Have you ever felt weary from living in a world where humankind has, in large part, chosen to root itself in social constructs and power dynamics that are singularly focussed on banning God – the Creator of everything in the universe? The irony of created beings dismissing the One who fashioned their very existence could almost be considered comical – if it were not so seriously shocking.

Let us turn our attention for a moment towards all that is presented as “good,” “beautiful” and “true.” God, our Creator, made us in His image; and part of that image includes the ability to create. Art produced from a healthy (spiritual) heart is rooted in one’s desire to demonstrate the likeness (character) of God, who gave human beings opportunities and abilities to use the talents He invested within them to express their faith, point others to eternal things, and glorify Him as the Exalted Creator.

“So, God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27 ESV

In this Art Gallery Showing article, I would like us to look past the works of the enemy – not so we can ignore or dismiss the pain that’s wrought by evil, but rather to leave room for ‘great thoughts of God.’ As J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings character, Samwise Gamgee, reminds us:

“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing – this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer…. Folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.… There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”¹

Followers of Jesus know that there is still good taking place in this world due to God’s redemptive power (John 3:16). This year’s aim for VOMC’s Art Gallery Showing is to provide a visual space for ‘great thoughts of God’ and the fact that His goodness is actively at work within the hearts of all those who are centred on Him. The theme for 2024, aptly titled “Heart Health,” is based on Proverbs 4:23 (AMP):

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow the springs of life.”

We were very excited to receive a total of 27 entries from talented artists across Canada (11 of them representing artists in the youth category; and 16 representing those in the adult category). All submitted entries were juried by three professional artists who were tasked to select the artwork that most clearly depicted this year’s “Heart Health” theme.

I encourage you to take a quiet journey across the pages that highlight this year’s selected submissions and honourable mentions. As you linger on each of the images, allow them to speak to your own heart of the things that are eternal, beautiful and prayerful. Throughout the process, try to eliminate the ‘tyranny of hurry’ for a few moments so you can focus on the One who will make your spiritual heart healthy despite the challenges in this world.

Source: 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Directed by Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, 2002.