The Chaplain as Spiritual Guide Rev Douglas S

The Chaplain as Spiritual Guide * * * Rev. Douglas S. Hardy, Ph. D Professor of Spiritual Formation Director, DMin Program Nazarene Theological Seminary dshardy@nts. edu

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Exodus 32

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

Psalm 96 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Idols Icons Mirror Window Look at Look with (or through) Self & “now” culture Presence of the divine Create Discover

Icons in Eastern Orthodoxy have served the Church as spiritual guides • helping form a sensibility to the presence of the divine • inviting persons to commune with a personal sacred presence

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol) • helping form a sensibility to the presence of the divine (Emmanuel, God-with-us) • inviting believers to commune with a personal sacred presence (the risen Christ)

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol) 1. we look at those we serve (so their gaze can meet ours) 2. we invite them to actively participate in the gaze (to see and be seen) 3. we help create a new space between us for experiencing God

The Chaplain as Icon (Not Idol) 4. we model for & tutor them in waiting and receiving 5. we model for & tutor them in “unkowing” and mystery 6. we help them to recognize the many things that can be(come) iconic for 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). Mc. Grath, Alister E. Christian Spirituality: An Introduction. Blackwell, 1999.