For me painting is a way of prayer. Although I began this painting while in seminary many years ago, I completed it during the tumult of the Covid crisis as I prayed for the healing of the earth and all those suffering in the wake of the world. So many thoughts flooded in as I reflected on the universal grace of Divine love holding us all as his child.
In times of such great global and personal distress, it is easy to forget that the creator of the heavens and earth is the ancient of days. However old, broken or worn we feel, we are a beloved child in God's arms, held in love that never fails, though we tremble, suffer and struggle.
In prayer with this painting Psalms 131 is close to my heart.
My heart is not proud, LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too difficult for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child my soul is within me.
Put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.
I pray for all, a stillness of heart and mind in the healing arms of love.