"Always Being Made New"
Acrylic on Gessobord 11 x 14"
I find myself staring at the title of of this painting. I repeat it over and over in my mind. How can we possibly take in these words as truth when the news of this last week is so full of carnage, sorrow, darkness and pain? I painted this weeks before the incidents of last week. It was a commission, the title chosen. When I painted it, I painted from a place of my own struggles and suffering. Out of darkness, Light. The words gave me hope. Then, again, more carnage, more lies, more greed. I looked to these words again, from II Corinthians 5:14-17.
This painting was commissioned by the ELCA's "Always Being Made New" Campaign. Signed and numbered exclusive prints of my painting were given as a thank you to those who supported this five-year campaign. Donations exceeded $250 million dollars: $16 million to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, $5 million for congregations, $33 million for the Global Church, $24 million for Leadership, $117 million for ELCA World Hunger fund, and $55 million planned gifts to Campaign priorities. People donated what they were able according to their means and the result passed expectation. It was inspiring! It made it very clear to me that a number of people working together with generosity and purpose can really make a difference for the world. It made me realize once again, of the good within people, the capacity to think beyond themselves to love their neighbor. I was honored to be a part of it and thankful for people who share the gifts they've been given. Look for the good, it is there. Light in the darkness.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news," Fred Rogers said to his television neighbors, "my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
This painting was commissioned by the ELCA's "Always Being Made New" Campaign. Signed and numbered exclusive prints of my painting were given as a thank you to those who supported this five-year campaign. Donations exceeded $250 million dollars: $16 million to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, $5 million for congregations, $33 million for the Global Church, $24 million for Leadership, $117 million for ELCA World Hunger fund, and $55 million planned gifts to Campaign priorities. People donated what they were able according to their means and the result passed expectation. It was inspiring! It made it very clear to me that a number of people working together with generosity and purpose can really make a difference for the world. It made me realize once again, of the good within people, the capacity to think beyond themselves to love their neighbor. I was honored to be a part of it and thankful for people who share the gifts they've been given. Look for the good, it is there. Light in the darkness.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news," Fred Rogers said to his television neighbors, "my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."