This summer, the Clergy of St. Martin’s have selected some of their favorite Daily Words to share again. We hope you enjoy this “best of” series.
 
Today’s Daily Word was originally sent out on Nov. 8, 2021.
Using Icons

I love icons. If you ever visit my office (and I hope you will sometime), you will notice I have a lot of them around. Some are on the walls, while others can be found on my bookshelf or desk. Many of them depict one of the Gospel stories with Jesus at the forefront. All the action revolves around Him. However, I also have some icons depicting Old Testament figures, such as the Three Visitors in Genesis 18 and one showing the Prophet Elijah.
 
During one of my college classes, we actually wrote our own icons. Yes, I said that correctly—you don’t “paint” an icon, you “write” it. Icons are supposed to be visual prayers. While writing an icon, you are called to be constantly praying—both in your heart and also physically as you paint the biblical story on the canvas.
 
Though I am a lousy artist, I found the process of writing an icon to be one of the holiest experiences I have had. It reminded me that prayer is so much more dynamic than quietly kneeling in a church. It is that, but it is also so much more. Prayer can (and should) challenge our bodies and engage all of our senses.
 
Our Eastern Orthodox sisters and brothers have a lot to teach us on this topic. They have been using icons from their inception. They tell us that icons are windows into heaven and that, while we are in prayer, we should pray “through” the icon. For those of us who are more visual, icons may help form our prayers.
 
If that all sounds like strange stuff, then please don’t use it. It is for some, but not for all. Though I must remind you that we are all called to be God’s icons in the world. We are a visible reminder of God’s love and presence to all we meet—whether at work, in the grocery store or even at home among our family. Lord willing, when people look at us, we display the goodness of our God.
 
So, you can come to my office to see some beautiful icons or you can just look in the mirror.
The Rev. R. Wesley Arning
Associate for Young Adult and Small Group Ministry
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the Rev. Wesley Arning at rwarning@stmartinsepiscopal.org.