A Representation of the Trinity 

In the resent post on You Tube, reflecting on the Holy Spirit, I found myself wishing for a whiteboard, the kind you have in a classroom, on which I could represent the three actions of divinity, forming a kind of dynamic triangle.  In the days when I held forth in a classroom, I was forever filling one, whether it was for the edification of my students or as a lubricant for my thoughts was never clear.  What is clear is that such a project is problematic.  Nevertheless I attempted an experiment with MS Whiteboard which I would share with you, with, of course, comes the disclaimer: like but not like.  

On the left I have drawn an arrow to represent the Father whose motion of withdrawal, stepping back, is into a deeper silence and darkness. In its wake is space-time and a lead, an invitation.  On the right is an arrow to represent the Son whose motion of extension results in an ever more revealing word and light.  In it is the movement of a sower, who seeds reality with an internal meaning. Beneath these two outward arrows, I have drawn a back-and-forth arrow to represent the Holy Spirit that comes the Father and returns from the Son, whose ambivalent motion is union and communion.

 Lastly note the blue line in the center branching and folding which represents the creation, our reality, tumbling into space-time.  The Spirit moves across it on its eternal movement between Father and Son.   The passage of the Spirit results in union on all levels or reality.  At the level at which it crosses the human spirit it sounds a note, a bow drawn across and returning does on a cello.  

Visit First Thursday June on the You Tube channel for further discussion.  

It is import, however, not to focus on the lines and objects on the whiteboard, but to catch sight of the movement. This I take it is cause with whiteboards filled with mathematical formulas.  You have not understood it as long as you are seeing symbol and numbers.  It is only when you see the flow passing through them that they mean something mathematical.  Otherwise, you have a mere abstraction which would justly cause you to ask: “Why do I need to know this?” 

What I would like to suggest to you is that this movement implied in this graphic is part of our experience.  You can and should seek to experience it in your prayer.  It is what makes communion possible.