“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

John F. Kennedy

For the past few weeks, I’ve been in isolation at home as many of you have experienced over the past two years.  I was extremely fortunate to be able to stay home and my case of COVID19 was relatively mild, but during that time, I lost my appetite – 12 pounds – and even thought this might be my last Christmas.  We had the prayers and encouragement of friends and those who brought gifts of food and cards.  My husband is a great encourager, nurse and even ventured out to shop for our groceries and necessities during this time.  It’s never easy being a caretaker, so I truly hope he knows how much I appreciate him.

During this time of doing nothing much except sleeping, I was also given a gift of time to take a close look at a small sampling of the above art work that my husband, the artist has produced over his career. These pieces grace the living room and dining room of our little 1875 farmhouse. When we put a piece of art up on the wall, we rarely look at it with fresh eyes.  Since I was allowed this quiet time, I took full advantage of opening my eyes to view the intrinsic beauty of each one.  As light infiltrated through the windows – passed through the sheer curtains – bounced off and ref of a stained glass window – refracted light from all around – I began to see the deeply rooted attention to detail.  To some, a piece of impressionistic art can appear fuzzy or undefined, but there are so many tiny details hidden in the canvas.  It’s almost like looking at a large tapestry and watching the threads being woven into place.  Tiny secrets are hidden everywhere.  We just need to take the time to look for them and enjoy the moment.

Each brush stroke the artist lays down has a purpose.  Some huge globs of paint are placed in certain areas to draw attention to them, while contrasting colors bring new things to the viewers eye.  There is a rhythm to behold – a natural heartbeat to bring the canvas to life.  Every artist who truly loves what he does, has a different way of expressing that passion.  Some require music to stir the images.  Some prefer the quietness of the moment.

Each day as I looked at each of these paintings, I gained a broader respect for the artist who painted them. Art has changed over time. Before photography, everything was sketched or painted.  When the Internet entered our world, Photo Shop became a new art form.  There are still those who prefer a brush, a palette and an empty canvas.  There are those who need to feel the cool clay flow between their fingers, or the hammer and chisels work to carve through stone or wood.  There will always be a need for art in some form or another.  I believe that each of us has the capactity to produce art too.  For some, it’s built into them when they’re created.  God knows what we all need and when we need it.