Courage

“Courage is from God…a reward for our fortitude in facing the perils and trials of life.

Like a lighthouse beacon, it guides us home” ~ Thomas Kinkade

The moral order of God’s universe is like an exquisite tapestry – the foundational values of the good life interweave in a seamless whole. In my Life Values Collection, I explore the connections between these divinely inspired values.

Perseverance, the first painting in this series, considers life as a voyage through stormy seas – a test of faith and a demonstration of God’s sustaining love. Courage, my new painting in this series, expands on the metaphor of a sea voyage, bringing us to the moment of divine inspiration when God graces us with courage beyond the merely human – the resolve we need to overcome any obstacle.

I make full use of a vocabulary of personal artistic symbols to convey this message: God rewards our Perseverance with His gift of Courage. Our lone sailor has come within sight of a lighthouse, the beacon of divine love will guide him to shore. Smoke curls from the chimney of the keeper’s solid brick cottage, hinting at domestic comforts within. A sublime radiance breaks through the clouds, embracing the boat in its holy light.

I painted Courage at a time when I was especially grateful for God’s hand of deliverance in my life. May it remind you that courage is, truly, a gift from the Almighty.