In[ebla^][rma^Lp^]^g[hk`bZg<ank\ah_Ghkma:f^kb\Z Ohenf^+,0Gnf[^k*CZgnZkr+)*. Homes for Herons Sarah Orne Jewett, George Inness, and Swedenborgian Ecology By Devin Zuber borders of the pages where Swedenbor- gian theories of “the language of na- s some readers of the Messenger ture” were being propounded: a fit- might already know, I am com- A pleting a book that explores the [A]t the heart of both impact of Emanuel Swedenborg’s ideas Jewett’s short story and on American environmental imaginar- modeled in Inness’s ies—the collective ways that a diverse canvasses is a personalized group of nineteenth century authors, spiritualization of nature painters, and poets imagined and de- imbued with Swedenborgian picted nature as a location for spiritual overtones . experience. This reading of the spiri- tual within the natural—facilitated ting example, I believe, that illustrat- by adaptations and creative responses ed how Swedenborgian theology came to Swedenborg’s well-known doctrine to braid emergent American ecological of correspondences— thought and environ- patterned a substantial mental conservation. body of literature and My book proceeds painting that carried, more or less chronologi- and continues to car- cally, and the chapter af- ry, particular environ- ter Muir turns towards mental import. The last a group of paintings and time that I wrote for the short fiction created in Messenger, I shared my the decade that followed research-in-progress in Muir’s illustrative anno- the John Muir Archives tations of Swedenbor- at the University of the gian literature. This cur- Pacific in Stockton, rent chapter in-progress California, where I was examines a famous sto- tracing how Muir— ry written by the region- that quintessential icon George Inness, “The Home of the Heron” (1893), Art Institute of Chicago alist author Sarah Orne of wilderness conserva- Jewett entitled “A White tion—responded to Swedenborgian ery of several unknown sketches that Heron” (published in 1886), and a thought. My study of Muir’s nota- Muir had done outdoors, in-situ, of Si- group of paintings of the same birds tions and marginalia in various Swe- erra Nevada mountain peaks and al- created by the Swedenborgian land- denborgian texts included the discov- pine lakes, delicately positioned in the Continues on page 4 Briefly, . Toward a Newer Church, part t2 SCYL Teen Winter Retreatt COMSU Says Hello More Inside Diverse Faiths Coming Together in EdmontontNews from SHStEbola, Fear, and God Contents: page 2 2015 SCYL Officers ElectedtHow Would My Parents Recognize Me? 2 the Messenger January 2015 The Editor’s Desk it has an internal one. From the exter- all the beauties of literature. I guess in nal point of view it means that the in- a sense Edgar Allan Poe was talking dividuals involved must avoid external about eros when he talked about his In this month of physical violence. So they don’t have beautiful Annabelle Lee, with the love the holiday honoring guns, they don’t retaliate with physical surrounded by the halo of eternity. In Rev. Dr. Martin Luther violence. If they are hit in the process, a sense Shakespeare was talking about King, Jr., he will speak they avoid external physical violence at eros when he said, to us about the mean- every point. But it also means that they Love is not love / Which alters when ing of love in a way that echoes what avoid inter nal violence of spirit. This it alteration finds, / Or bends with Emanuel Swedenborg says about love. is why the love ethic stands so high in the remover to remove / O no; It is Rev. Dr. King believed it was not the student movement. We have a great an ever-fixed mark, / That looks on enough to be non-violent. He preached deal of talk about love and nonvio lence tempests, and is never shaken; / It that you must love your enemy as well in this whole thrust. is the star to every wandering bark. as your neighbor. In 1961, he spoke to “Now when the students talk “(You know, I remember that be- the Fellowship of the Concerned. about love, certainly they are not talk- cause I used to quote it to this little ing about emotional bosh, they are lady when we were courting; that’s “Those who adhere to or follow this not talking about merely a sentimen- eros.) The Greek lan guage talks about philosophy [of non-violence] must fol- tal outpouring; they’re talking some- Continues on page 5 low a consistent principle of noninjury. thing much deeper, and I always have They must consistently refuse to inflict to stop and try to define the meaning injury upon another. Sometimes you of love in this context. The Greek lan- will read the literature of the student guage comes to our aid in trying to the Messenger movement and see that, as they are deal with this. There are three words © The Swedenborgian Church of North America Published monthly except July and August by getting ready for the sit-in or stand-in, in the Greek language for love; one is the Communications Support Unit of the Swe- they will read something like this, ‘If the word eros. This is a beautiful type denborgian Church of North America (founded 1817, incorporated 1861 as the General Conven- you are hit do not hit back, if you are of love, it is an aesthetic love. Plato tion of the New Jerusalem in the United States of cursed do not curse back.’ This is the talks about it a great deal in his Dia- America), Ken Turley, president. whole idea, that the individual who is logue, the yearning of the soul for the January 2015 Volume 237, No. 1, Whole Number 5396 en gaged in a nonviolent struggle must realm of the divine. It has come to us Editor, design and production: Herbert Ziegler never inflict injury upon another. to be a sort of romantic love, and so Copy editing and proofing: Robert Leith, Renée “Now this has an external aspect and in a sense we have read about it and Hellenbrecht, & Trevor experienced it. We’ve read about it in Communications Support Unit: Kristina Madjerac, Katie Pruiett, & Steve Sanchez Contents Reproduction: Gnomon Copy, Cambridge MA Editorial Address: Homes for Herons To subscribe to Herb Ziegler, the Messenger 2 Hancock Place Sarah Orne Jewett, George Inness, the Messenger Cambridge MA 02139 and Swedenborgian Ecology. ...............1 online, scan this Tel: 617.491.5181 The Editor’s Desk .............................................2 image with a QR Email: [email protected] reader on your Letter from the President .............................3 Business and Subscription Address: cell phone or Briefly, . Toward a Newer Church, The Messenger, Central Office tablet. 50 Quincy Street part 2 .............................................................4 Cambridge MA 02138 SCYL Teen Winter Retreat .............................6 Tel: 617.969.4240 2015 SCYL Officers Elected ..........................7 Email: [email protected] COMSU Says Hello ...........................................8 Subscriptions: free online subscription at Church Calendar www.swedenborg.org. Printed and mailed to US Foundation Releases Swedenborg’s ࠮ (WYPS!.LULYHS*V\UJPS:WYPUN address, $20/year; to Canada address, $30/year; Life / Faith ....................................................8 *VUMLYLUJL*HSS4LL[PUN to all other addresses, $35/year; single copies, ࠮ (WYPS¶!:/::WYPUN)VHYK $2.00, Libraries, prisoners, free. Send check with Diverse Faiths Coming Together address to Central Office. Other requests, write in Edmonton ...............................................9 4LL[PUN)LYRLSL`*( Central Office. ࠮ 1\UL¶!.H[OLYPUN3LH]LZ·H How Would My Parents Recognize Me? 14 Deadline for submissions is six weeks before :^LKLUIVYNPHU>VTLU»Z9L[YLH[ Passages ........................................................... 15 the first day of the month of issue. *PUJPUUH[P6/ The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect News from SHS ..............................................15 ࠮ 1\UL¶1\S`!(UU\HS*VU]LU[PVU the views of the editor, the Communications Sup- Ebola, Fear, and God ....................................16 )YPKNL^H[LY4( port Unit, or the Swedenborgian Church. 3 the Messenger January 2015 notice, there are usually eyes inside remarking on all that is being passed. Letter In this darkness, with the wind so loud, the clouds fleeing and the trees bowing to keep from from the having their heads taken off, I too bow. I offer my timid greeting, like a newly hired secretary might President summon the courage to hesitantly venture a greet- ing to the top boss breezing by—filled with inner 2014–15 terror, not so much fear of being destroyed as sim- The Year of Regeneration: ply being disregarded as insignificant. But as the The Way of Change wind passes by, seemingly oblivious, as does the boss, I’m filled with a strange joy at being so close Dear Friends, to such power—to my mind, the wind possessing a Happy New Year to everyone! To begin the new power to which no boss can ever compare. year, a brief personal reflection and then a look back I simply sit huddled, small in my own quiet- in order to look ahead. ness, while the darkness breathes all around me. I Snowblowers are for wimps. After four hours of feel like a tiny seed wedged in the teeth of a run- shoveling snow yesterday I’m feeling good and am ner whose breath is rushing by in gigantic rhyth- not even sore. However, I say that with the full re- mic waves. I hold to the earth a little closer, fear- alization that it is only a matter of time before I re- ing to be dislodged and swallowed at any moment. sign myself to being a wimp! Time passes, the earth continues to draw in huge Either that or I move to Alabama. Still, today gulping breaths, pausing in silent suspension and I look out on the sun shining on the frozen lake, then expelling great drafts that shake the trees.