UPFRONT April 10, 2006 Issue

The natural power of innocence and might

PATRICIA KADICK, STAFF EDITOR

Imagine challenging a room of people to convey innocence, meekness, and might in a drawing or sculpture. Then try to picture the resulting attempts to communicate them in color and form. These precious qualities are spiritual—so often hard to express in human terms.

Interestingly, depictions of these special qualities often include two contrasting figures—for example, a lion and a lamb, a muscular man cradling an infant, a dog protecting sheep, a mom walking hand-in-hand with her toddler, the mother bear guarding her cubs. Such depictions tend to suggest that the innocence natural to infancy renders the young powerless. Also, that we grow out of innocence into wisdom and strength.

Yet because true innocence, strength, meekness, and might are spiritual, they exist together. God is their source. Having the same origin, not one of these powerful qualities can live without the other, nor can one be at odds with another. Seen in this light, innocence truly is mighty. Strength is gentle. Meekness and might are complementary in nature.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

ITEMS OF INTEREST