To Close Our Eyes and Sing

inner creativity can take flight

Pablo Picasso once said, “To draw you must close your eyes and sing.” I don’t believe his statement was saying that everyone can draw if only they sing: no matter how much I sing, I still cannot draw so much as a straight line with a ruler. Rather, it seems Picasso was referring to an interior movement that occurs when one looks within and discovers beauty in a new way. He seemed to understand that beauty in one form can inspire it in another, and that somehow the process serves as the catalyst for expression. But his comment also implies that it is through inner freedom that creativity can take flight. This response means that getting in touch with the beauty deep within will somehow effect how we relate with what is exterior. In other words, as we encounter the beauty of God and how He is reflected within us, our vision transforms such that we recognize beauty in the world, and particularly in others, in an entirely new way. In this Year of Prayer, then, we are invited to learn to ‘see’ the beauty of God more clearly so that our response, or our ‘singing,’ might touch others as we reflect His presence in word and deed. 

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grace is another name for God's beauty

​A way to learn to see beauty (as God does) is to spend time in prayer so that we can grow in understanding of who we are as those made in God’s own image and likeness, and for growth in intimacy with Him through the gift of His grace. Simply put, grace is another name for God’s beauty which He delights in extending to us. A perfect example of how grace is connected to beauty is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Those to whom she has appeared always describe her as beautiful beyond description. This should not be a surprise because Mary is full of grace which means there is no room for sin in her immaculate heart; she is pure. Another example is that of the Beatitudes taught by Jesus. (Matthew 5: 1-12) We can see the root of the word ‘beauty’ in beatitude, we know that each of the beatitudes begins “Blessed are ….” and that the word ‘blessed’ can be translated as ‘happy’ or ‘holy;* so it would not be a stretch to replace the word ‘blessed’ with ‘beautiful’ during prayerful reflection. We would then read, “Beautiful are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and so forth. Prayerfully reading the entire passage in this way can change our perception and therefore, our response to Jesus. The more we embrace this understanding of how God sees us and accept it as our own, the more beautiful our souls become, or rather, the holier we become.

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let our light shine

Coming in contact with our own beauty will elicit a response because beauty cannot stay hidden. Right after He gave the Beatitudes Jesus taught that we are not to hide our light under a bushel basket, but that we are to let our light shine. (Matthew 5:14-16)  That light first affects our vision so that we see more clearly and do not stumble as readily. Only when we can see, is our light able to illuminate others. It is through this prayerful process that we will no longer have to close our eyes and sing, but we will see beauty with open eyes, and perhaps then we will sing for joy. A person who lives the beatitudes and has discovered their own interior beauty will now view others not by their physical characteristics, cognitive abilities, vocal eloquence, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, but instead they will see them as a child of God, beautiful to behold. This is not to say that we delude ourselves into not seeing evil (which is truly ugly), or that we deny the presence of pain and suffering. Rather, it is that we will learn to see with God’s eyes and to not be afraid of offering service, love, and mercy, especially to those who are outcast, poor, strangers, or ill. ​

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he saw beauty

A story of St. Francis of Assisi illustrates this point. Even after his conversion he remained terrified of lepers, regarding them as so abhorrent that he was unable to even look upon them. One day as he was walking he saw a leper approaching, and strongly repulsed, he considered crossing to the opposite side of the road to avoid the man. But somehow Francis continued on, praying to conquer his fear. By the time he and the man met, Francis wholeheartedly embraced him and even kissed him on his sores. What changed within Francis was that he began to see this man as Christ, that is, as beautiful, thereby losing all his previous revulsion. It is important to note however, that what makes this truly moving is that St. Francis did not merely see past the exterior disfigurement and decay, but rather, he saw the man exactly as he was, and in this he saw beauty, loving him as a brother. 

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close our eyes and sing

When we become familiar with beauty, the way we see will change. Our vision broadens, transfigures, and matures through the recognition of the presence of God whether it is within another person or in His beauty reflected in something as seemingly trivial as a stone. Prayer anywhere, at any time, will open our vision, but seeking Jesus in the quiet of our daily, private prayer time is the most effective way for grace to transform our hearts. And there is always the possibility that when we "close our eyes and sing," we will hear the Lord singing with us, too.
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May we learn how to "close our eyes and sing" so that we can learn to see beauty as God does! May we be like St. Francis, seeing people exactly as they are and loving them in their true beauty! And may we be inspired by grace to live the Beatitudes more fully! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                                             ©Michele L. Catanese

* If you did not see it, a few months ago I wrote an entry in this blog that contained some insights on the Beatitudes and the translation of the word “blessed.” It was called “The Gospel Within the Gospels,” posted June, 2023. Here is the link: https://www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/the-gospel-within-the-gospels

Images:
1. My photo; Brown Pelican in flight, Matagorda Bay, Matagorda, Texas.
2. Icon; Our Lady of Grace Vladimir, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in a copy in one of many mediums you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-grace-vladimir-002-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. My photo; Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Port Aransas, Texas
4. My photo; trail in Lost Maples Natural Area, Vanderpool, Texas.
5. Oil painting; Mediterranean Landscape, by Pablo Picasso, 1952. This painting hangs in the Albertina Museum, Vienna.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

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