our logo

-
 I hope that by writing this, I'll learn more about how Trinity by the Sea arrived at our logo--I haven't asked many people about it.  For now, I just want to reflect a bit on it. It's not an original image; it is ancient and powerful one. It is inherited or adopted and it is appropriate for this church.  I like the logo at first glance, just because it is so unusual.

A friend, who is also a priest, was visiting and was commenting on the Trinity-Fish symbol, and how many Episcopal Churches are named for the Trinity. He said, "It's cool that we use the name 'Trinity,' because it says up front that we embrace the mystery." That may be why I like the logo-symbol so much. It's an impossible image. There can't be a single-eyed-single-headed-three-tailed fish. And yet, there it is. It invites deeper consideration, and it points to something beyond itself. There is a tradition in Christianity called apophatic theology that proposes human categories are not capable of conceptualizing God*. I am thankful for the rich tradition of metaphors and symbols we use to speak about the relationship humanity has with God, and I am thankful for our apophatic theology that reminds us that God is God: always beyond our control or containment. Personally, I am suspicious of easy answers and even of certainty when it comes to speaking about God. If we could have certainty, we wouldn't need trust/faith/belief. We worship a God who is Trinity: three in one. It points to a mathematical impossibility, it points to something "that passes all understanding."

Bearing the name "Trinity" and using the Trinity-Fish logo says, "God is greater than we can even imagine." Using an impossible image, and reflecting on God-in-Community, the Trinity in Unity, leads us to a place of humility, openness, and curiosity. It invites us to Journey with God,  and not to rest at easy answers. That means there's always more to learn, more to discover, and more to be revealed.


*Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Donald McKim, Westminster John Knox Press, Louiville. p. 15

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

plastic: a spiritual perspective

-
Image
Plastic bag in front of Trinity by the Sea On a recent trip to Austin, I was surprised and delighted not to be handed a plastic bag when I checked out of a grocery store. I wasn't buying much, so I was able to carry out my things without remembering to bring in my reusable bags. For some time now, I've gotten in the habit of turning down plastic bags in convenience stores when they try to put my humble bag of sunflower seeds, lonely, in another bag. The plastic grocery bag has become like a handshake at the end of the deal: it seems to make the shopping experience complete. It is such an ingrained habit, that the person behind the cash register sometimes gets a suspicious look when I ask for no bag, as if thinking, "This yahoo is threatening our way of life!" I think about habits a lot, as a Christian of the Episcopal persuasion. Our practices and our experiences in everyday life shape the way we understand our relationship with God, with others, and with ours...
Read more

Stay Salty Y'all

-
Image
  Sunday, September 29: Be Salty for Jesus! Reflection for church while my back heals.  Welcome everyone to another church on the beach. Fr. James is dealing with his back injury, and sent this reflection to read, so here it goes.  I spent Thursday morning planning for the next two weeks, anticipating that I might need a medical procedure. As I did so, I marveled at how many amazing leaders we have within our church. I was focusing on the worship service, and leading worship on Sundays is a only portion of what we do as a church community, but it is an important part of what we do. It is where we gather together to reorient to God, to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and to listen for inspiration from Jesus. How fitting that we gather on the beach today to hear Jesus remind us to be salty. Do we have it easier, here beside the sea? We can hardly help but be salty around here. I want to start with that, which is where Jesus lands his somewhat meandering messa...
Read more

Falling out of boats

-
Image
Reflection for Morning Prayer July 28, 2024 Trinity by the Sea Some of you may not remember the first time you stepped onto a boat, or more to the point, the first time you fell out of a boat. Most of my falling-out stories are from the San Marcos River misjudging an eddy around a bend, the bow pulled suddenly in the opposite direction from what I expected, then pushed sideways up against a submerged root that gives loft to the bow sending two paddlers into the drink. Fortunately, all of those occasions eventually ended with laughter. Then there are those moments of non-commitment, like standing one foot on a log that had fallen across the river, foot in the canoe, and quickly realizing the mistake. A similar thing can happen on the docks here, at least with smaller boats. Stepping into a boat takes commitment. One foot on land and one in the vessel is a short-lived exercise in balance and stretching beyond the ability of most yogis. Be on land or in the boat, not in both places at o...
Read more