Faith At Work Staff Associate, Susanna Olson has created an “Interest Center” in a corner of her church’s sanctuary. The Center draws its inspiration from the story of the Prodigal in Luke 15, Rembrandt’s classic painting, and Henri Nouwen’s book Return of the Prodigal. What follows is a conversation about this cutting edge center and its origins. Susanna, and her family live in Vermont and attend Covenant Community Church on Rt. 15 between Essex and Jericho, VT. Susanna teaches creative drama, movement, and storytelling workshops.
WHAT
WAS IT ABOUT REMBRANDT’S PAINTING OF THE PRODIGAL THAT TOUCHED YOU?
I
recall seeing a print of the painting during the 2003 Faith
At Work Convocation. There was
something about the way the light spilled over the son’s head; the way his
face pressed into the chest of his father; the slump of his back. The image
spoke of a brokenness I understood and a grace and a “resting place” for
which I longed.
A
couple of months later I discovered archival recordings of Henri Nouwen’s
retreat lectures (about the painting) at my local library. As Nouwen spoke,
using the painting to explore the layers of the story, I became captivated.
There was something luminous about his words and his way. It was all there: my
family, my marriage, my motherhood, my friendships, and my call.
WHY DID YOU THEN DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING 'BIG' WITH THIS EMERGING SENSE OF
CALL?
My
experience of the painting and Nouwen’s work was (and continues to be)
transformative for me. I wanted to be open to ways I could share it with my
faith community. Somewhere, in the process of that openness, a clear vision of
the interest center concept came into focus in my mind’s eye. The idea felt,
in one way familiar and comfortable, in another way fresh and new.
I
am coming to see such ideas as Gift. I felt called to make this one happen. My
family, friends, pastor and fellow FAW Staff Associates were critically
supportive; offering extraordinary suggestions, Spirit-filled dialogue, and
prayer.
Throughout
the months of listening, brainstorming and constructing, I have sensed the
Divine in the work. I have felt connected with my very life source. This is how
it unfolded for me.
COULD
YOU DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO AT THE CENTER?
A
few of the options are:
· Sit inside a paper cave and imagine they are a Prodigal
son or daughter, taking temporary refuge on the outskirts of the “famine
struck” city before returning home, adding charcoal markings, poems, warnings,
images to the walls of the cave;
· Listen to the recordings of Henri Nouwen’s lectures;
· Brainstorm words to describe the painting then create a
clay sculpture to embody one of the words;
· Choose an image from a collection of art prints and use it
to write a belief they have about “home”;
· Read the story replacing all male images (father, sons)
with female ones (mother, daughters). and consider the impact this variation
makes on the experience of the story;
· Experiment with rhythm instruments to imagine “the
heartbeat of God”;
· Light a candle for someone who is “far away”,
“lost”, or represents “home” for them. Write that person a letter.
Or
they can even create a mathematical “equation” to represent the relationship
between characters in the story.
USING
MATH TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE STORY? YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY PAID
ATTENTION TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES IN THIS CENTER. COULD YOU BRIEFLY EXPLAIN
WHERE THIS THEORY COMES FROM?
Howard
Gardner revolutionized teaching styles, worldwide, with his theory that we have
several kinds of intelligence through which we can learn. He identified seven
basic types: verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical/kinesthetic, and musical/rhythmic.
Different people have strengths in different intelligences. All people can
strengthen all their intelligences.
Good
teachers (workshop leaders, pastors, parents) strive to offer opportunities for
learning through a wide variety of intelligences. I say, let us open ourselves
to using all our intelligences to deepen our relationship with God.
WHAT
ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THIS PROJECT?
I
hope the project provides a safe space for some seekers, including myself, to be
still for awhile; then, take a step forward on this faith journey.
At
the personal level, I hope I can hold the work lightly, and trust the Breath of
the Spirit to blow where it will.