Both of the two museums I have visited in Fort Worth, the Kimbell and the Amon Carter, allow visitors to photograph most of their exhibits. When I learned this I returned to the Carter to revisit a water color painting I had seen there, of three crows in a winter landscape , one upon a bale of hay, and two beside it in the snow. The light seemed to replicate perfectly a winter sky, with shadows on the snow. It was painted by one of the Gentling brothers, whose specialty was bird pictures, many of which belong to the Carter Museum.

I had the picture enlarged from my phone camera, and framed and hung it over my desk. It never fails to move me when I look at it, as it so strongly reminds me of my grandparents’ farm. It perfectly bundles and conveys to me an impression of the farm, in spite of the fact that the painter never even came close to Grandpa’s farm.

I believe that the entire world of nature is a canvas delivering an impression of our Father God; and that most of humanity is drawn to and seeks the natural world for a respite from the human stew, while some recognize God’s handiwork in what they see.

In the midst of extolling his love, the lover in “The Song of Solomon” says,”See! The winter is past, the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the cooing of doves is heard in our land! (Song of Solomon2:11-12)

When Jesus wished to convey to his disciples his relationship to them and to his Father, Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that does not bear fruit. . .I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. (John 15: 1&5)

The world of God’s nature supplies respite and inspiration to God’s people. As Jesus spoke it, the inspiration in a grapevine was real and conveyed the exact relationship between the Father and son, and between the son and his disciples. In this comparison, Jesus revealed that the Father , (the “gardener”) disciplines even Jesus himself.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

(Psalm 19:1)

When each soul discovers that he or she is not alone, and responds to Jesus’ voice: “Consider the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mathew 6: 26) then we recognize the painter of our lives.

Love in Him,

Prue