Love Made Visible
I first became aware of Gregg Braden in the late 70s or early 80s. A five-time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, educator, and speaker, Braden explores the intersection of science, spirituality, human purpose and potential. I recently came across an interview of him talking about his latest book, Pure Human: The Hidden Truth of Our Divinity Power and Destiny where he explores transhumanism, AI, and what he calls the soft technology of human cells and DNA.
What piqued my interest was Braden’s definition of divinity. He shifts from the typical religious meaning as an external force or power to one that embraces our human capacity to “transcend perceived limitations.” As such, divinity is the expression of our superconscious… “where our direct knowing, imagination, creativity, self-acceptance, and self-healing begin.” Braden says that awakening your divinity begins with the way you think of yourself and how you tell your story. It is our divine capacities of imagination, intuition, empathy, and compassion that enable us to express our full human potential.
At the close of his interview, Braden quoted from Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet—which prompted me to search my bookshelves for my copy—to demonstrate his mindset when he commits to do something. In the section where Gibran is asked about work, he said, “work is love made visible.”
What is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.
The Art of Resilience
When I considered these two definitions of divinity and work, my experience of the recently released film, From Ground Zero, felt like a manifestation of both. Launched by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, the film Is an anthology of twenty-two shorts, three to six minutes apiece, created by 22 Palestinian artists and directors in the midst of Gaza’s current plight. Each short gives the artists and filmmakers of Gaza a way to tell their story that speaks to the resilience of a people living through the seemingly unlivable.
Filmed against a backdrop of horrific destruction, devastation, and the daily struggle to survive, it was heart wrenching, and yet heartwarming in a way that spoke to a universal desire to follow your passions and express who you are through story.
Out of Frame by Nidaa Abu Hasna took us into the partially demolished home of a visual artist as she wiped the dust from her paintings, sculptures, and sketches and shared the story of each piece when they had been in galleries. Her dream is to exhibit internationally.
Charm, directed by Bashar Al-Balbeisi focused on a young girl and her love of dance. We see background videos of her traditional dance recitals juxtaposed with her improvised hip hop style dance as she listens to music on headphones.
No, directed by Hana Awad began with her saying no repeatedly to story suggestions that to her represented pain and sorrow, wanting to instead affirmation joy, love and hope. She finds that expression in the music and vocals of a group of young musicians.
The arts enable the full manifestation of our imagination, creativity, and intuition. In the darkest times, the arts allow us to tap into our humanity, our dreams, and deepen our resilience. Our work is our art and our art our work. Through it, we become visible.
