Imagining the Lectionary: Trinity - the art of visualising divine presence and purpose

Imagining the Lectionary:  Trinity – the art of visualising divine presence and purpose.
 
Reflection accompanying images “revealing the presence”, “heart shaped shutters on tower of parish church” and “artist and canvas”.
 
"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you."  2 Cor.13:14
 
What do you see in the image? What sense does your brain make of the information before you? Can you see a recognisable pattern or shape? A friendly, smiling face perhaps, outlined in white, looking to the left of the frame?
 
What you see in the photograph is not normally visible to the naked eye. By slowing down the shutter speed to a tenth of a second and moving the camera against the direction of flow, startling shapes emerged in the river. It was as though a hidden pattern of 'presence'
became visible through this deliberate act of seeking and searching for that which would otherwise be unseen.
 
Discerning patterns and recognising presence in the fast flowing current of events, relationships and thoughts which make up our day to day lives similarly involves a willingness to look for that which is not readily visible to our snapshot perception. If we extend the time frame of our faith insight and take a long shutterspeed look back through our memory, a pattern of divine presence emerges. This presence is personal, loving, kind and always purposeful. Its shape is made up of many fleeting moments of holy discernment and godly awareness, together with instances when others have been the face of God for us. Only in retrospect does a consistent pattern begin to appear, and then we can see the presence and know 'the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit' right there in the flow.

Continues...