Walking on Water
L’Engle, Madeline. Walking on Water. 1980. Crosswicks, Ltd, 2001.
Nearing the end of a successful career as an author, Mrs. L’Engle is asked what it means to be a Christian artist, and Walking on Water was her hesitant, humble response. I am exceedingly glad that she decided to take the task upon herself: she offers deep thought and an unflinching belief in the supernatural to the conversation. L’Engle’s perspective on art and faith is wholly integrated, so much so that she would say all good art is a reflection of God, even if the creator didn’t realize it, and that no matter how religious something can seem on the surface, it might be nothing more than pornography. To L’Engle, being a good artist and a good Christian are so deeply entwined because they come from the same source - the supernatural that longs so deeply for a relationship with us that he became man is constantly giving us the gift of co-creation, inspiration and art.
L’Engle’s first question to the reader is if they believe in angels. She did, she believed that angels were all around, speaking truths that cannot be understood by the intellect, but must be approached with the humility of a child and the imagination, because of this we are not “creators” but “co-creators.” Every work of art, all inspiration, comes from God, it is the role of the artist to die to themselves and let the work speak. It is the role of the artist to be: to let go of our own ideas and control and in doing so, to remember that we can walk on water.
So what stands out about the Christian Artist? To L’Engle, the dignity that a Christian should give their work came down to one simple question - do I want my children to see this? She is careful to clarify that children do not need to be protected from deep truths, and uses the example of her most famous work A Wrinkle in Time as a book that was “too complicated for adults and was therefore marketed to children, who are more imaginative and open to realms of “the impossible.” Likewise, children do not have to be protected from death or even the human body if those things are dignified. But if you would not be comfortable with your children seeing your art because it does not dignify, or does not speak of the transcendent you should not, as a Christian, show that art to others.
The simple statements that she makes about Christian art are beautifully revealed through reflections from her own life and work, showing that her statements come from a place of deep thought and absolute faith. I will read this book again, and in doing so I hope that this book continues to read me. Calling me into the depths of the supernatural, so I can grow as an artist, and as a Christian. Both require a childlike faith, a willingness to die and remembering what it feels like to walk on water.