THE ILLUMINATED CROWD
What can you do with an extra, unanticipated hour of time? I guess it depends on where you are and what your options are. In our case, we had an hour to kill in Montreal between getting off the train from Toronto, and catching the train for Moncton. Hmmmm: one hour with three boys, a tired wife, and a mittfull of assorted bags. Sounds like only enough time to stake out our territory in the pre-boarding waiting area, doesn't it?
I guess that's what the majority of sane people would do, given the circumstances. But not us! I wasn't about to sit in downtown Montreal without at least taking a peek at this beautiful city. In the few moments we had to walk around, I fell in love. Montreal has an atmosphere unlike any other city in North America. It is a rich blend of French, English, and European flavors. Why, even within the elegant confines of the train station, we spied homemade chocolate shops, aromatic coffees, and a bakery full of exotic breads and pastries all cooked in a wood-fired oven. And the smell. . .
As we exited the station, we looked straight down a street lined with tall skyscrapers that encased the business sector in steel and glass. Nothing unexpected there, but then what was that? At the end of the street was a park and beyond that a hill, no, a mountain. And, on that mountain stood a cross overlooking the entire downtown area of the city - WOW!
Perhaps it was the heat of the late August afternoon, or maybe it was the five hours of train rhythms that had lulled me into a semi-conscious, semi-mystical mood, but it seemed to me that there was a particularly deep bit of symbolism going on right before my eyes. To see the steel and glass of the moneymakers dominated by a mountain crowned with THE symbol of salvation, struck me as profound.
We headed down the street towards the park while those around us went here and there, some busy, some relaxed, enjoying one of the many outdoor cafes that lined the street. But, no one, except us, seemed to have their eyes on the cross. I wonder why that was? Could it be that I possess superior spiritual sensitivity and insight? Nah, that wasn't it. I think it all boils down to familiarity. To me, the beautiful view of the mountain, capped with the cross, was new and unexpected. It made quite an impact. However, to those who live there, the park, the mountain, and the cross are all fixtures that blend into the background without a thought.
On our way back to the station, we came across a sculpture in front of one of the office buildings. The sculpture was a wonderful blend of truth, comedy, and tragedy. It was a scene depicting a crowd of people. The people in the front were amazed, excited, and animated with expressions of joy and wonder. Some where pointing, some were open-mouthed and wide-eyed. But as you went back in the crowd, the scene changed. Some were talking to one another, others were looking in different directions. In the far back, people were fighting, and laughing, some were lying down, perhaps asleep, perhaps dead, I couldn't tell.
I was so intrigued by the piece that I had to find out more about it, so I read the plaque that accompanied it. The name of the work was "The Illuminated Crowd" and it was created in 1985 by Raymond Mason. What follows is part of the artist's thoughts on the piece. "A crowd has gathered seeing a light . . . the strong light casts shadows, and as light moves towards the back and diminishes, the mood degenerates; rowdyism, disorder, and violence occur. . .
Interesting, isn't it? Somehow, what I was feeling about the business-as-usual under the presence of the cross, intertwined with the truth of this amazing work of art. Truth is, as Christians, we all live our lives under the presence of the cross-- we're all part of the crowd gazing at the light. At times, we're like our family - focused on the cross and walking towards it. At times, we're in the front of the crowd - amazed, fascinated, and completely overwhelmed by the power and beauty of the light. At other times we're too busy to look up and notice the cross. Then, we fall back in the crowd and our attention is distracted. This distraction results in lives unaffected by the light, lives full of sin and vice, full of disunity and selfishness.
This week take some time to lift your eyes above the steel and glass of your busy world and focus on the cross. Take some time to push your way to the front of the crowd where you can bask in the full brilliance of your relationship with Jesus.
I'm glad we took some time to do a little exploring in Montreal. You never know what you'll find when you look at things with new eyes and open minds, do you?
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