The artist cannot pass lightly over the disorder of the creation without being guilty of colossal self-deception and becoming utterly irrelevant to the needs of a broken and torn world. —Jeremy Begbie, Voicing Creation’s Praise A number of years ago, I attended a recital by the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. She began with Anton Webern’s Four […]
In this essay, Kelly Johnson explores the categories of comedy and tragedy as she considers how we might stay informed about social injustices, suffering, and human rights violations and yet maintain and nurture Christian joy.
I don’t do suffering well. In fact, I despise suffering. My daughter’s tears bring out the worst in me. My first thought is “How do I fix this?” It’s easily translated into pastoral care or clinical counseling. “What should I say?” “How can I help?” I’ve been habituated to respond to suffering with answers. It’s […]
I’ve drawn blood from others, in my childhood, even friends and kin— slit the heavy garment of skin or split sinus caves with the hard hammer of my fist. Very young, I cried if my sister hurt herself. Later, her hot blood slicked my hammering hand— that hurt was, more than hers, my own. And […]
Lonely I’d rather never see a majestic eagle’s flight, Or a spider’s web, kissed with morning dew. Better always blind, than see and lose your sight. Better to imagine, better if you never knew. I’d rather never hear a hyena’s lonely call, Or my friend’s infectious laughter. Better if you never heard a sound at […]