Water is an elemental force in much of artist Steve Hanks’ work whether it be ocean-based landscapes, or figures in lakes, rivers, and yes, even bathwater. We are, after all, largely made from water. Its movement and fluidity reflect and inspire our lives. Hanks paintings of children offer beautiful surface stories layered with potent meaning. He stays connected to both the loneliness and the magic of childhood. Time of Wonder conveys the unknown possibilities in the future of a single young life as he faces the seemingly infinite ocean. “What I like most about this painting is the way the overcast, misty sky affects the light and colors, like the clarity of the waves breaking behind the boy and the fog sitting on the mountains in the background,” says the artist. “It’s a very solitary, magical place and this youngster is not standing still in this vast landscape. He’s moving forward.”

Arguably the most well known of the Savior's parables, in the Prodigal Son a father has two sons. The younger leaves home and takes his inheritance spending it on "riotous living." Having spent all, this wayward son takes a job feeding the swine and filled his belly with the food intended for the pigs. The parable says that "when he came to himself," the younger son determined to return to his father and ask that he be allowed to return as a hired servant. Upon seeing him return, the father took him back - not as a servant, but again as his son. The elder brother, seeing his father's excitement, protested that he had stayed and done as he should. Why was their no rejoicing over his faithfulness? The father replied, "Thou are ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry... for thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." - Luke 15:32

This painting comes from the account of a friend of ours whose son was a drug addict for almost fifteen years. One morning, this faithful father received a call from a friend of his son saying that his son was not moving. As a bishop, he was up early and dressed for his Sunday morning meetings. He immediately drove to his son, scooped him off that drug house floor, and took him to the hospital before returning to conduct Sunday services. He said nothing to the in his congregation, just did his best to help them. Then, returned to the hospital to sit with his son. I include a green vine on this father's tie to remind us that even in our darkest hours there is a hope of new life. Today, that son has returned to the fold and works in a youth ministry helping teens. He explained that it was the love of his parents that brought him home.

Surely the Savior knew from an early age the path that lie ahead of Him, yet He was not discouraged or dismayed. He went about doing good and filled His life, and the lives of others, with joy and happiness.

I am inspired by the story of Reverend Henry Lyte. Henry's father abandoned the family while he was a young boy and his mother died shortly after. In addition to being orphaned at an early age, Henry struggled throughout his life with poor health - yet all that knew him commented on his cheery temperament. His final contribution came just three weeks before his death. Though he was dying of tuberculosis, Henry was still determined to give to others. He rose from his bed and penned the words that would become the cherished hymn,

Abide with Me.

Abide with Me!
fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens.
Lord with me abide.

When other helpers
Fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh,
Abide with me!

Certainly none of us can walk through life free from illness and despair, but we each can decide how we will respond to those trials that come. This painting reminds me when trials come that I can choose to retreat into myself, or I can choose to reach out as the Savior did and bring happiness to others. Only selfless sacrifice can we ever hope to abide with the Lord.

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Artist Morgan Weistling’s penchant for extensive historical research is the collector’s windfall and The Campers provides a fascinating glimpse into how this modern master comes upon inspiration. “Often when I am researching for a big painting I find other ideas emerge,” says Weistling. “While working on my painting Oregon Trail Family, 1848, I was inspired to paint this other idea focusing on the simple tents the frontier settlers often used. Set in the late 1800s , these two little pioneers have made themselves at home in their temporary shelter. As the sun is setting and it gets darker, the candle is lit and the beans are served. Cherished items brought on the adventure lay strewn on the quilt with the carefree abandon of childhood.”

In this parable, a man sows (scatters) seeds in a field. Some of the seeds fall by the wayside and are eaten by birds. Some fall among thorns and are choked out. Some fall on stony ground and start to grow, but when the heat of the sun beats down they do not have deep enough roots to survive and are lost. Still other seeds fall on good ground where they bring forth fruit.

The Lord teaches us that the seeds represent the Word of God and the ground represents the hearts of those who hear the word. Some have hearts like the wayside and receive the word, but then let Satan (birds) come and snatch it away. Others have thorny hearts and let their own pleasures and cares choke out the word of God. Still others have stony hearts and though they give the word a chance, when the heat of persecution shines upon them they give up and the word is lost. Finally, some have fertile hearts and make room for the word of God. These bring forth fruit through their actions and become what the sower wanted them to be.

I placed on the ground the shadow of a heart to remind us that we choose which kind of heart we have. We can be like fertile ground and prepare a place for the word of God to grow within us. I also put the symbol of the fish in the sown seeds to remind us that once we find the word, we too must go forth as sowers and spread the good news of Christ.