I prefer liberty with danger
than peace with slavery.
- Jean-Jacque Rousseau

Some thoughts upon the completion of View No.37 of 1000 Views of God:

On the journey of self-knowing, we encounter within ourselves a myriad of characters – fools, tyrants, heroes, naysayers – a seemingly endless cast. Not knowing what these characters are up to, does not mean they do not exist. On the contrary, they are given free reign to do their clever work in the shadows of our interiors, such that, while all appears peaceful in our safe and sleepy village, all manner of deeds are being done behind closed doors. While we consider ourselves the master of our fate, we are more akin to a slave drunk with delusions of grandeur.

To bring the cast into the light of day, this is a bold move, and not unlike the danger Rousseau points to – for, once spotted, they will do most everything (yes, everything) within their means to avoid capture. The result is suffering, both for us, and for those in relationship with us (which includes, honestly, everyone). The irony is, once captured, they are liberated from their meager existence, into a life far more plentiful and good than they could ever have imagined. They are re-united with every other player, not to mention the director, playwright, gaffers, costume designer, even the audience, and the builders who constructed the stage, and the trees that were cut and formed to create the stage, and the rain and the earth that gave birth to those trees, and the very breath that I’m breathing, just now. And we are no longer held hostage by the fears of our players, but are instead held high on their strong shoulders, and nothing is impossible.

In the sleepy village, the bell of liberty rings, the crow beats its wings, and I awaken from my dream…

View the full painting and details.