Zoe

FROM GREED TO LUSCIOUS LIBERALITY

 We live in a world that is constantly flooding us with images of consumerism. This adfluenza begs us to responds with “I want it all and I want it now!” This is the nature of Greed. It is the insatiable desire to get what we do not have and to hold on to what we already do have. It weighs us down to earth, we are unable to look to the heavens and to the ONE who gives us all we need for life and breath. Vasilieff captures the vice of greed with golden handcuffs. Handcuffs that lead to a slow self annihilation and gold for the color of what is desired, namely money. The problem with Greed is that there is never enough. Avarice is the Vice.

Luscious liberality is the virtue. The deep blue color is symbolic of an endless sky and the infinite nature of the love of God lived in true freedom. A tulip is a strong flower which is needed in the grip of the vice of greed. A Tulip represents a life unfettered by the grip of greed that lives free and well in the power and presence of God.  The presence of God is the only place where one can truly say now I have enough! 

From Whatever to Drastic Diligence

From Whatever to Drastic Diligence. A gray-blue forms the backdrop for sloth this week. It is the color of acedia: the modern day whatever, the noonday demon, the mid-life crisis... and is best explained as indifference to the work of God in one’s life. It issues itself in no activity to over activity in order to keep from doing the one thing necessary–growing in God’s grace. Hold this in juxtaposition to a diligence that stays true to calling and fortitude in the spiritual disciplines that allow fruit to emerge even when life seems to have one overwhelmed. Vasilieff captures this with a Charlie Brown cactus that surprises us by blooming when life seems to be its driest.

From Sarcasm to Uncontrollable Mirth...

 From Sarcasm to Uncontrollable Mirth…..

Anger is always justice gone wrong and out of proportion. Uncontrollable humor and mirth is the virtuous move of this week. When anger, as a righteous emotion against the injustice in the world, is left unchecked it becomes the vice of rage, wrath  and sarcasm. Vasilieff captures the vice with a glowing red backdrop. Rage simmers, boils, sparks, smolders, explodes, blazes, torches, scorches, consumes and devours. She captures the energy of the destruction featuring  a spike that cuts, tears, breaks, strangles and kills when it is bound to entitlement, self-pity, seeking revenge, full of contempt and uncontrollable. In dramatic juxtaposition Vasilieff places the virtue of mirth on a bright yellow backdrop with a corresponding daffodil. This side panel explodes with fresh surroundings and a laughter that repositions us into the playground of virtue. Ira (rage) always scars, maims, destroys and eliminates life while mirth and humor always bring us to life. May we be people who are always concerned with “bringing life.”