Five Minute Friday :: Harmony

Music from the Fifth Evangelist :: Johann Sebastian Bach.
Summer worship bulletin cover featuring Ben Shahn's portrait of Bach

• Five Minute Friday :: Harmony Linkup

Sometimes we describe something by saying what it's not. Or is apophatic only a theological thing? Assuming the concept applies outside the realm of theology, does that mean harmony isn't dissonance?

Discussions of harmony may be quintessentially about music, but harmony and dissonance also are major components of all kinds of design and many aspects of design—maybe especially color. My color theory instructor mentioned red, yellow, and blue "always go well together." Does that mean they can't be done badly? No. But it does mean a skilled artist can tweak a RYB palette so the colors harmonize.

Harmonious and inharmonious relate to the wide range of human relationships, as well. You can take a cue from art and design as you rejoice in variety of many kinds that sometimes complement, sometimes add interest and spice, occasionally clash so much you need to ask how can this harmonize? Or can it?

Everyday life in general, too. As you've probably learned, experiences of discord are almost essential if we're going to appreciate and be thankful for days that unfold as we'd anticipated, events that transpire according to plan. Last Friday, the date of this linkup, was the spring equinox, when it feels as if creation harmonizes with itself.

In the witness of scripture, harmony is shalom that goes far beyond irenic peace as an absence of conflict into wholeness, justice, goodness, bounty, and commonwealth.

Sixty-two versions of Edward Hicks' Peaceable Kingdom paintings still exist. I've included one of the four on my computer in my array of footer pictures.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
The leopard will lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
Isaiah 11:6

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