The Chaplain as The Chaplain as Spiritual GuideSpiritual Guide

* * ** * *Rev. Douglas S. Hardy, PhDRev. Douglas S. Hardy, PhD

Professor of Spiritual Formation Professor of Spiritual Formation Director, DMin ProgramDirector, DMin Program

Nazarene Theological SeminaryNazarene Theological Seminarydshardy@nts.edu

i - wordsi - words

i - doli - dol

Exodus 32 Exodus 32

i - coni - con

““An ‘icon’ (An ‘icon’ (eikoneikon) is a religious ) is a religious painting or picture, which is painting or picture, which is understood to act as a window understood to act as a window through which the worshipper through which the worshipper may catch a closer glimpse of the may catch a closer glimpse of the divine than would otherwise be divine than would otherwise be possible.” possible.” (McGrath, 60-61)(McGrath, 60-61)

Psalm 96Psalm 9644For great is the LORD, and For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.revered above all gods.55For all For all

the gods of the peoples are the gods of the peoples are idolsidols, ,

butbut the LORD made the the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are heavens. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.are in his sanctuary.

Idols Idols IconsIcons

Mirror Mirror WindowWindow

Look at Look at Look with Look with

(or through) (or through)Self & “now” Self & “now” Presence of Presence of culture culture the divine the divine CreateCreate DiscoverDiscover

Icons in Eastern Orthodoxy Icons in Eastern Orthodoxy have served the Church as have served the Church as

spiritual guidesspiritual guides

• helping form a sensibility to the helping form a sensibility to the presence of the divinepresence of the divine

• inviting persons to commune inviting persons to commune with a personal sacred with a personal sacred presencepresence

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol)

• helping form a sensibility to the helping form a sensibility to the presence of the divine presence of the divine

(Emmanuel, God-with-us)(Emmanuel, God-with-us)

• inviting believers to commune inviting believers to commune with a personal sacred with a personal sacred presence (the risen Christ)presence (the risen Christ)

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol)

1. we look at those we serve (so 1. we look at those we serve (so their gaze can meet ours)their gaze can meet ours)

2. we invite them to actively 2. we invite them to actively participate in the gaze (to see participate in the gaze (to see and and be seen)be seen)

3. we help create a new space between 3. we help create a new space between us for experiencing Godus for experiencing God

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol)

4. we model for & tutor them in 4. we model for & tutor them in waiting and receivingwaiting and receiving

5. we model for & tutor them in 5. we model for & tutor them in “unkowing” and mystery “unkowing” and mystery

6. we help them to recognize the many 6. we help them to recognize the many things that can be(come) iconic things that can be(come) iconic

for themfor them

Sources:

Garcia-Rivera, Alejandro. “Aesthetics.” The Blackwell Companion to Christian Spirituality, Arthur Holder (editor). Wiley- Blackwell, 2011.

Heib, Marianne. “Icon Space and Spiritual Direction.” Presence 2:2 (1996).

McGrath, Alister E. Christian Spirituality: An Introduction. Blackwell, 1999.