When people cease to be surrounded by beauty, they cease to hope. They internalize the message of their eyes and ears, the message that whispers that they are not worth very much, that they are in effect less than fully human. . . . And of course, evangelism . . . will flourish best if the church is giving itself to works of justice (putting things to rights in the community) and works of beauty (highlighting the glory of creation and the glory yet to be revealed). –N.T. Wright [1]
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. —Eph. 6:12, NIV
Trees wrapped in balloons and stuffed animals;
A child’s picture;
Liquor bottles scattered under leafless branches.
An aesthetic of death and grief.
Barred windows and doors;
Alarm company signs;
The “beware of dog” fence notice.
An aesthetic of fear.
Playgrounds filled with over-grown weeds;
Hoops without nets;
Dirty needles, used condoms, scattered trash.
An aesthetic of neglect and despair.
Gated communities; sprawling suburbs.
Make distance between us and them.
Incessant consuming, positioning,
Competing, defeating;
Self-promoting, re-inventing,
Ever seeking, ever striving.
But never arriving.
Trapped in the “It’s not enough.”
An aesthetic of scarcity and indifference.
Weaving colorful threads of interdependent community.
Making space for equal access.
Demanding budgets reflecting our faith.
Protecting the most vulnerable among us.
An aesthetic of solidarity.
Community clean-ups and gardens;
Block parties and neighborhood murals.
Pay-as-you-can produce and dining cafes.
An aesthetic of hope and resolve.
Kids playing cans;
Neighbors connecting on porches;
Dogs wagging tails at ends of long leashes;
Colorful chalk art on sidewalks.
An aesthetic of joy and peace.
Eyes meeting eyes; not crossing the street.
Intentional smiles in the passing;
A sincere, “Hey, how’s it going?”
Recognizing another’s humanity.
Respecting God’s image in you.
We battle on.
Notes:
[1] N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008), 231, 232.
DesAnne Hippe serves as adjunct faculty at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She earned her PhD in Theology and Society from Marquette University. DesAnne is a member of St. Basil Fellowship of the Center for Pastor Theologians.
