In these confusing times, make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Amen.
Gwyn Davies
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