Lean Into God's Light

Happy March, my art blog friends. I have a shiny new self portrait to share with you this week! 

Self Portrait in God’s Light, 2021

Vine and willow charcoal on newsprint

18” x 24”

I enjoy attempting self portraits from time to time. Drawing one’s self is a tricky business but it is also an amazing opportunity. It is the opportunity to share something intimate about yourself with your audience. Self portraiture is the chance to visually tell the world, “this is how I see myself at this moment in time.” This is how I was feeling, this is what I was thinking, this is my favorite part of me, this is the most important part of me. A self portrait declares, in a way that only you can, “this is what makes me me.”

In this new self portrait, I chose to draw myself engaged in an activity that I love - Bible study. I love learning about the Bible and gaining more insight about the human authors, the original audience, and the time period. I enjoy learning the answers to questions like; who was this passage written by? Who was it written for? When was it written? What were the cultural factors and historical events which caused the writer to present that story that way, and in those words? I find it all just fascinating. But the Bible is more than just a historical account of what God and His people did or a snapshot of ancient Jewish life. The study of Scripture is a way for us to connect with God. Scripture is one of the many ways that God speaks to us and, if we are listening, it is a way for us to learn more about who He is and His great love for us. In a way, the Bible is a multifaceted portrait of God painted with human words.

My process for this drawing started by taking a series of photographs of myself to use as source material. Before I even began, I was already feeling behind the ball and beating myself up for letting other activities and “busy-work” consume my morning. However, God had other plans. In that moment, God set the sun in the sky at just the right angle and blessed my photoshoot in the most amazing way. Sparse rays of beautifully dramatic light filtered through my bedroom window, cutting through the pervasive shadows. One of these intense points of light fell exactly on the pages of my study workbook making it appear absolutely luminous! The white pages glowed like a beacon in the night. My figure sat surrounded by darkness but as I leaned in towards my study book, my face was illuminated by the ambient glow reflecting back at me. 

I was blown away when I realized that this was not just a good time to take pictures, 

this was the perfect time to take pictures. 

The light in this moment made for more than just pretty photographs, it was a perfect visual metaphor for my study of Scripture. The pages of the Bible are filled with the light of God and as we lean in out of the darkness (the darkness of this world, the darkness in our own minds, the darkness of ignorance) and reach out for Him, we reflect the glow of His light (the light of His love, the light of hope, and the light of the understanding and knowledge of who He truly is).  

So today I encourage you to open up your Bible, pick up that study workbook that you’ve been meaning to start (or the one that you’ve been meaning to finish), and lean into God’s light! 

 “The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.” 

(Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)

Have a great week my friends and keep reaching for His light! :)