“Spirit Or Soul” [Series of Reflections on David du Chemin’s Book The Soul Of The Camera - pp. 242-253B]
For most times, for most folks, distinction is small –
“It’s Spirit”; “it’s soul” – if you split hairs at all;
But when I dug deeper I sensed subtle shift –
It’s time to be wary of long-standing rift.For down at the center of life for us all
Is question of core that’s been there since the fall –
Is “God” at the center, or “Anything else”?
When “soul” is a stand-in it sometimes means “self”.Now I have no problem with “hardware” or “soft”
But there’s a distinction, for “spirit” is oft
Just viewed as the “Hum of machine running smooth”
Like Microsoft Office – deep coding improves.Well, no – that’s where I draw a line in the sand –
For Spirit and spirit have joined hand in hand:
When physical life is at center we’re beasts;
When soul is the boss we are rebels at least.So yes, feed the soul and the body each day;
In this case he notes that photography pays
Rich dividends to any artist who works
With a camera and darkroom, and no task is shirked.Indeed we are fed by our artistic task,
Far more than indeed we could hope, wish, or ask;
But never will I cross that line and admit
Some “spirit” but Jesus at center exists.So baffle-gab’s dangerous here for the soul –
It’s there for a purpose whatever our goal;
And it must be fed, as our bodies as well,
But Spirit is central, or life is pure hell.Thanks Lord for this.
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