“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.”–William Shakespeare; From Romeo and Juliet.
Similarly, that which I call my blog, by any other name would describe as accurately what is occuring in my life. Novus Lumen is a combination of two Latin words: novus, which means “new” or “fresh”; and lumen, meaning “understanding” or “clearness”. After deciding it was high time to stake my claim in the worldwide blogosphere in May 2005, I had one minor detail to arrange: I had to conjur up a name that would accurately and appropriately describe what I was experiencing in life as a 25 year old missionary on Capitol Hill who was emerging through new territory (terra nova) experiencially, professionally, personally, and spiritually.
Technorati Tags: blogging, life
As I tried to communicate to people what I was experiencing at that particular stage in my life, the word re-understanding continued to enter into my explanation. Back then I was re-understanding several things: myself, my life course, the world and culture around me, theology, God, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ in 21st century America. I was experiencing a “new understanding” or “fresh clearness” about my life and God’s reality, and this blog began to chronicle that newness.
The same is true in June 2007.
Much has happened since launching this platform two years ago, especially in the last 10 months. And while I thought I was experiencing novus lumen back then, that was nothing compared to what is happening now. Ten months ago I was kicked out of ministry, subsequently having my identity crumble around me, I lost another job and was reduced to administrative work to humble (no, humiliate me) for a season, I moved back to a place I fled 5 years ago, and now I prepare to begin a Master of Divinity degree to train to be a pastor, an idea I onced labled as the p-word out of fear and derision.
So, much has happened; I have experienced much novus and much lumen, I am experiencing a new, fresh clearness and understanding and this is the space to reflect upon, muse about, and chronicle this change and emergence, once again…
Those who are fluent in Latin may notice a technical problem with my blog’s name: the term “novus lumen” is not technically correct and should read Novum Lumen, or even Lumen Novum for a more natural Latin. While the combination is a disconnected, technical embarrassment, that is the point. I want there to be dissonance and a disconnect between what I want to say and express, with what is written and articulated in word, because that is the theme of my spiritual opus.
In perfect thematic parallel, I and others feel dissonance in our faith and lives, and a disconnect between what is Revealed and what we know or are able to articulate about that Revelation. In our effort to reunderstand Christian spirituality we often cobble together pieces of what is Real in an effort to express that Reality. In the same way I cobbled together two bits of Latin to convey meaning, we seek to take bits of Truth to fashion together an understanding of Meaning. While it may be disconnected and not entirely technical, it is still our attempt at understanding God, His Reality, and His Story, nonetheless.
Furthermore, often times what I write on this blog will be a discombobulated mess, an amalgamation of words, thoughts, ideas, and sentences that create anything but a choral euphony. Yet in that mess, meaning is somehow conveyed. In the spirit of my Latin word-smithing, I do not pledge to write technical or consistent prose. My desire is to write from the heart of dissonance, to weave in and out of inharmonious syllables/words/phrases in order to create a harsh-toned effect. Why? Because this is the manner in which Jesus danced.
In an effort to move the disciples through terra nova into novus lumen, Jesus used dissonance to further define and clarify the boundaries of the Kingdom of Heaven, for instance.
Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:23-25)
It was only when Jesus created discordant tones that the disciples could begin to see the Kingdom of Heaven for what it was. Jesus deliberately used imagery that would cause the disciples to gasp and do a double-take in an effort to teach, instruct, and convey meaning about His Reality. In the same way, I desire to move me and others through new territory into freshly understanding a range of aspects of Christocentric spirituality.
One final note, while I am a bit rusty at blogging, I do know this much: blogs are about coversation. A key part to conversation is community and relationships. You cannot have a conversation with yourself (except if you’re in a straight-jacket and padded cell!); conversation demands community, and vice-a-versa. If you’ve stumbled upon this blog somehow, I hope you stay, read, and leave comments. Without conversation, in the context of community, I cannot possibly hope to emerge through terra nova into novus lumen.
be His,
-jeremy
