God Came Near [Advent Synchroblog Post]

Godcamenear480

God came near. This is my contribution for today's Advent Synchroblog. Take a look around and see what other bloggers have contributed.

I took the photo of the ladder [minus the words] in Spain earlier this year, outside the Theatre-Museum of Salvador Dali. Ladders [and stairways] feature prominently in surrealist art and I was exploring the theme of Jacob's ladder in Dali's art. What I like about this ladder installation, which stands outside his museum, is the way the blue fades into rusted iron.

Most likely Dali was thinking of the mystical journey, ascending into the unknown blueness of the subconcious but for me, at least today as I think of the Advent message, I see the journey in the opposite direction – the emergence out of one's protective environment and voluntarily thrust into the wild open to be abused the elements of wind, rain and sun. The adventure in the advent. Like Jesus laying aside his glory and entering the corrosive world of men. I hope Dali will forgive my words on his ladder but since addition and acquisition feature so prominently in his art, I am pretty sure he wouldn't mind.

History looked forward to the Creator coming near to us and as it worked out, he came a lot nearer than anyone ever expected. We look back at the Advent of his nearness-made-known, the coming-down and fleshing-up of Christ, his hanging-out-for-a-while alongside creation and we celebrate it at Advent. But we also look forward to a time when we will be with Him forever and that nearness will be fully realized as creation finds it's complete redemption: an adventure from rust to non-rust, from corrosion to permanence.

Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

5 Comments

  • Jeff Goins says:

    Great post, Andrew. I love this line: “he came a lot nearer than anyone ever expected.” So true.

  • I posted a poem/prayer on Advent Synchroblog – thanks for the nudge… your elbow is far reaching….. also a bit pointy. i’ve not done much proper blogging this year, prolly due to going to school and all that jazz…
    Been thinking a lot though…. guess i need to be penning it out rather than penting it in.
    much love,
    xocat

  • George says:

    Find words or phrases in the Bible, you can compare different versions and languages. You can search and browse the verse in different versions of the Bible. Discuss and share the word.
    The most complete Bible dictionary for the meaning of Biblical words and concepts. Using Google Maps locates all cities and places mentioned in the Bible, all these places are organized by book.
    Christian music and books free for download, directory of sites and blogs related to the Faith, Video of sermons and more.
    Visit us http://searchinthebible.com

  • Jason says:

    Great post, love the ladder connection.

  • kathyescobar says:

    such a pretty post, andrew. loved this: “I see the journey in the opposite direction – the emergence out of one’s protective environment and voluntarily thrust into the wild open to be abused the elements of wind, rain and sun. The adventure in the advent. Like Jesus laying aside his glory and entering the corrosive world of men.” so good.

Leave a Reply