When the great Dutch artist...
Illustration
When the great Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh was hospitalized in 1889, he created a striking painting in which there is a man with no face. This man stands in the hospital garden between an aged, gnarled tree and an antiquated twelfth-
century building, as if pondering his own brief passage through time. Since the man is faceless, he represents anyone and everyone who must confront the reality of "the transitoriness and ephemerality of life" (Francesco Miralles). In contrast, the writer of Revelation puts a face on every person with eyes, which will see the coming of Christ in glory. We are all reminded that we stand between the Alpha and the Omega of God. Our time is bracketed by God's timelessness. Every believer has a face, whose lips (borrowing words from the contemporary songwriter Neil Diamond) can sing out with confidence, "The story of my life begins and ends with you." -- Molldrem
century building, as if pondering his own brief passage through time. Since the man is faceless, he represents anyone and everyone who must confront the reality of "the transitoriness and ephemerality of life" (Francesco Miralles). In contrast, the writer of Revelation puts a face on every person with eyes, which will see the coming of Christ in glory. We are all reminded that we stand between the Alpha and the Omega of God. Our time is bracketed by God's timelessness. Every believer has a face, whose lips (borrowing words from the contemporary songwriter Neil Diamond) can sing out with confidence, "The story of my life begins and ends with you." -- Molldrem
