One of the gifts of sustained spiritual direction is the breakthrough moment when the client recognizes that an old story is now being expressed in a new way with a different flow, time line, and even vocabulary. Often these stories are about grievances, regrets or remorse. Last year, for example, I experienced a very great loss of friendship. And I have rehearsed and told that story over and over to others . . . . and to myself at 3 AM when I couldn't sleep. But with time and multiple re-tellings, I now notice that the contours of the story are changing ever so subtly. This story is moving into the rearview mirror of my memory and as it does so it morphs. This occurs in spiritual direction sessions when an old much repeated story is shared in a new way. At that moment I know that the client has been working on that narrative both in spiritual direction sessions, at home, and, often, with a therapist or analyst. At these moments, I like to hit the pause button for just a moment. I may say: "I noticed that what you just told me is really different from previous descriptions of the same incident. What do you think is going on?" This question may invite the client into yet more serpentine movements with the same story. The visual arts are instructive when thinking about old stories and dusty narratives. Last weekend Frank and I visited the Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art www.columbusmuseum.org to view an exhibition of the early work of the famous American Pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997). While in his twenties, Lichtenstein re-imagined and re-worked the iconic painting by the German-American artist, Emmanuel Leutze, of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River to ambush enemy soldiers at Trenton--he began this famous canvas in 1849. Since the mid-19th century it has hung in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City www.metmuseum.org The heroism and grandeur of the Leutze painting is undeniable even if, with contemporary eyes, we wonder if the Crossing really went down like that. But Lichtenstein re-casts the painting in a way that gives voice to our contemporary sarcasm. Here are two examples of his Washington crossing the Delaware River. Commenting on Lichtenstein's re-do of the Leutze painting, Forbes art critic-at-large Jonathan Keets states: "Lichtenstein's Founding Father is stripped of grandeur. He's basically just a guy in a funny-looking hat. By extension, the mythic bombast of America's founding appears laughably infantile" (Forbes, April 15, 2022). The caption to the Washington Crossing I at the Columbus Museum of Art states: "Lichtenstein's two versions of this parable from the nation's origin story reveal the artist's willingness to parady even some of the most entrenched and revered American historical narratives."
So, let's circle back to the work of spiritual direction, leaving high art behind. Spiritual direction is non-linear. The client brings whatever theme, topic or story she wishes to the table. I meet the client where the client is for our time together. This may mean that a single story, over time, surfaces often. Growth and inner spiritual expansion happens when the contours of the story shift. It is in service of this idea that the paintings I referred to by Leutze and Lichtenstein are instructive.
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March 2023
AuthorDan Hoffman is an Indianapolis USA based spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and workshop/retreat leader. This occasional blog discusses things he is thinking about and wants to share. Comments are always welcome. |