Let’s talk about soul! I would venture a guess that we have all used this four letter word “soul” at one time or another – and we do so without giving much thought to what it means. In fact, it probably means something different to each of us.
In preparing this message, I went to the Bible to see if I could glean anything that would tell me what soul is. There are lots of references to soul. This well-known verse, Matthew 22:37, was particularly instructive.
“And he said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
While this verse doesn’t tell us what soul is, it does tell us what it is not. It is not heart and it is not mind. It is its own unique word.
When I think of “soul” the image that comes to my mind comes from one of the Harry Potter movies – The Prisoner of Azkaban. In one scene, Harry’s Godfather, Sirius Black is lying unconscious on the shore of the Black Lake at Hogwarts. Hovering over Sirius are many evil creatures called dementors. They are issuing what is called “the dementor’s kiss”, whereby they suck out the soul of their victim. In this scene as the “kiss” Sirius, a tiny bubble of light comes out of his mouth. You know immediately that this tiny bubble of light is important and invaluable. There is a sense that its removal won’t kill you, but that life may not be worth living without it.
The dictionary definition of “soul” is the essence of the human being. Soul is the essence of who we are. If we take away all of the frills and get to the core of who we are – who God created in God’s image – we will reach our souls. It is that tiny bubble of light – not our entire existence – that is the essence of who we are.
Back in 2010 and 2011 I was writing a book. Reclaiming the Soul of Human Resources. The central theme was about soul. I knew what the dictionary definition was, but clearly I needed a better, and perhaps more personal understanding, of what soul was so that I could write about it. So I did my own study of this word “soul” – some lectio divina and the method I used for this study was art.
Now before I move on to the results of this study, I’m going to tell you about myself. I promise it is relevant. I have a degree in art. For 37 years following my graduation I rarely did any art. I had a bunch of excuses – no space, no time, no resources. The most recent excuse was that I had developed a tremor in my left and dominant hand which made it nearly impossible for me to do the fine detailed work of pen and ink which was a favorite. When I stripped away the excuses, it really came down to three lies I told myself: no confidence, no talent and the fear of others judgment on both. Then in 2007 I met Mark Shimada – an artist, author, and performer. He was working at Boeing creating on-line leadership development programs. Our paths crossed – a God thing for sure. Together we developed an art-based leadership development program called “Art of Illumination.” This experience re-awakened in me the love of creating with my hands. Today when I do art, it is an act of prayer. The only audience and judge I accept is God. My calling is spiritual formation. God has equipped me well and I use art in everything I do – designing and facilitating spiritual retreats, creating prayer vigils, companioning someone in spiritual direction, being a camp pastor.
Back to Soul! The retirement gift from my HR staff was time in Mark Shimada’s art studio. I decided to use this time to explore what soul meant to me. My process was simple. As I created I observed what the paint did – how it moved, how it blended, how it absorbed, how it congealed, how it dried. Then I journaled about my observations and what it might tell me about soul. Ultimately, I ended up with five qualities of soul:
- The Soul requires freedom.
- The soul is felt, not thought.
- The soul thrives on surprise.
- The soul is healed through forgiveness.
- The source of the Soul’s power comes from being centered.
We don’t have time to examine all of these, so I’ve selected two and brought with me the pieces that inspired these qualities.
The first one I want to share is that “The soul is healed through forgiveness.” In this piece I used watered pigment in a squeeze bottle on raw, untreated canvas. For those who don’t know about canvas, when a canvas is treated the paint lays on top. When it is raw or untreated the paint absorbs into the fibers. After it dried I took pen and ink and wrote strings of words – all beginning with the word “soul.” For example
- Soul – compassion – kindness – truth – mercy – forgive
- Soul – heart- hearth-home
- Soul – freedom-joy-gift
As I mentioned earlier, I have a tremor in my left and dominant hand. Typically, this fine, detailed printing would be unreadable. But on this canvas it is quite steady and clear. I had nothing to attribute this to except a forgiving canvas and a merciful God.
What I learned from this piece is that every time we forgive ourselves we heal a chink in our souls. And when we use this same energy to forgive others, we not only heal a piece of their soul but another piece in our own.
As a Christian community, I don’t have to tell you the importance or value of forgiving – it is central tenet of our beliefs. And, yet unforgiveness runs rampant in our society and we Christians often lead the pack! If we would individually and corporately do a little more forgiving, imagine the souls that would heal. Imagine the peace that would come. Forgiving ourselves and others heals the soul and makes peace possible.
The second quality of soul I want to share is that “The source of the soul’s power comes from being centered.” In this painting I poured a puddle of ordinary latex glossy house paint in the center of the canvas. I took a cup and using the solid base, slammed it down onto the paint. It spattered as I expected it would. But what I noticed is that its center remained solid and was filled with a depth of color.
Being centered or grounded in God’s love, in Christ’s example and in the Holy Spirit’s presence is enormously powerful. It is about remembering who we are and whose we are.
When I was in high school, I spent my summers at camp. I was a Counselor in Training at Camp Wilaha, a Camp Fire Girls camp near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Every week we would get to go into Idaho Springs and do our laundry, do some shopping and have some fun. The routine was the same. On the appointed day, we would climb into the van. Before our CIT Director, Harriet Anderson, even put the key in the ignition, she would turn around, look at each of squarely, and say these words: “Remember who you are, where you are, and what you represent.” Now that’s what I call grounding!
As Christians, remembering who we are and whose we are is where our power comes from. There are countless examples in the Bible where ordinary people like you and me did extraordinary things – all because they belonged to God and they knew it. Let us not forget that when we remain grounded in God’s love, Christ’s example and the Holy Spirit’s presence, we are a mighty force that will not be deterred – we can accomplish anything.
To close, there is a verse that I think sums up “soul.” Psalm 62:1 says: “For God alone my soul waits in silence…” This verse says to me that it is God through the Holy Spirit that resides in our souls. We can access this strength, this comfort, this healing when we are still and quiet and listening. What a powerful gift! May you use it well.
Amen. Alleluia.