"This is My Work and My Glory"

“For behold, this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  This scripture is found in the book of Moses where God reveals his grand purpose for His children.  While studying the Renaissance and Reformation, I have noticed in particular how God’s hand played a role in the very details of events transpiring in this time span. Throughout the 14^th – 17^th century and then later in the 19^th century when the gospel of Jesus Christ was brought back to the earth in what we know as the restoration.  

The restoration of the gospel was happening long before the spring of 1820.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “Beginning in the 14th century, the Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, economic, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel for the last time among men.” 

Spiritual journaling: growing closer to God

John Donne in his ‘Holy Sonnet No 14’ opens himself up, completely expressing how he feels about his relationship with God.  This is written well after his young, wild days and he writes in current and utmost humble state.  One thing I really appreciate about this sonnet of Donne’s is that he isn’t trying to impress anyone through elaborate word choices or creative uses of metaphors.  He writes in very sincere language, as if he is writing directly to God.  He has a line at the end of the sonnet that says, “except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”  This to me speaks volumes, and has me wondering about how I can strengthen my relationship with God through writing my thoughts down.

I’ve never been the best at journaling, but I do try to make an effort to keep a spiritual journal to write down thoughts and impressions as they come.  I have found that when I do this, I feel closer to God. I really like the example of Donne writing in a deeply heartfelt manner; his sole desire is to become changed by God and to become one with him.  I feel like if we were to take the time to write out our feelings toward God, we would see a strengthened relationship with Him.  

image cred: http://ocw.nust.na/gutenberg/4/8/6/8/48688/48688-h/images/

The Role of Art for Today's Youth

John Donne (pictured to the left) was a poet alive during the time of the British Renaissance. In his earlier years, his poetry was primarily about love and he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. However, after growing older and getting married, the topics of his poetry changed and he began to write to about religious things, such as his personal relationship with God.

For Donne, his poetry helped him to work through and understand his feelings. Poetry was not just a means of making an income or persuading people towards one school of thought or another, it was his outlet, his means of understanding the world around him. Art, in its many forms, is capable of having this kind of effect on all who call themselves an artist.

However, art does not hold the same respect that it had in the Renaissance in today's world. Many schools around the country have greatly reduced or even completely pulled funding from their arts programs, meaning some students aren't learning how to express themselves through a creative medium. Artistic expression may be what makes the difference between a student growing up to be a criminal or a productive member of society.

If we could simply have the same appreciation for art that our ancestors had, we could help so many students in America have the resources that they need to learn and grow. If we can look to the example of John Donne, then we can see the kind of change that can occur in the life of an artist who is allowed to exercise their talents.

Image Credit: John, http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/ Public Domain

Donne's Influence in Present Day Pacific

John Donne's transformation in his writing from Catholic to Protestant was characteristic of the changes that were taking place in Europe at the time.

Many questioned the Catholic Church. After going back to the original text in an Ad Fontes fashion, interpretations of the gospel that were contradictive to the Catholic teachings of the time. The idea of the human as an individual was one of the key contradictions that made so many question Catholicism. Individuality empowered Europeans to take responsibility for their souls. Their spiritual well being was no longer dictated by the amount of tithing that was paid but through careful reflection.

Donne's Holy Sonnet 14 is a perfect example of the type of self-reflection that took place:

"Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new... Take me to you, imprison me, for I. Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me." 

I served a church mission in the Central Pacific where everyone was affiliated with a religious group. The most common of the groups were Catholics and Protestants. In my discussions with people from both groups, I found that the people of the Central Pacific were influenced by these religions in the same way Europeans were in the Renaissance. The Catholics were fulfilled by their spiritual rituals, and the Protestants focused on their spirituality as individuals.

The fact that people on the opposite sidesof the world are still affected by the principles discussed by Donne, proves the magnitude of this enlightenment.

 

 

 

Riding Westward

Last year I took a class on the history of British literature. We ended up in a lot of interesting texts and poems during the course, but my favorite place that we landed was the metaphysical poetry of John Donne. Metaphysical poetry is interesting in that it's a sort of manifestation of the Renaissance spirit. It can be appreciated on the surface level for it's beauty and skill, but also included in the lines are references to a wide variety of sources. John Donne, for example, liked to call upon not only religious images, but also scientific and philosophical themes.

John Donne had a rough life. He was born a Roman Catholic in a time in England where that was illegal. He married the woman he loved in secret, and was thrown in jail for it. When he was released, he dealt with the deaths of several of his twelve children and eventually his dear wife, all while struggling financially.

On top of everything, he was 'encouraged' by the king to abandon his religion and become an Anglican priest, which, of course, he did. All through this, he wrote. Early on, he wrote some pretty bawdy stuff. But later, when the trouble hit, his poetry shows a deep commitment to his faith, to his God, whatever trappings the world may have put on Him.

"Hence is't, that I am carryed towards the West/
This day when my Soules forme bends toward the East." 

My favorite poem by John Donne is called Good Friday, 1613, Riding Westward. Due to the metaphysical nature of the poem, I can't say that I understand everything  Donne is trying to say to me. But I understand the feeling. He talks about how, on Good Friday, a day when all Christian hearts move eastward to the cross, he's facing the wrong direction. He goes on to wonder how anyone could bear to face eastward to see the Lord's suffering, finishing with a supplication to God for strength to be able to look on His face.

The Renaissance and Reformation was a time of "riding westward". It was a time of forging ahead into a new day all the while concerned that something important was being left behind. Donne speaks to that beautifully with a particular poignancy, having been Catholic and pressed forward by the movement of the time.

In the end though, the main reason I like John Donne so much has nothing to do with his profound eloquence or his remarkable ability to layer several meanings in a single line. Set aside the unique perspective and poetic brilliance and you see a man. A very human, very real man, trying his best in a world that hasn't done much for him.

Photo Credit

Observe, Record, and Explain

Unfortunately, we can only do justice through writing to what we know and have experienced. When we step outside of that sphere of knowledge, we often leave a trail of butchered truths and realities that are easily seen by our audiences. Even if we think we’ve studied hard enough on a subject, it won’t translate to the reader as smoothly as the words of someone who really knows.

Dog Flea

Enter John Donne, a poet and preacher so witty and understanding that many of his metaphors still register today. He saw the world around him and how it moved and shifted his emotions and being. He saw those effects resonate in the lives of those around him. And what he saw, he internalized. John Donne didn’t know everything, but what he did know, he endeavored to know well.

Modern humanities students are encouraged to do the same. It isn’t enough to be told about the world, we have to experience it as well. That doesn’t mean we need to spend our early years throwing away opportunities before having a change of heart and devoting ourselves to the clergy (even though some of us do). But, it means that when we do experience, we need to be aware and invested. If we can observe, record, and explain what we see, we’ll be able to affect the changes we feel our world needs.

Or, at the very least, be able to relate a flea to adultery.  

'A dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis): adult, pupa, egg and larva. Coloured etching.' . Credit: Wellcome Collection. CC BY