A week or so ago, one of my favorite artists in the world died. His name was James Christensen. One day when I was in the throws of motherhood/wifehood/daughterhood/every-kind of hood, I remember standing in an art gallery in Foothill Village, by myself....and seeing the painting The Responsible Woman -
and feeling such emotion.
It was the first piece of artwork that made me cry.
Now.
The Difference Between Night and Day
or Men and Women
or Right Brained/Left Brained
or .....
I was so moved by the piece that I told David about it. Told him I wanted it so dearly. Told him I knew we couldn't afford to buy it AND have it framed but I would be happy, for now, with just the print.
Christmas came. There was a huge picture under the tree. I could tell there was a picture frame through the wrapping. I couldn't believe it! David bought me the picture and had it framed! I could hardly contain myself.
I opened up the present....and there was a lovely Al Rounds painting. My face fell. David said, "Don't you like it?" I said, "Well, yes, but the painting I told you I wanted was The Responsible Woman."
"Yes," he exclaimed, "but this one was bigger for less money!"
The next year David wasn't going to make the same mistake and headed to the gallery to buy me MY picture. It was sold out and now on the secondary market and no way on earth could we afford to buy it.
Sigh.
So the next year, I got the puzzle of The Responsible Woman.
The End
I think one of the reasons why I loved James' artwork so much is that it is full of metaphor. I looked at this painting and almost got weary from all the different things I was responsible for...and yet, this woman was flying (with red shoes, no less!) with light held up ahead to guide her.
Wow. It gave me strength.
I remember when the Apostle Neil Maxwell died. What a loss to me in my life. I had a sweet experience when I was a Stake Young Women's President, and we had asked his wife to be our keynote speaker at a Young Women's Conference. She consented. Imagine how I felt when our Stake President called me to tell me Sister Maxwell was sick and would not be able to come! My heart sank. His next words were, "Elder Maxwell has consented to take her place."
Wow! He was such a remarkable man, full of wisdom and beautiful language and imagery. He was a light in so many people's lives. At that conference, he gave an apostolic blessing which I will never forget.....and in doing so, answered the prayers of a grieving friend in the audience who had lost a child. I remember it was like a ray of light from his soul to hers...and I was witness of that sweet miracle.
So, when he died, I mourned. The church mourned. I could not believe that we would have to live without his profound testimony and insight.
Pause.
David Bednar was called to replace him.
I had never heard of him.
Can I just say, that from the first time he spoke, that man's words went straight to my heart......
So, what I am getting to is that saying, "When God shuts a window, he opens a door." We all suffer losses in life- but somehow those holes in our lives get replaced with beautiful things. I was thinking about the irony of that while I have been taking care of my husband this past week after surgery. What really is a loss for him....has turned to a sweet experience for he and I- for me to be able to serve him with love and patience. I will count this as a blessing in my life.
I found a new artist yesterday. I have actually seen her work before but had never scrolled through a whole collection.
My heart started to pound.
Look at this picture. This theme. It is called "Woman With Things On Her Arm." She is my Responsible Woman in a different light. The artist's name is Caitlin Connolly. Her art will help fill my hole.
I'm going to go out and buy some red shoes.
