THE HOLY VISITATION OF PEACE

Visitation by Cody Wood

(It is not necessary to have art that is specifically “sacred”, since God can speak through any artwork. The artwork may be a painting, sculpture, photography or an actual scene in front of you. Remember, your goal is to find a quiet place to create stillness allow space to hear the “still small voice” of God.)
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Find a quiet place to do this Visio Divina exercise. You will find that journaling the answers to the Visio Divina prompts will deepen your experience-
​so grab a journal or a pen and some paper for this exercise. To further enhance a contemplative experience, you might play soft music and/or light a candle.

* Take a few moments to sit in stillness and openness before God.
​ * When you feel ready, ask God to help you see what he wants you to see or what he wants you to notice.
* What are your first impressions of the painting as a whole? What thoughts, feeling or reactions do you have to the painting?
* Now let your gaze move around the painting and allow yourself to linger where you find interest or where you feel uncomfortable.
How do you feel and what thoughts come when you linger in these areas?
* Imagine yourself in the painting? Where or who are you? What is happening and how does it effect you? Where is God in the painting?
* This painting is entitled "The Visitation". What does the title speak to you?
* How is this painting speaking peace to you?
* Take some time to read over what you received from this practice.
Ask God how you might respond or what awareness you might take from this time of prayer.



Cody studied Fine Arts at Cornell University and animation at the Art institute of Pittsburgh and Columbus College of Art and Design. He is an Illustrator/animator in Columbus Ohio, where he lives with his wife and two sons. Find his work on Instagram @donquicody​

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Meditation on Peace
 by Denice Molby

The splendor light of Heaven's glorious sunrise is about to break upon us in holy visitation, all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender. The word from Heaven will come to us with dazzling light to shine upon those who live in darkness, near death's dark shadow. And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (The Passion)

The Splendor of Heaven came to us in Holy visitation in the form of a precious baby. Weak, helpless, cherished by his mother, but of little consequence to others.
This was the gift sent from the merciful heart of our God, whose love is so very tender. We often expect the splendor of Heaven to be bigger than life and out of the ordinary. We look past that which is present all around us to something grander and more significant. And yet, today, in our very circumstances,
God is breaking through in Holy Visitation. But we miss it because we have our ideas as to what the Holy looks like. We believe the Holy will bring peace by relieving us
of our current circumstances and raising us above the hard and the mundane. We believe peace is where darkness no longer exists. But we are deceived.
The Holy is here right now, in the midst of our current situation, with the hurt and the sorrow and the hard.

But how can we see the Holy? We begin to see the Holy when the striving to escape ceases and we settle in surrender to the place the Lord has allowed us to enter.
This hard space of surrender is where we begin to see, where our eyes are opened, and our path is illuminated. As long as we continue writhing in pain and looking
for an escape, we remain blinded to the peace that is offered in the here and now. St. Luke reminds us, it is in the very darkness, near death's dark shadow,
that the Spirit of God illuminates our path and leads us to peace.

Today, take notice of where you are striving for change. Where do you believe life would be better if only? These are the spaces where God wants to enter and bring peace. But you must stop looking for an escape: pause and surrender. Surrender to the life you have been given; surrender to the hard and unwanted. Surrender into the arms of the God who loves you with such a tender heart. And in this surrender, as the striving ceases, your eyes will be opened and you will finally be able to see:
to see the very light of God in your darkness, to experience his tender touch bringing comfort to your hurt,
and to know that you have been ​visited by the Holy.

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Beloved daughter of God, cherished wife, and proud mother of five. Denice is also the creator and host of the "Hope and Healing Encounter",
a sacred space created for encountering the Holy amid the hard places in life.
She also enjoys her time offering Spiritual Direction. You can find more information about Denice at her website:http://paracletepresence.com.


All works in this series are the private property of the artist or writer.
All work in the series "2021 Advent Artist Series" is copyrighted by Art and Soul Ministries.​