I have many paintings and photographs in my home.  Some of the faces look out from the canvas straight into my eyes.  Such as …

Ninety degrees.  From the owl to me

Here is a painting by Norman Rockwell that has resided in my Canadian and Belgian homes:

Do Unto Others

As You Would Have Them Do Unto You

So lovely … so powerful.  But up until yesterday that power has been blunted.

In Canada I hung this work of the Spirit in a closet!  I walked in there to get something, but never to linger.

In Belgium I hung it in my bedroom, but too far from my meditation chair to really see the faces.  So I only glanced occasionally as I passed by.

More recently I replaced “Do Unto” with another painting and put Rockwell’s masterpiece in the white hearth of what used to be a fireplace.  It was beside my meditation chair but at too severe an angle to see anything.  I would have had to get down on hands-and-knees to see all the human beings present.  And I never did that.

Now to yesterday …

These faces need a home, somewhere to be loved

I needed a space.  On my bathroom wall stood a tiny painting of dolphins and waves.  I put it behind the sink, just below the mirror.

From the hearth to the bathroom came “Do Unto”.  A brown mat and black frame against a green wall.  Plus the glory of the image.  Perfect.

Ninety degrees.  From me to the people

And so the message lives

Right before my eyes