I grew up learning that words matter. You give respect to those in authority in your life (mom, dad, grandparents, teachers) and you honor with right language God and holy things. Much of this training was based on respect for the Word and for what happens in and between persons during verbal transactions. This training occurred before the days of television, reality shows, the Internet, tell-alls . . . . I learned that words matter. They can hurt and they can heal. We sat around radios and listened . . . to words.
It was only much later that I learned that images matter also. Orthodox icons had never been a part of my formative Protestant experience. But in the nineties, I started paying attention to them, partly as the result of ecumenical exposure to Orthodox Christians. I took a wonderful icon writing class with Mother Catherine of the St. Seraphim School of Iconography here in Indianapolis. Slowly over five months my icon of the Blessed Mother took shape. This icon is in the prayer corner of my house now. This may come off as a little weird but sometimes I feel as though the eyes of Mother Mary are looking right at me and right into me. Lately I realize that I am in a culture that is awash with ready access to images of all kinds. Advertisers know how to manipulate images to create "needs" or to promote issues. I can watch anything on-line. The television brings things into the house from everywhere. And it is about the television that I want to comment. Several months ago an innocent man was killed and then hacked, knifed and butchered in full public view at a busy crossroads of London. This gruesome act was reported on many news programs, by many pundits of the left and the right. So, I happened to look at my screen and I saw one of the killers calmly talking to a woman and blood was dripping from his hands. I was stunned. And sickened. This was not fiction or make believe. This was the real thing. It was in my living room where the Holy Eucharist has been celebrated. It was only steps from the prayer corner where I offer monastic prayers and where I often sit for long periods in silence in the presence of God. Suddenly this space where I live, pray, eat, work, study and offer hospitality to others seemed desecrated by the image on television. At that moment, I made a decision. If I am to be subject to violent, intrusive images in my own home, then I am done with broadcast news on television. The reason for this decision, I later reasoned, is to draw a clear line between what I allow in this space. I don't allow porn of any kind. I would challenge persons using disrespectful or hurtful language. Equally, I am not allowing vivid violence in the name of news. The interesting thing is that this does not mean that I am not paying attention to news. I still subscribe to a national daily newspaper, Time magazine and other publications. I still listen to NPR. I know that I still need to be informed and to make civic decisions. But for two months the television has been turned off except for an occasional movie or C-span book channel program. We often talk about how we need silence to deepen our spirituality. But we need to clear away images that are unhelpful as well. I have no scientific proof. But I feel certain that images such as the gruesome aftermath of the terrible London murder have a way of getting inside our psyches and souls. Once there they can wreck spiritual havoc. Not everyone agrees with me that it is best to flip the switch. One very sensitive person I met last week in Asheville, NC listened carefully. This is a spiritually deep person in all ways. In effect, she said that you can't wall yourself off from the real world. She says that her response when confronted with these bad images is to pray for those involved. She hands them over to God. I respect this approach very much. My choice, though, even if it is for just a time, is to walk into a fenced off, boundaried space where violent visual intrusions do not happen. I trust that this is different from putting my head in the sand. I respect images and what they can do to the soul. They matter.
2 Comments
Ellen Carney
6/17/2013 03:40:08 am
I turned off themTv long ago. I found it to contain mostly rubbish and violence much as you have. My home is my monastic enclosure and most monestaries would not allow such stuff.
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Br. Daniel-Joseph
6/17/2013 05:39:28 am
Good thoughts, Brother. Feels like you have found that difficult-to-find balance between isolation and sacred boundaries. We do need to know what is happening in the world so we can offer up our prayers and take whatever action is within our power -- but our sacred space must remain just that -- sacred. Blessings to you!
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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. |