Jesus is our Calm
Canvas: 20” x 24”
Time: Approx. 2 hours on September 23rd, 2018
Cost: $1,500
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “HUSH! BE STILL!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…John 4:18
Doug began by highlighting how art (song, painting, poetry, etc.) can reveal profound truths to us with speed and clarity, bringing us to deeper understanding understanding of our own personal stories. Doug used a Rembrandt painting (The Storm on the Sea of Galilee-1633) to illustrate how he himself, in an effort to make life work, has played the role of each disciple: the confused, angry, sea-sick, workaholic, panicked, despairing, and resigned. Fear drove out love at that moment. Feeling very alone, the disciples wondered if God created their calamity to punish them, asking “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38) But, God didn’t cause the calamity, it was the fallen world that caused it. Whereas, Jesus used it to bring good (Rom 8:28). Doug passionately proclaimed that God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him, but rather He wants us to feel totally calm and safe with Him! So, with a blank canvas, knowing I could not rival Rembrandt, I stalled for time by mixing paint...suddenly a photo I saw at age six came to mind--a French sailor “heeling” over the edge of a sailboat. It was a vision of how the disciples would deal with “storms” following the death and resurrection of Jesus, once they had finally believed Jesus was the Son of God and had proven His faithfulness and goodness by saving the world through the cross. Heeling over the boat, Jesus had become their very LIFE, their calm, their balance, their hope, their courage!