November letter from the Vicarage

My brothers and sisters

I have a wonderful little icon just above my computer screen which was given to me when I went on Retreat last summer. It is described as “Christ protecting Abbot Mena” and it can be seen in its original state in the Louvre. It is a Coptic Christian Icon and was found in Egypt in the early years of the 20^th century by an archaeologist excavating a large monastery there. It is believed to be 6^th or early 7^th century, and is the oldest Coptic Icon still in existence.

If you ever felt so inclined, it’s worth looking out for Coptic Icons. They are very different from the ones we usually see – which tend to come either from Greece or Russia. The figures are not quite in proportion – their eyes tend to be very large and well defined. Modern Coptic Icons that I have seen in Cairo are very colourful and bright – and it’s quite possible that this one was originally too, considering its age, as you can still see the vestiges of greens and red and gold amongst the brown and beige of the men’s clothing and the mountains behind them.

The most striking thing I find about this icon – and the reason that I took it as a theme for my 3 day silent retreat – is the warmth of feeling that you get from Christ’s face as he protects the holy abbot. Christ’s right arm is around Abbot Mena’s shoulders, his hand resting lightly on his right shoulder, with his fingers clearly defined. He is carrying a bible, and the Abbot carries a scroll, and although Christ is slightly larger than the Abbot, they look like friends – soul friends. Christ may be guiding with that protective arm, but, more importantly, he is walking alongside the Abbot. They look forward, at us, together, and they both appear calm, unruffled, at peace and happy. Christ’s greater size makes the encircling arm just the right height – the figures seem to be made for each other and each would be the less without the other.

How wonderful it would be to feel this way every day! To know our Lord’s encircling arm around us, protecting, guiding, reassuring. There are some days that some of us may be lucky enough to feel that way, but I find that often I forget to feel for that touch and start thinking that everything has to be done in MY strength, that it’s down to ME to get things done and to find my way forward.

That’s why I keep the picture where it is – right above where I answer the phone, write my sermons, read my emails. It is when we depend only on ourselves that we find we’ve lost our way, when we think we are doing things in our own strength that we find ourselves falling. When we believe that what we have done right has been inspired by our own goodness and not the power of the Holy Spirit - that’s when we end up in the pit of despair because however hard we try we’re likely to get things wrong at least some of the time.

May God guide you in your path of life – may He lay his blessing hand upon your shoulder and walk with you – may He bring you peace. Gail