Seasons of the Soul
Updated: Jan 16
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalm 121: 1-4)
In the interest of packing light, I bought a KJV pocket Bible that I could take with me everywhere I go. This Bible has been with me to ballet classes, late-night prayer-and-dance walks in Tokyo, and coffee shops in Nagoya when (like now) I realized that I needed some quiet time with the Lord.
Today, we are in our final hours of preparation for a 2 pm performance exhibition at Gallery Nani! One missionary couple, the Bakelaars, own an art gallery here (aka their basement). This week has been full of preparations - planning, choreographing, shooting for the photo exhibition, hanging photos, and trying to get the word out to people on such short notice!
In all honesty, it has been hard to find the time each day to read my Bible, pray, and spend time with God. In this rare moment of stillness, I am reminded of our my true lifelong need: Jesus. And somehow, the KJV translation helps me see this with new eyes.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
(Psalm 121: 5-8)
David wrote this psalm after Samuel passed away. He was alone - and still being chased by Saul! Truly, the Lord was his keeper, protector, provider, and help.
There are so many good things God has done that I want to tell you about, and I'm a little overwhelmed with where to start. Since my last letter, just over two months have passed! God has done so many things, and I just want to say thank you! None of this - truly - would have been possible without you. I am so, so grateful. Please continue to pray with me, in our last 10 days here that we would seek God's face and walk in His ways, living our lives as a witness for Christ in Japan.
Today, through live painting and dance, Rebecca and I will share the gospel by using The Four Seasons of the Soul to share the story of creation, sin, restoration, and eternal life with Christ. Through many iterations of The Four Seasons of the Soul at the Fukuoka Dance Exchange, collaborative performances in Tokyo, near the earthquake in Ishikawa, and now at this art gallery in Nagoya, God has revealed himself repeatedly through this piece.
I have learned so much about God and His creation of the seasons - Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring: change within a pattern, a consistent rhythm for our lives. It is for us. God knows we need them all, so he gives us these seasons of the soul. They are not always linear, but the seasons of our souls come and go in God's perfect timing to bring us closer to Him. As we seek to bring glory to God in every season, God reveals himself to us. At a winter season of my life last year, God showed me this verse:
"But this light and momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison -- as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen.."
Now, during a summer season, I am grateful for God who is making everything beautiful in its time. We have much work left to do, but as we race against the clock today, God is enough for me, for you, for us. Pray with me today that God would be glorified in our art - and that He would bring the people who need to see this art today -- and that they would see His face today!
My prayers are with you - more to come soon!
Joyfully,
Anna Gardner Herren
P.S. Read about our time in Ishikawa here!
P.P.S. Read student responses from our time at Aoyama Gakuin University here!
P.P.S. Check out our Seasons of the Soul events and please be praying for our last week here!
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