“The gift of artistic talent is well suited to reflect the Light into the dark places of the world.”

The Battle of Crete

One of the more significant battles of the second world war was the Battle of Crete. The small mediterranean island made a critical staging point for the German army and in May of 1941 the Germans launched the first ever major assault carried out by airborne paratroopers. 

The assault centered around the Maleme airstrip on the northwest coast of the island. Once the airstrip was secured, allowing planes to resupply the invaders, the Germans were able to defeat the Greek and Allied forces, driving them off the island or into hiding.

But the victory came at a tremendous cost. The battle resulted in over 4000 allied dead and nearly 2000 among the Axis troops. The local inhabitants of the island fought alongside the Allies using whatever weapons they could find, including, knives, scythes, and pitchforks. This was the first time the Germans encountered such significant resistance from local civilians. In retaliation, German troops executed over 500 Greek civilians living on the island.

Above the Maleme airstrip there now sits an institute dedicated to human peace and understanding, particularly between the people of the island of Crete and the people of Germany, given the history, this would seem to be an impossible task.

Alexander Papaderous

The institute is the fruit of the work of Alexander Papaderous. Papaderous was just six years old when the war started. His home village was destroyed and he was imprisoned in a concentration camp. At the end of the war, Papaderous came to believe that the Germans and Cretans had much to give one another, much to learn from one another. He felt they had to set an example, for if they could forgive one another, then any people could. To help the process, he founded his institute at this place that embodied the horrors and hatreds unleashed by the war.

One day, while taking questions at the end of a lecture, Papaderous was asked, “What’s the meaning of life?” There was nervous laughter in the room. It was such a weighty question. But Papaderous answered it.

He opened his wallet, took out a small, round mirror and held it up for everyone to see. During the war he was just a small boy when he came across a motorcycle wreck. The motorcycle had belonged to German soldiers. Alexander saw pieces of broken mirrors from the motorcycle lying on the ground. He tried to put them together but couldn’t, so he took the largest piece and scratched it against a stone until its edges were smooth and it was round. He used it as a toy, fascinated by the way he could use it to shine light into holes and crevices.

He kept that mirror with him as he grew up, and over time it came to symbolize something very important. It became a metaphor for what he might do with his life.

“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world–into the black places in the hearts of men–and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”

Light over Darkness

The triumph of light over darkness is part of our story; it is built into the human race. We were not made for the darkness we were made for the light. But somewhere back along our history we turned away from God and the light and fell into darkness and forgetfulness.

But God did not abandon us. The light of His truth shown dimly, calling us back to Him. This was the age of the prophets and the great cultural storytellers. The prophets continually sought to remind us of our beginnings and our true home. But we could no longer comprehend the light, we could only dimly perceive the Hand of God reaching out to us, inviting us home.

Then everything changed. No longer content to wait for us to come to Him, God became one of us and came to live among us. Our salvation rested on the faith of a young virgin who reflected the light of God's Truth into our darkness.

The Power of the Storyteller

Artists serve many roles in our modern society, some new, some ancient. One of the oldest roles for the artist is that of storyteller. Jesus Himself spread great truths through simple stories we call parables. It doesn't matter if the events of the parables actually happened, what matters is the great Truths the parables represent.

Artists, poets, writers, singers, dancers, nearly every form of artistic expression can be used to tell a story. This is a tremendous good offered to the community. Through stories we reinforce virtues and morals. We celebrate heroes and recognize their sacrifice. By telling a story we connect ourselves to all of mankind and remember that we are not here for ourselves, we are here for other people. The artist employs a multitude of gifts to tell stories to help us see the “bigger picture.” The gift of artistic talent is well suited to reflect the Light into the dark places of the world.

May we all have the courage and love to abandon the futile works of darkness and answer the Lord when he invites us to come after Him. And when we have done so, let us remember those who still sit in the darkness and go to them reflecting the light.

Pax vobiscum

Pontifex University is an online university offering a Master’s Degree in Sacred Arts. For more information visit the website at www.pontifex.university

Lawrence Klimecki, MSA, is a deacon in the Diocese of Sacramento. He is a public speaker, writer, and artist, reflecting on the intersection of art and faith and the spiritual “hero’s journey” that is part of every person’s life. He maintains a blog at www.DeaconLawrence.org and can be reached at Lawrence@deaconlawrence.com