- “Anything will give up its
secrets if you love it enough.”
- George Washington Carver
- Suspended in a tree
house-like porch with DeSoto Falls playing
dramatic background to the chatter of my
thirteen companions and me, it was effortless to
reach a state of relaxation. We were gathered
in this unique mountain home to celebrate the
birthday of a dear friend; and to learn about
iconography from a master, Balpha Noojin.
-
- Balpha spoke softly, his
tan face framed by touches of silver in his hair
and goatee. Like a benevolent snake-charmer, he
held our attention as he shared his love of God
and portraying the Divine with icons. Listening
to Balpha share the century’s old history of his
art, the subtle nuances of color, I was reminded
of a saying from George Washington Carver,
“Anything will give up its secrets if you love
it enough.”
-
- Ever since I was a young
girl, I have seen icons of Mary with Jesus or
St. Francis in Catholic Churches and had given
them little thought. My apathy dropped away,
making room for curiosity and reverence as
Balpha’s passion for his work moved many of us
to tears. He explained that icons are not
painted, they are written. “We seek the
guidance of the Holy Spirit first, and then we
write the Holy Scriptures.” Balpha said, as the
creator pointed us toward the Creator. An
ethereal silence fell among us as we knew,
convened in his studio, we were gathered on
hallowed ground.
-
- “In most forms of art,
the light source is external, from a lamp or the
sun for example.” Balpha pointed out. “Because
we are writing the Divine, the light source for
icons must come from within the subject.”
-
- Later, as we viewed
various forms of icons, my appreciation for
their beauty was magnified by new understanding
of their history and meaning. As we passed each
piece, I sought to connect with the light
within.
-
- Driving home, I reflected
on the magical day. How easy it is to miss the
beauty that surrounds us. If only I can take
the time to know another’s story, (whether it be
a person, a tree, or even an insect) surely I
will find the light shining from within.
