A Heron's Wisdom Image License (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)
A Heron's Wisdom Image License (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FOR ONE-TIME LICENSE
Interested in licensing a single image for worship or ministry use? This one-time license grants you permission to use this image for ministry purposes. Print the image as bulletin cover art or project the art and engage with it during worship, Sunday School, or Youth Group. We hope you might use our images as tools for spiritual formation.
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A Heron’s Wisdom
Digital drawing
By Lauren Wright Pittman
Inspired by 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
From our “Those Who Dream” Advent 2020 collection.
Order includes:
high-res image file formatted for print
high-res image file formatted for web/projection
A PDF of the Artist's statements & scripture reference for the visual
A visio divina Bible Study Guide for you to use this image in a group study session that incorporates the ancient Benedictine spiritual practice of "divine seeing."
Credit Info:
When printing and sharing online, please always include the following credits:
Artist's name | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
From the artist:
I was paddling in my kayak when I saw a heron standing tall at the next bend in the river. I was struggling to paddle upstream, but I desperately wanted to see this creature up close. I paddled as hard and as silently as I could, and as I got within twenty feet of the heron, the moody hues of its feathers—navy, gray, steel blue, and periwinkle—the bright oranges of its beak, and the sunshine yellow of its eyes came into focus. Just as I got close enough to begin to discern the heron’s details, it took flight, landing still in view at the next bend in the river. We continued this dance, bend after bend, with the heron as my guide until I came to the end of my journey. As the heron took off over the tree-laden horizon, I felt gratitude for this heron’s presence. I felt the heron taught me about my relationship with God—this dance of pursuit, intimacy, guidance, and mystery.
So, David wants to build God a house. I love how God takes on this posture of playfulness when expressing how absurd this desire truly is. David wants to build a shelter for the architect of the cedar tree itself. The practice of drawing this cedar tree was a spiritual one. As I sketched the twists and turns in the branches, the flared patterning of the cedar leaves, and the swirling of the bark texture, I found awe for the tree’s Designer. Though we may feel like we are paddling upstream all alone, God is with us. Despite our efforts to grasp God, or put God in a box, God is beyond comprehension, unbound, and everywhere.
— Lauren Wright Pittman
