Words of Hope: Love recognizes love
Monet is called the father of Impressionism. The term was coined from the name of his painting “Impression, sunrise”. Many of the critics openly mocked his style, yet he became one of the most influential painters of all time.
Monet was obsessed with the beauty of light often painting the same scene hundreds of times in different seasons and times of the day.
His favorite place to paint was his garden. His paintings of his own water lilies became some of his most known work. Love was at the core of his work. He deeply loved what he painted.
I think of Monet as I read through the gospels. I am reading the stories of Jesus interactions with people after His resurrection. Many could not recognize Him. When several of the disciples are fishing Jesus calls out to them on the beach. The disciple whom Jesus loved says to them all, “It is the Lord.”
I consider how this loved disciple recognizes Jesus when no one else does. Love recognized love. We know our loved one’s voice, their mannerisms, their way of being. Monet loved painting and the scenes of beauty in the world enough to devote days of his life to capture all the unique aspects of what he loved. His eye saw beauty in ways many others could not.
I consider what I need to see in an awakened way – perhaps love or light or beauty in ways that get missed because of my attitude or fear or busyness.
How can I recognize Jesus?
How would recognizing LOVE more immediately change my interactions with the world?
How can I be someone devoted to this kind of reverence?
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” – John 21:4-7
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