Whatsoever Things are True, Holy, Just, and Lovely

2011-03-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

It has been far too long since I last posted on this or any other blog, and much has changed in the time that I've been gone. Recently, however, I've felt inspired and maybe even called to begin writing again; I've certainly felt a longing to let ideas flow and to be expressive and creative. So, with some trepidation, I'm going to make the plunge once again into the deep sea of blogging, and hope that I come out refreshed and invigorated.

Festive Fire

2008-11-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

Winter's chill has finally settled over the earth, at least in the northern hemisphere, and the sun has wrapped itself in snowy clouds. The days are short, and the nights are long, as we vacillate between scurrying after Christmas gifts and longing for the comfort of our cozy beds.

But with Thanksgiving just over the horizon, and Christmas less than a month away, this should be a most joyous and festive season, not to mention a season marked by the deepest peace and radiant contentment. I say this because we are on the eve of Christ's arrival in the world. The fire of faith should comfort our souls because we know that God cares so much, He is sending to us His only Son for a brother, friend, and Saviour. The fire of hope should fill us with peace as we consider that God is among us. The fire of charity should thrill our beings, as we reflect on the gift of love made possible by God Who is Love.

So, I hope that while the fog lays low over the fields, and the snow falls from the sky, we all have a chance to sit before a fire, feel its warmth seep through our bodies, and ponder its symbolism as it dances and crackles upon the hearth. May this festive phenomenon fill our hearts with every peace and comfort as we traverse these days of the Advent of Christmas!

A Few Great Men

2008-07-01T12:24:00.001-07:00

Lately, I have had the great good fortune to meet and spend time with some men newly entered into the lives of some of my dearest friends, either as husbands or fiances. These young men have left a deep impression on me by virtue of the fact that they are strong men--the kind of men you didn't really think existed anymore, and these wonderful young men have given me hope that there are in fact, still a few great men out there in this saddened world.

What first most distinguishes these men is that they have a very clear idea of who they are and where they are going. They have a sense of purpose and direction that gives them an energy and a directness very much to be admired, especially in this generation of confusion. One is left in no doubt as to what these gentlemen think about God, life, their places in life, the way to live life, and the importance of the women in their lives.

Another important quality in these men is their social comfort--their social intelligence, as it has been called by some. They move with ease amongst their fellows; they draw others out of themselves and into conversation; they take initiative in getting to know others, regardless of gender or age; they know how to speak seriously or with greater levity according to the occasion, and do not insist upon being one or the other when the time is inappropriate. In short, these young men have a refreshing ability to be completely natural and open with their surroundings, which is a sadly-lacking quality in most people nowadays.

Still another quality I rejoiced to see in these young men was their true gentlemanliness--their complete courtesy for women, not just their particular loved ones, but for all the women whom they encounter. These young men do not possess just the trappings of gentlemanly behavior, but maintain an all-encompassing yet un-ostentatious regard for the needs and desires of the women in their company. If a woman seems left on the fringe of the conversation, these men address the conversation to her directly so as to make her part of what is going on. If she is left without a dance partner, they make sure she has opportunities to dance. If she struggles with something, they are immediately there to assist. If she makes a mistake, they do not call attention to it. They listen attentively to her ideas, and respond generously.

And yet, should this description have made these young men seem too sensitive to be men, I would like to point out that they are very masculine individuals who rejoice in physical activity, who have strong talents for leadership, who eat with gusto and wrestle for fun, who defend their beliefs in the face of strong opposition, and who know how to fend off an attacker. Had anyone asked me to pick better men for my friends, I could not have done so, even if I had had the chance to imagine them into being. They are indeed the best of men, and I am honored to know them. May there come to be many more like them!!!

Why Seek Ye the Living Among the Dead?

2008-03-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

Every year at Pascha, Father preaches a homily about how the Resurrection bears special meaning for those of us who have lost a loved one. Although it always makes me cry, this homily is incredibly comforting to me, for in it are reiterated truths so powerful and a hope so joy-filled that one cannot but be filled with the certainty of eternal life.

The dead have not "died," but have "fallen asleep in the Lord." Christ destroyed death by His own death and Resurrection. Therefore, death has no power over us or those we love. We miss our loved ones, but we know they are in God's hands, that He is with them and protects them as He loves and protects us. We know that because of Christ's death and Resurrection, our loved ones will rise again. Having been baptized into Christ, they and we have been baptized into His death. And because mankind have been baptized into His death, mankind of necessity have also been baptized into His Resurrection. Our dead have gone before us, but they only go where we are also going, so in the end, we shall be with them again, and in our Lord's mercy, "we shall see Light."

This is the Day Which the Lord has Made: Let us Rejoice and be Glad Therein

2008-03-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Christos Anesti! Al Massih Qam! Christos Voskrese! Christus Resurrexit! Christ is Risen!

Yesterday, I was crucified with Him;
Today, I am glorified with Him;
Yesterday, I died with Him;
Today I am quickened with Him;
Yesterday, I was buried with Him;
Today, I rise with Him.
(First Paschal Sermon of St. Gregory of Nazianzen)

Strangers on a Plane

2008-01-04T14:55:00.001-08:00

I almost never talk to people when I fly. A caution born of countless sad stories in the news, fear, and a sense of difference from most people prompts me to close in on myself when I travel. I retreat into my window seat with my own music and a magazine, making it clear to everyone else that I'd rather not have any personal contact with them.

On my most recent trip back to visit my parents for Christmas, a dancer preempted my typical retreat by wearing his love of life and dance on his sleeve. He'll probably never see this, but I would nonetheless like to say that I am grateful to him for restoring to me something of a sense of kinship with my fellow man, and a recognition that just because you and I are different does not mean that you are an alien (nor, for that matter, am I). There are times when we all need reminders to be human, and I certainly got mine.

I'm also grateful to him for making what is normally a barely bearable necessity an enjoyable and enriching experience. Instead of sitting in my seat looking bored, falling asleep, and refusing eye contact with my neighbors, I enjoyed a free-flowing exchange of ideas, learned a few things, and before I knew it, had passed away the entire flight without once lamenting its discomforts and trials. Thank you to the dancer who kept on talking! (And dancing) :)

Too often, it seems we pass through life in isolation, refusing or not even noticing the opportunities we are given to communicate with others. Rather than participating in a truly human action, we isolate ourselves like frightened forest animals, closing ourselves off from the rest of civilization. But man was created a social being. He was designed to interact with his fellow, to sympathize with the feelings of other people, fulfill the needs of those around him, draw his neighbors out of themselves, and in so doing, enrich both himself and society at large with the shared experience. How can knowledge be imparted, wisdom be gained, and progress be made without at least the attempt to communicate ideas and understand perspectives? Surely we, at least I, can do better. I plan to try, anyway.

It's that Time of Year, when the World Falls in Love. . . .

2007-12-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

. . .every song you hear seems to say "Merry Christmas! May your new year dreams come true!" I've always loved the Christmas Waltz because it absolutely captures the joy and romance of the Christmas season. Sure, it never mentions anything about the birth of our Saviour, but its gay melody and sweeping rhythm evoke a delight only possible to souls who know that all in the world is Truly Right, that life has been redeemed, elevated, and beautified by the God-made-Man.

Two thousand years after the fact, Christmas is just as breath-taking as it ever was. Despite the fact that the season is hugely over-commercialized, you can't help but experience a thrill in your heart as Advent makes its way toward Bethlehem. And as cliche as the sights and sounds may seem, they nonetheless assert their appropriateness to this time of year, and give us a pleasure which only Christmas can invest in them.

The spicy tang of fir trees--the sound of sleigh bells jingling through the air--twinkling lights adorning doors and windows--candles gleaming inside--chestnuts roasting on an open fire--the sparkle of moonlight on the snow--the tinkling of champagne flutes--the strains of Christmas choirs coming through church doors and sounding in cathedral towers--warm mugs of chocolate--men in tuxes, women in evening gowns swirling about a marble dance floor--skaters gliding across frozen ponds--the crunch of snow and ice beneath your feet as you walk down gaily lit city streets--family carols around the piano--couples caught under the mistletoe--mulled wine and eggnog--presents under the tree. It's because Christ is born and Christmas is here that these things are so full of enchantment.

And even if there's no snow out your window, you haven't gone ice skating in years, and sleigh rides are only something you can imagine, it doesn't really matter because each one of us is inspired by a personal Christmas fairyland twirling about in our rose-colored Christmas spirits. The whole world really is in love at Christmas--with its Maker, with itself, and with each one of us. Maybe this year we can let the King of Love reign in our hearts with enough grace to last til next Christmas, so that this delight can infuse a whole new way of life. So, "this song of mine in three-quarter time wishes you and yours the same thing too!"

The Tranquility of Grey

2007-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

There's something about mist that's delightfully stilling. Some people find grey days very depressing, and I will admit that too many of them in a row can have a decidedly dampening effect on one's spirits. However, when cold days are still something of a phenomenon, and you're revelling in sweaters, long skirts, and boots, the facets of grey weather are more soothing than saddening.

Yesterday, I took time out from work to go for a twenty minute walk in the afternoon. The sky was completely overcast with a dense blanket of silver clouds, and the temperature was such that the morning mist had never had a chance to lift. What impressed me immediately about the day was its quietness. I stepped out of the building, and everthing was perfectly still. Even the ring of my boot heels was softened by the silence around me.

As I wended my way up the road and back again, a soft frosting of dew-like rain settled on my hair, cocooning me in the texture of the day. All about me was tranquility, and with a whisper, that peace stole right into my heart, leaving me utterly content with a blissful quiet in my soul. Only grey misty days are capable of producing just that kind of stillness, that simple uncomplicated silence that is happy just to be what it is, as it is--not anticipatory, not active, not lazy, not languid--just complete.

The Glories of Autumn

2007-10-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well, autumn is officially upon us according to the calendar, and it's even beginning to feel like it outside. The temperature has dropped; there's a lovely breeze, and the trees are beginning to show hints of their true colors.

I've never like the word "fall" because it absolutely fails to capture the reality of autumn. "Fall" soounds depressed, hurt, dull, and dreary. But "autumn" sounds spicy and rich, just like the season itself. "Autumn" speaks of pumpkin pie, cinnamon candles, hot cider, long walks, bonfires and marshmallows. "Autumn" sounds like the tapestry of warmth sewn by the changing trees. It sounds like the blanket of mist that shrouds the mornings, and like the incense of woodsmoke that permeates the atmosphere during this delightful season.

I find it remarkable that this season which signals the waning of the year is yet so full of energy. In fact, no other season is so energetic as autumn. No other season has that delicious crispness in the air, that invigorating clarity and liveliness that makes you want to burst with joy and activity. No other season makes you feel so capable of accomplishing great things. What a gift--to be given the spice of life in this wonderful time of the year!

Happy Feast of the Assumption

2007-08-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

At Mass today, the priest gave an excellent homily, in which he pointed out that Mary is our example of Catholic joy. "My soul REJOICES in God, my Saviour!" Catholics have every reason to be filled with joy, but many times we are not. Joy does not necessarily mean a giddy sort of happiness, but rather an all-encompassing sort of peace. The Lord is mighty, and He has done great things for me and for the world. He is all-powerful, and all shall work according to His will in the end, so I should have no worry or fear. I am in His hands, and because of this I have joy.

Mary is a neat reminder to us to have no fear, but to trust joyfully in the goodness and mercy of the Lord! This is the day which the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Superfluous Has a Point and Useless is Good

2007-06-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Men often wonder why women are so pleased by things like boxes of chocolate, bouquets of flowers, a pretty dress, fancy soap, and old china. Oftentimes, men themselves would naturally be much more inclined to like and give things that are useful, like a set of tools, a new electronic device, a month of gas for the car, or something of that nature. While we women certainly understand the value of such items, we rarely get that same thrill of pure unadulterated joy as we do when we behold a frilly Easter hat, a budding rose, or a footed teacup.

So why do we tend to go for "knick-knacks," these decorative, but not necessarily always useful bits of beauty and fun?

I think it's because God wanted humans to experience a bit of his own thrill in superfluousness. After all, He is the One Who decided to create the world in the first place, a bit of superfluousness in and of itself. Compared with God Himself, the world has no great value at all, but He had so much Love that He decided to create a world and people to share His wealth. And when this fairly insignificant world was created, God took great pleasure in it. He pronounced it good, and walked in the garden with mankind, taking delight in the beauties of His creation, despite the fact that they added nothing whatsoever to His Being, despite the fact that they were not really "useful" to Him.

Isn't that the way women enjoy "frivolous" "useless" things--bits of lace, porcelain figures in elegant poses, and silk-covered stilettos? We don't need them; they're not particularly useful; they're just pretty, and we absolutely love them.

I think God entrusted women with a mission to bring this sense of gratuitous goodness into the world. Men couldn't do it because they were created with a nature that's all about justice. It doesn't make "sense" to enjoy these silly things; they're not worth it. And men are right, so far as it goes. But women were created with a nature that's all about love, and love is all about beauty, and true love overflows without ceasing until it encompasses everything within reach. Women know about the insanity of love, the "injustice" of love. Their very bodies are a monument to this. Because of this intimate understanding of the gratuitous nature of love, it actually makes great sense that women should be able to derive great joy from little, useless, silly things. It is precisely these things that bring beauty into our lives, and it is precisely in our enjoyment of them that we mirror God's own enjoyment of His creation.

**disclaimer: Obviously, not all men are totally robot-practical, and incapable of sensitivity to these "superfluous" things. Also, not all women are as pleased by "useless" things as are others. Still, in general, men and women tend to look at these things differently. Regardless, the fundamental point about "gratuity" being good is still worth making.

The Joys of Nature

2007-06-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

The other day, I took a short walk across a more heavily wooded area on the campus of the college near my office. It was a beautiful day--no students around, bright sunshine, thick green foliage on the tall trees, flowers in bloom all around, birds chirping merrily, and bees tilting through the air on their drunken way home.

It was simply the most peaceful experience I've had in a month, and it was utterly lovely!

Absolute Peace

2007-04-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

"Beauty is a form of genius--is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts in the world like sunlight, or springtime, or the reflection in dark water of that silver shell we call the moon" --Oscar Wilde

He was right. Beauty is a fact of the world, bigger and more complete than all of the evils and sorrows of this world put together. It is a fact of the world and it is comforting, for it is God working among us. It is above genius, because it is the product of God's Word. It needs no explanation, because it is written in our souls.

No matter what evils occur in the day-to-day, the beauty with which we are surrounded is always there, showing that God never ceases to walk beside us with His love and His mercy. His beauty is His promise.

Til Death Do They Part

2007-04-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

This morning, while parked at a stoplight, I experienced a moment that was outside of time, and which touched me rather deeply.

A classic American car drove by, and in it sat a couple, at least 80 years old. What touched me so much was how together they looked, and how much time they had clearly spent together. The window into their world was like looking at a little bit of heaven on earth.

There they were, as wrinkled as they could be, but dressed up for driving. She had a scarf over her head (despite it's being a closed car) and a co-ordinated suit, while he was wearing a fedora and a sports coat. They were smiling and talking, probably sharing some little family joke, and for all I know, they were probably holding hands on the seat.

I thought back to what it must have been like the first time she ever got in his car back in the 40's. She would have gaily tied her kerchief over her head to keep her perfectly done hair in place while they went driving in the open car, skipped down the walkway to the car, hopped up into the passenger seat, and flashed her man a smile as he closed the door after her. He probably grinned a little to himself, straightened his coat as he came around the front of the car, and flashed her an equally beguiling smile as he slid in behind the wheel. And then they were off. . .for the rest of their lives. And there they were again today, just as happy looking as they would have been their first day together, doing just the same things they did back then, only a little bit slower......

and slower until the day when Love Himself will take them to be with Him.

Surely trial has touched them as it touches all of us; undoubtedly difficulties presented themselves with frequency along their roads. However, they weathered it all, and they did it with grace, and with love. It is indeed a many-splendored thing, when love has been lived well and truly!

Great Thursday

2007-04-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Great Thursday, otherwise known as Holy Thursday, is so named because it was on this day that Christ gave to His Church His greatest gifts: The Eucharist, and the priesthood to administer His sacraments for the rest of time. Outside of the Redemption itself, we have been given nothing so great as these admirable gifts.

Liturgical Blooms

2007-04-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

There is so much of beauty in the traditions of the Catholic Church. In the old days, Palm Sunday used to be known also as Pascha Floridum, or the Bud of Pascha. This is a truly lovely thought. Easter Sunday (Pascha) is only eight days away, and so Palm Sunday is like the little flower bud that begins to show its colors before it blossoms to its full glory a few days later. That little flower bud still has alot of work to do--it still needs to break through the shell around it, just like we still have to go through the trials of Holy Week, and finish cracking our shells of sin. But then at the end, the bud becomes a gorgeous celebration of life and color, while our Easter Sunday reveals the glory of the Risen Christ and our consequent rebirth in His Light.

In 1513, the Spaniards discovered a peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. It just so happened to be the day of Pascha Floridum, so the Spaniards named that peninsula Florida. Our own state of Florida was named after a lovely Catholic tradition--what a neat thought.

Pussy willows came into use in the northern European countries during the Middle Ages. Palms were very hard to come by, so churches in northern Europe didn't usually have any for Palm Sunday. They had to use various other branches instead. Pussy willows came into favor because they worked well with the symbolism of the Pascha Floridum.

There are so many wonderful things about the Catholic Church, but certainly her traditions are among the best things about her. They infuse a sense of romance and adventure into our lives. They give us something to look forward to, and something to live up to. They dress up our lives, and make the passing of time special. Thank you, Lord, for tradition!

Our Most Blessed Lady of Sorrows

2007-03-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most beautiful and most moving paintings I think I have ever seen. Without being the least bit overdone, Fra Angelico has managed to capture most evocatively the holy anguish and exhaustion of the Blessed Mother of Christ after the death of her Son. There is so much love in this painting. It is so real in its sorrow, so strong in its weakness. What a beautiful meditation for Lent!

Meals

2007-03-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

I recently ran across a great little piece in a charming book about food: "The meal is the essential act of life. It is the habitual ceremony, the long record of marriage, the school for behavior, the prelude to love. Among all peoples and in all times, every significant event in life--be it wedding, triumph, or birth--is marked by a meal or the sharing of food or drink. The meal is the emblem of civilization. What would one know of life as it should be lived or nights as they should be spent apart from meals?"--James and Kay Salter's Life Is Meals

What a lovely thought! A ceremony, something special, that happens again and again. The accompaniment and companion of a loving and faithful marriage. The place where manners are learned, traditions passed down, and culture reborn. The place where all the best ideas about life, beauty, religion, truth, etc. are discussed and renewed.

Food does always seem to be at the heart of everything. We can't in fact live for very long without eating, so of necessity, meals happen regularly. But so much has happened around food. The Old Testament is full of warfare and strife, much of which was started because someone didn't have enough food. The New Testament is full of miracles that have to do with the multiplication and provision of food, both physical and spiritual. Many of these miracles occurred within a ritual or ceremonial setting, and the greatest of these miracles (Christ's gift of His own Body and Blood) continues without ceasing to this day.

What history may have been made over the dinner table, when heads of state gather to discuss matters of international consequence? What great novels, poetry, and music may have been written on the inspiration of an idea tossed out in dinner conversation? What strange philosophies and new sciences may have germinated from vigorous interchange carried out over a hearty meal?

Meals are the natural occasions of all such phenomena, for they are the times when people are together long enough to relax and to be able to think and to share ideas with one another. "The meal is the emblem of civilization" because it fosters the components of culture, without which there is no civilization. The Greeks, for instance, made a huge issue of hospitality--of making sure that guests and sojourners were fed well and with proper ceremony. They were one of the greatest civilizations this earth has ever known.

Think of the old black and white films. Certainly society was not perfect at the time; nor were the movies. But there was always something so satisfying about their portrayal of meals. In the movies, people made time for meals. They "dressed for dinner," made a point of eating together, presented the food in an appealing way, and took time to enjoy the food and each other at table. Those scenes always seemed so right, so just, so proper--all was right in the world so long as people dressed for a good dinner.

Well, we don't live in the movies, but perhaps they aren't so far wrong in this sense. After all, where is America now with its T.V. dinners, fast food, and eating disorders? Most of society is unhappy; families don't know each other anymore, and very little of true beauty and lasting value is being produced to enhance our culture. In fact, culture is dead in America, and society is crumbling.

So, while meals may not solve every problem in the land, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to reintroduce some of the old customs and ideas about meals. Maybe we should make time to prepare good meals with our own hands, and to serve them with artistry. Maybe we should bring back the tradition of dressing for dinner, and spending an hour at table in conversation. If we perhaps stepped outside of our normal lives just long enough to do this, we might find our spirits calmed, and our hearts uplifted. Maybe families would learn to appreciate each other again, and maybe ideas of value would have time to generate.

Meals aren't just about existing; meals are about living. Bon Appetit!

Beautiful Bad Weather

2007-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

For all that bad weather (ice storms, blizzards, etc.) can be so inconvenient, even debilitating, the one good thing that seems to accompany bad weather is the sudden emergence of good samaritans.

Over the past few weeks, there have been several little storms and things that have ended up putting me in a bad position one way or another. Each time, I was rescued by at least one charitable individual.

In an ice storm, my car ended up in a ditch. I called my brother, and he immediately dropped what he was doing and convinced several other young men to do likewise. They came out and got my car to a safe location, which happened to be the driveway of an older gentleman who lived right by the scene of the accident. He offered of his own accord the use of his driveway for as long as I needed the car to stay there. I'd never laid eyes on the man before in my life. An off-duty policeman, who happened to be rescuing his daughter (whose car had suffered a similar fate as mine), drove me home.

In the most recent storm, we had a few inches of snow sandwiched between two layers of astonishingly thick ice. The town and county plows never even came through our neighborhood. The man who lives next door, however, owns a tractor. He very graciously plowed my steep driveway, and then proceeded to clear a track through the streets of our neighborhood, helped here and there by those who have snow-blowers. They were at it most of the day, working to clear away the treacherous snow and ice for everyone.

I was very impressed and touched by this behavior. While I know that naturally, we need this kind of weather to keep the earth green and alive, I am inclined to wonder if spiritually, God allows this sort of weather so that we may have opportunities for charity, and occasion to remember that the world is not yet wholly lost, nor without individuals willing to go the extra mile for neighbors in need.

Christmas Trees

2007-01-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

I find it very interesting that through the various traditions surrounding it, not to mention its essential nature, the Christmas tree symbolizes so perfectly the individual whose birth we celebrate by having that Christmas tree in the first place.

By its nature, a Christmas tree is a fitting symbol for the newborn Savior because it is first of all green, a color long associated with life. Moreover, Christmas trees are usually, if not always, evergreens, which means that like the Christ-child Who was born in the coldest, darkest part of the year, the Christmas tree brings life into the harshest part of the year when the world is dead, as it were.

In its decoration, the Christmas tree images Christ no less. Typically, trees are trimmed to a point, so that starting from a widespread fullness at the bottom, they softly taper to a tiny point at the top, drawing the eye upward and heavenward. Does not Christ work in the same manner, for He never spoke or acted but in the name of "My Father in Heaven," ever guiding us to consider our highest calling, and our final end--eternal life with God.

We deck the branches of our Christmas trees in hundreds of little lights, so that each tree radiates a soft but intense glow that draws our gaze into its very heart. Even so Christ, Who radiates the light of His grace so beautifully and so strongly that we can hardly help but be drawn into Him ourselves, our souls warmed and fulfilled by that light of grace.

Perhaps the mere presence of a Christmas tree in our homes helps us to appreciate the goodness and beauty of our Infant Messiah. . .and perhaps, if we were to spend more time contemplating the beauty of our Christmas trees, we might in time find we'd learned much more about our God Who condescended to be born for us.

Dance

2006-08-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have lately been thinking about dance, particularly ballet (but also ballroom), and why it appeals to me so much. Many people don't really care for dance, and have a hard time understanding why I get so excited about it. Yet, when they ask what is so special about dance, I find I don't really know how to answer.

So, I've been doing some thinking and reading, and these are some of my conclusions.

There is harmony of the body in dance. The dancers' bodies move with perfect control, so perfect that every motion looks in fact effortless. There is complete unity between mind and body such that when the mind requires a pirouette, the body executes it exactly. There is order in the parts because each limb places itself in exact proportion to the others so as to create lovely smooth lines, and pleasing shapes. There is clarity or brilliance in the effervescent energy with which the dancers leap and bound, and the fluid grace with which the dancer's bodies hold their poses.

Some people complain that dance is too sexual and provocative by its nature. On the contrary, I would maintain that while dance can certainly be made to be so, it must be done so explicitly, and that of its nature, dance is not provocative. Rather it is the perfect vehicle for disinterested and honest appreciation of the real beauty of the body. (Brief personal interjection: Until I began studying ballet, I was almost overcome with disgust about the body, finding it dirty, ugly, and awkward. Only after studying ballet did I begin to see that the human body is capable of great beauty.) In the dance, and only in the dance, the body exists the way God created it to exist. It is not bound by the imperfections that plague most of us. It captures, as near as anything can, the quality of the pre-lapsarian Edenic form. It is regal. It is perfectly controlled. It is always graceful, but capable of enormous feats of physical prowess. It moves with lack of apparent effort, never stilted, never plodding. It is unconscious of itself, natural and easy, but dignified. In short, it is beautiful, and therefore, awakens an honest and pure appreciation for the form and artistry rendered thereby, as well as wholehearted gratitude toward the Author of such beauty.

The only sense in which I would say that dance is naturally sexual is in its conveyance of the proper relationship between men and women. I say proper because in the dance, men and women must maintain their natural roles. (Admittedly, with some of the more recent experimentation in modern dance, role reversals are becoming more frequent, but they do not belong to the traditional and historical forms of dance.) Once again, the divine plan for humanity is modelled for us by the dancers. In the dance, the male and female dancers must have complete trust in each other to make the right decisions and to be in the right place at the right time, because if they do not have that trust, they cannot dance together. Likewise, they must both have the commitment and will to be in the right place at the right time and to make the right decisions. Then they must act on that commitment. (Even one mis-step, one mislocation, and the dance is ruined, the dancers injured, and choas ensues.) Thus is unity between the partners maintained. The female dancer depends on the male dancer for his strength to lift her, to hold her, to support her in her moves so that she does not fall. She leans on him, and he sustains her. He shows off her grace and she shows off his power. Both require strength, for if she does not keep her body perfectly under control, he will lose his balance, and if he does not keep his body perfectly under control, she will fall. Thus is proportion maintained, and a model for all male-female relationships portrayed. Finally, I think the brilliance may lie in the fact that this proximity of male to female is so unspoilt in the figures of the dance. Their contact with each other is innocent and unselfconscious. It is assured, but not disrespectful. Their handclasp firm but gentle. The dancers simply work together to draw a beautiful image, even as God planned when he made them male and female.

Throughout this description, I have been using three headings under which to categorize my observations about dance. These headings follow St. Thomas Aquinas' definition of beauty. St. Thomas defines the beautiful in terms of three essential concepts: unity or integrity--wholeness, proportion or ordered parts, and clarity or splendour--brilliance. When found together, they elicit in the beholder a sense of profound joy, meditative appreciation, even a sort of yearning. Jacques Maritain, in his commentary on Thomas' notion of beauty, further remarks that this sense of joy is even stronger in those who, "like St. Francis of Assisi. . .know that [beautiful things] emanate from a mind, and refer them to their Author" (Art and Scholasticism, pg. 20). This is to say that full appreciation of beauty involves recognizing that God is the author of all beauty, and that the more beautiful something is, the more closely it reflects God's vision of it.

It is a little difficult to apply the terms of Thomas' definition as precisely to the art of ballet as to painting for instance, and yet it is possible, as I have shown. I think that this idea of the "referral" of things to God is perhaps the answer. For it is in dance's ability to convey an ordered notion of life that I find dance most appealing. It is precisely in its ability to show forth the vision of God for creation and for man that the dance achieves its greatest heights. Jacques Maritain points out that, "Such also is the peculiar beauty of our art, which works upon a sensible matter for the joy of the spirit. It would fain so persuade itself that paradise is not lost. It has the savour of the terrestrial paradise, because it restores for a brief moment the simultaneous peace and delight of the mind and the senses" (pg. 19). God planned for man a paradise. In the dance, that paradise is unveiled and regained for us by the movements of each dancer, the interdependence of partners, and indeed, the very structure of the art form.

So, while others may condemn dance, or at least see little to appreciate in it, I continue to be edified by it, inspired and encouraged by it to seek and achieve a more perfect way of life in mind, body, and soul.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam.

2006-07-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

So much of life is full of sorrow and ugliness, and we humans too easily wallow in the mire. I dedicate this little page to God, who created beauty, and who sustains it for mankind to absorb, or kill as mankind wills. I ask that God bless my effort to share the good things in life as I come across them and make them a part of my own existence.