My blogs are usually inspired by some random encounter, event, or experience, but this one was kindled by one of my son’s creative expressions from an earlier period that hangs over my desk. Sean is one of those unique humans gifted with a talent that goes beyond description. To fully appreciate his work it must be seen, explored, and absorbed. His best work is when he is moved by a face in the crowd, a building that is itself a work of art, or the unique beauty of the raised landscape of stone weathered by time among the tombs of New Orleans. With pigments mixed with oil, Sean creates a symphony that is heard with the eyes and felt with the soul. Now this may sound a bit overstated or exaggerated, but it isn’t, just check it out for yourselves, (instagram.com/artbyseanrandall).
The canvas he used is made up of newsprint on low-cost paper made from wood pulp and recycled material, thus it’s prone to yellowing. A collage of articles composes the background ranging from world hunger, social injustice, international conflict, political wrangling, crime, and global warming. Painted upon this assembly of print and photos are six large letters, each one made up of a series of product logos. Once you get past the amazing detail and how the logos are brought to life with rich colors and fine brush work, then you step back and read the letters, and hear the artist’s heart.
He had not crafted a portrait to be admired, but an exposé that conveys a warning. Few products were missing in his renderings, but what gets lost is what resonates behind them. We must wake up and consciously look past the distractions. We must hear what is being said, and not listen to only the loudest voice. We must be willing to invest the time to seek out the truth, and not merely follow the crowd. We are living in a world where media enshrines falsehood in the garments of popularity. If enough believe it, then it must be true.
Two weeks from the writing of this post we will have a new regime preparing to take seat at the helm of our nation’s leadership. Half of America’s population will be celebrating while the other half will be crying foul.
We have had a season filled with unsubstantiated promises and unsupported assurances, coming from every direction. Like the newspapers underlying Sean’s artwork, our future appears to be yellowing, and the print is getting hard to read. What stands out are multicolored pledges that catch the eye but do little else to validate a safe, prosperous and secure future.
Let me close with this, the names of those in authority today will one day be long forgotten, but there is One whose name will last forever, whom God Himself has chosen. It is upon Him we must cast our vote, in Him we must rely, and upon Him we must place our hope.
His name is Jesus, a name mocked, rejected, and used as a curse. The cross He hung upon has become a decorative item worn for personal adornment with no meaningful significance. Yet, for thousands of years, neither His name, nor the symbol of His sacrifice has ever been ignored.
Matthew 12:18-21 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He has brought justice through to victory. In His name the nations will put their hope.”
I encourage you to continue to lift up those who lead us, in your prayers… Ben
#artbyseanrandall, #ignore, #hope, #truth, #bfrandall, #bensquill, #thosewholeadus, #faithinHim, #seekthetruth, #election.
