Symphony - the story behind the art

I started sketching out the foundations of this painting on October 19, 2018 when I was studying intercultural studies at Bible college. As someone who has always been a visual processor, and not very good at sitting still, I decided to take lecture notes by painting. I set up a blank canvas and some paint next to my laptop, and as the lecturer spoke, I painted. It really did help me to concentrate and remember the lecture topic in a unique way and to this day I can recall the subject matter. 

Cultural diversity was the topic and what a blessing it is to be all so uniquely designed with different worldviews and life journeys and the blessing and gift that we have in diversity. 

Diversity is a gift that can be greatly missed or deeply embraced. As we are commanded to go into all the world making Jesus known, we are in a very unique position in Australia where the world has come to us and a question comes with that as to how we are going to respond. How to we witness and share the truth of Jesus overseas, but also to our neighbours and those global citizens who have come to us. We have a unique opportunity in Australia to share Jesus openly, but to also come from a place of deep learning and openness to learn from rich cultures and see how God has already been working in beautiful ways, often different to our own, to make Himself known. I am often reminded in this space of Paul sharing in Athens about the unknown God. There is a beauty when we come together in unity with openess and embrace diversity.

unity in diversity. love above all else

During my time at Bible College my daughter’s mental health, which had been suffering, took a dive for the worst and as a family we entered a very tough season navigating supporting her and also supporting my autistic son. Painting, in this season, became my therapy and a deep prayer and intercession for the children. I wept and prayed for the day that they would heal and be reconciled to each other which I praise God has now happened. God is so faithful. 

The story behind the painting in this season slightly changed, however the theme of unity in diversity remained.

I wrote this about the painting during that season:

The painting started as I was crying out to God for unity between my children. What I meant by that was a cease in fighting and an increase in respect and getting along. Then, as God does, He showed me more and that this is a world issue. God’s plan in His church, in the world, locally and internationally is for reconciliation and unity. A place where love comes beyond any other point of difference. Diversity and embracing who God has created us all to be is a precious thing. Not something to be ridiculed or scoffed. 

Our differences and uniqueness is how God has made us and it’s a beautiful thing. When we learn to truly love each other and embrace the diversity we live under God’s law - His love and the world begins to restore to God’s original design. It is one person at a time. Embracing our differences and joining in unity to celebrate our diversity.

There is a story too behind every person and the masquerade style reflects the masks that we sometimes wear. Underneath that mask is the true beauty. That place where the mask comes down and the beauty that was hidden in the shadows comes out into the light.

the birth of “symphony”

I put the painting aside for many years and stopped painting all together until the beginning of this year and as I painted this final layer I felt a deep joy and celebration rise as I recalled and remembered with God all that He has done in our family, with misunderstandings within the church and wider community and saw that hope had been restored.

God often speaks to me through nature and shows me glimpses of Eden and His original design. The birds sing His praises. The wind makes the leaves blow. Everything is strategically designed to work in such harmony. Like each note in a beautiful piece of music has its place and plays at just the right time, so too it is in nature and with us. The note of A doesn’t try to be the note of G. That would cause terrible dissonance because it is the note of A and is not designed to play in the space of G. It is uniquely and perfectly designed to fit into it’s space to work in harmony with all the other notes to sing a beautiful song. A symphony..

The symphony of praise hidden within this piece of artwork speaks also of our identity and the importance of operating in the way that we are created to be. Each unique and each essential in the beautiful symphony of life that is not only all around us, but that we also are a part of. When we fully realise who we are and operate in the fullness of that; and when we partner with all of Heaven and with what Jesus is doing we together cause a powerful resonance rather than dissonance that sees Heaven on earth, sees unity restored and God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.

There are many layers to this painting and so much the Lord showed me during the process. We are all wonderfully and fearfully made. We all have a destiny and a future and hope. We all long for things to be restored and healed and whole and for shalom. In the meantime, in the liminality of the now and the not yet, we have so much to look forward to and that gives us hope.

I am so glad that it has landed with it's current owners. I pray that God will continue to use it to speak as sometimes only art can.

"Symphony"