Serenity Bridge -- Oil on Canvas 11X14, 2002
“How are you?”
“Busy!
How ‘bout you? Are you keeping
busy?”
This scene is a later remake of one of
my earliest paintings. The peaceful
setting can be found along a quiet walkway just outside of Gatlinburg Tennessee
on the way to Cades Cove. When I look at
this painting, the memories of that day come rushing back. I can almost hear the gentle rustling of the
leaves, the quiet trickle of the river, and the squirrels foraging nearby. I remember the contrasting feel of the cool
breeze with the warm sun shining through the trees.
Standing on the rocks in the middle of
the stream, the water seemed symbolically to carry a steady flow of God’s
blessing around me as I recounted my college experience (having just graduated),
my new marriage (as I was on my honeymoon), and the anticipation of moving out
of state for seminary. I couldn’t help
but thank God because of the goodness of life.
When the stream of life gets a little
more turbulent, this painting still takes me to that place of serenity and
gratitude as I now recount the goodness of God.
