March 18, 2013

"Rising Light"



This painting was done in the fall of 2012 for some dear friends (Ben and Aimee Parkinson). The Parkinson's recently moved to Little Rock and this was a gift from our church. We are so blessed by their friendship and time in Memphis.

The genesis of this painting began years ago with both of our families moving into the Binghampton neighborhood. The wood this is painted on is reclaimed wood found in Binghampton. The Title "Rising Light" comes from a verse in Isaiah 58:10 "if you pour out yourself for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday."

This passage in Isaiah 58 depicts the nation of Israel going through the motions of ritualistic fasting, but are far from pleasing God's heart with their actions. God then answers with what is pleasing to him... a true fast. The promises for shedding ritualistic fasting/worship and embracing true worship and fasting is laced throughout this passage.

The Parkinson's have been friends who have always embodied this pure heart towards loving the least of these. They have truly poured themselves out here in Memphis and in the Binghampton community. My prayer for them as I painted this was for their light to rise and be evident to all who experienced them here and for those who will meet them in Little Rock.

The colors were selected to 1) match Aimee's dinning room and 2) to portray an early morning sunrise breaking through to highlight a church. Hope you all enjoy this as we look to worship God not just in words but with pure deeds during this lenten season.