Image of the Week: Loving God Back
© D. Yael Bernhard
This illustration depicts a question – a moment of seeking as a man relinquishes his possessions, steps out of his comfort zone, and enters the unknown. It's a story of faith and surrender that is known everywhere from the rooms of AA to the biography of the Buddha. In this particular story from the Christian Bible, a man exchanges material abundance for spiritual riches. It's a common theme: out of impoverishment comes inner wealth; out of weakness emerges strength; out of darkness comes light. In the prolonged and brutal occupation of ancient Israel by the Roman Empire – a period which lasted nearly four hundred years – this hope of transcendence found fertile soil in which to grow.
In a society of unbridled materialism, the story becomes even more poignant . . . for s/he who is spiritually impoverished can gain no happiness or fulfillment from material riches. Blessed are the poor, by contrast – at least symbolically – with a simpler, unspoiled outlook that is thought to help them connect to the spirit of God, both in this lifetime and beyond.
The story may change form over the long arc of time, but it continues to resonate with the human psyche, for who does not suffer from some form of oppression, and who does not yearn to transcend the conditions of their lives? Rather than seeing this as an act of self-sacrifice, the man of faith views it as a joyous act – even an act of love. He does not do it for himself, but for his love of Creation, of Life itself, of that which he holds most sacred – thus the illustration bore the words "Loving God Back." Loving God back . . . what does that mean? That is a question to ponder.
Fortunately, my illustration did not have to provide an answer – it only needed to ask a question, and leave the reader with food for thought.
As the illustrator, I had to come up with symbols of wealth from Biblical times. By our modern standards, these are humble and few: a plentiful harvest of olives, barley, honey, and wine . . . perhaps some pearls or shiny gold coins . . . some dyed fabric, a luxury known only to the rich, or a fine silk garment. A flock of sheep didn’t fit in the illustration, and a concubine would be inappropriate (though the devil tempted me to include one). Nor did the fee I received for doing the illustration justify copious research – for example, what cookware, what kind of plow, or what shoes would a rich Jerusalemite in the early Common Era have? Given more time, I could have dug much deeper.
The man's pose – gazing upward while letting his possessions tumble downward – came more easily than the objects themselves. He reaches up in a gesture faith, while letting his attachments go. And though his face is in shadow and his body cloaked in dark colors, he's haloed by white light. My editor liked that.
I decided to leave the background relatively simple and crude. The whole color progression goes from warm to cool as the eye moves upward. That, too, is symbolic, as in some mystical traditions the uppermost levels of human consciousness are associated with purple and blue, while those of our lustful urges are more fiery.
The spilled honey was truly fun to paint. The man is heedless of the mess he makes. It's okay – he's forgiven.
This image is available as a poster or greeting card. I have the original painting someplace, too. Please inquire if you're interested.
A good week to all!