Trinity

Trinity

With what eyes do You See me?
as I'm drawn to the Source
and let you flow through me
you know me
even if I never did

I do See You
as I find shelter in the eye of the storm
a spark of light from a soft guiding flutter
revelation from ancient words
I walk a path
I didn’t know was there

With what eyes do You See me? How do I See You?  These two questions have inspired mankind throughout the ages in relationship with God.  It is also an area where religions have sought for answers and direction.  In Christianity this subject is articulated by the doctrine known as the Trinity of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  But what if we take this core element of our relationship with the Divine out of the intellectual realm and portray the Trinity as a personal experience of encountering God in His Three Dimensions?

In a highly personalised way, I have conveyed my vision of the Trinity into my painting. Executed in oil with predominant blue/green[i] hues, a forceful mountain of water[ii] represents the Almighty (El Shaddai), the gentle joyous flutter of a butterfly depicts the Holy Spirit and facing us in front is Christ Jesus[iii], the Intermediary with mankind[iv].  Each triune element is painted in the same tone, rising out of and shaped from the same water, and each represents its essence: the Power of Creation[v], the Breath of Life[vi]and the Humanity of God[vii], respectively. The image of a butterfly further represents spiritual rebirth and New Creation[viii]. Another shared element of the Trinity are the stretched out Wings of Protection[ix], with the spray of the waves resembling feathers, the butterfly a protective shield and the wave the safety of a wall, each providing refuge. With wings behind Him, Jesus is also depicted as The Angel of God, the Christ incarnate[x]. He appears to be bending forward and down as to seek to embrace us[xi]. 

The triune God has His Eyes on us: the eyes of the waves, the many eyes on the wings of the butterfly and the eyes of Christ that seem uncannily to look at (inside?) you from whichever position you stand in front of the painting[xii].

The bronze face[xiii] represents humanity and it rises symbolically from the water[xiv]. It is lifted up[xv][xvi] facing Jesus[xvii], who is bending over to get closer[xviii]. With eyes on Christ, the close spiritual connection is further symbolised by the water flowing through the bronze face[xix]. The path to closeness with the triune God, in the middle and towards the centre, is narrow and barely visible[xx], but is there for us to follow.  My aim is to provoke contemplation as you view this painting: with what eyes do you see the Divine?

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[i] Exodus 24:9-10 (NIV): 9Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.

[ii] Isaiah 41:17-18 (NIV): 17The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.

[iii] John 14:6-7 (NLT): Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

[iv] 1 Timothy2:5 (NET) 5For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human

[v] Genesis 2 (KJV): 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

[vi] Titus 3:5 (NIV): 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit

[vii] Galations 4:5 (NET) 4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. 

[viii] 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NET) 17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! 

[ix] Psalms 91:4 (NHEB): 4He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.

[x] Exodus 23:20-21 (NET) 20“I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. 21Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him.

[xi] Psalms 17:6-8 (NLT) “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

[xii] Proverbs 24:12 (NLT):  12Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew…

[xiii] Ezekiel 40:3 (NLT): 3As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance…

[xiv] Matthew 28:19 (KJV): 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

[xv] Isaiah 43:2 (NET): 2When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.

[xvi] Exodus 19:4 (NET): 4‘You yourselves have seen … how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

[xvii] Genesis 21:19 (NIV)19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.

[xviii] Proverbs 27:19 (NET): 19As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.

[xix] John 4:14 (NKJV):  14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

[xx] Psalms 77:19 (NLT) 19Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters — a pathway no one knew was there!