Waiting

Last Wednesday the students of Dr. Holzapfel's honors Doctrine and Covenants class had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Art on the BYU campus. We studied the art exhibit "The Image Speaks." I'm grateful Dr. "H" arranged this insightful and educational experience. We were fortunate to have Rita Wright take the time to help us understand the powerful symbolism that is prevalent in religious art.

I was struck by two different depictions of the parable of the Prodigal son. One painting showed the joyous reunion of a father and son, the father symbolically descending down stairs to greet his wayward, repentant son. I couldn't help but think that the father was a widow. Had the mother been alive she would have been the first to greet her son. She would have been the first to spot him in the distance because she prayed at least a hundred times a day for his safe return. There is no greater anguish and sorrow than that which a mother experiences after investing so much of herself, sacrificing her education, ambition, a second income, etc. to teach her children correct principles, then witness her children reject truth and light. There is no greater anguish.

The plight of the prodigal was cleverly depicted by the two paintings we studied. I was impressed by the second painting that was purely symbolic. Three panels or times were depicted. The middle one was blurred, fuzzy. Those of us who have children who succumb to drug abuse know all too well how the drugs distort perception and behavior. This was a powerful insight on the part of the artist. Not only can drug abuse distort our perception, but loosing the guidance of the Holy Ghost will leave us without a clear understanding of what is right. Some us us easily confuse wrong with right. We have the distorted view that bad is good and good is bad, just like Isaiah foretold.

The last panel depicted the return of clarity once the repentance process begins and spiritual sight is restored. Rita told us to be aware of how fabric is depicted in art. In the second painting the fabric did not blur in the second panel like everything else. It remained clearly situated at the top of each panel. For me this was symbolic of the atonement of Christ, unchanging, always beckoning.

I felt a sense of relief studying the third panel as all things were restored to sharp focus. There was a cow in it, symbolic of the fatted calf that was slain upon the prodigal's return. I'm still waiting for the prodigals in my life to return, they have been gone a long time. When they do, more than one fatted calf will be slain.

I thank God every day for the atonement of His divine son. I'm grateful for the examples of those who are not prodigals in my life. They light the path for me.