Covering

Description

Covering

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.’ _{Genesis 1:1-3}

When I painted this, I immediately knew I was in Genesis. I experienced a beautiful sensation of light, both of weightlessness and brilliance in the room. The exquisitely soft and gentle colours turned to sea covered by an arc of glory.

The word ‘Covering’ has various meanings. When the Spirit hovered over the face of the waters, the Hebrew word is ‘rachaph’. It means to move with a high degree of care, to brood as an eagle hen broods over her nest, to hover over with gentle vibrations that generate the energy necessary to bring order and life. The representation in the painting is the Spirit covering the earth in a protective manner when God calls forth “light”.

There is a double meaning in the painting. Firstly, that the triune Lord  protects you. He has you covered. Secondly, as it leads from the first, is that you are a safe place for other people. He has given you people to protect, as a hen protects her chicks.

What was barren and formless, the Spirit of God gives life to. From destruction, chaos and darkness, He brings life, vitality and light. The act of protective covering is a “creating activity”. This also relates to life within our church, where our leadership ‘covers’ us as we give forth life to others. They facilitate a space that creates life. The Holy Spirit has the power to renew. This is your promise, that the Spirit covers you, daily renewing within you a new heart. By making a sacred space for the Holy Spirit to constantly hover over you, you also make space to receive the gift of bringing restoration into the lives of others. This is His provision for you, that you will have all you need within you to call forth life in others.