Would you say you live a somewhat quiet, yet intentional life? I mean, do you invest in a few and hope you make a difference in many? You would humbly say you love your calling, the way you get to serve at church or in your community, and are grateful for your friends and family. Your life is not without challenges, but you try to live this one abundant life well.

I want to tell you about an artist and a saint who lived quiet and intentional lives. The artist used his paintings to speak the message of Jesus. The saint used his daily decisions to speak the message of Jesus.

I recently made two journeys. One to a painting in a side chapel in Oxford,England. The other up a high mountain road tucked in a cliff in the middle of Italy.

Holman Hunt grew up hearing Bible stories from his parents and let his imagination take him places using art to express his thoughts. His curiosity took him to the Holy Land where he got more inspiration for his paintings.

Could it be that as a parent, educator, church leader, you are having an influence on someone? Could it be your work that is taking shape to encourage someone’s faith and destiny?

“The Light of the World was begun when Holman Hunt was in his early twenties, and took a number of years to complete. Part of the reason for this was his desire to perfect the dawn, and he did not feel able to do this until his travels in the Middle East took him to Bethlehem where he saw the perfect sunrise. A larger replica, painted by Holman Hunt when he was nearly 70, hangs in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The colouring and details of the replica are not so exact.” (Keble College notes)

Where does the original hang? In the side chapel of Keble College in Oxford. Internet directions say, “visitors to the chapel are welcome to see the painting. The Side Chapel can be found through the door just before the choir stalls on the right-hand side. A button found on the right wall of the Side Chapel will illuminate the painting.”

And it was these simple directions that I followed on a recent trip to Oxford with friends.

I’ve studied this painting for a few years as a visual to those curious about Christianity and how Jesus is portrayed. I was bucket-list excited to be given permission to enter campus and then the quietly empty chapel.

How odd that a beautiful painting like this comes with instructions to press a button to illuminate the painting free of charge?

What do you see in this painting? What details catch your attention?

The words painted below the art: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

What Holman Hunt eventually finished at the age of 70 leaves us with the most welcoming Jesus I’ve ever known! Hunt intentionally left off the door knob because Christ is a gentleman to let us open up the door and invite Him into our lives.

That’s the quiet intentional life of an artist. Where is the saint?

I had to do some convincing on a recent trip to Italy that Assisi would be worth a stop en route from Rome to Tuscany. I humbly take the credit for it being one of the best days of the trip! (I’m aware it could also have gone the other way.) I knew a few things about Assisi that intrigued me enough to convince my fellow travelers this was worth the adventure.

Our city of San Francisco is the sister city to Assisi, Italy, being named after the patron St. Francis who lived there. He was born into a wealthy family and intentionally chose to live a poor life, giving all he had away. He was a man who lived both a contemplative and missional life and is known to have said, “it is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” He also said, “start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

If you’ve read my writings, you know my love for the Holy Land, and Francis, along with Holman Hunt, traveled to Israel. His trips were to share love with the Muslim people during the Crusades. We walked the town and reverently entered the Basilica where his body is laid to rest. Don’t mind me. I came with shoulders revealed and had to wear scrubs. Back out in the summer sun, we drove up the hill to the monastery built by followers of St. Francis. The monastery was built around the cave that St. Francis retreated to as he intentionally sought after peace and quiet from a world, and at times, even the church, who made life about secondary issues.

2 lessons I’m learning from the artist and the saint about living a quiet and intentional life:

1. Create something meaningful with your life. Use your gifts as they were intended - to make much of God and bless another.

2. Invest daily where you live. You’re not here by accident and your routine and rhythms collide with a number of people who could be watching and learning from you. 

A few books and resources:

How Can I Have Faith? A 30 minute Alpha video that explains Holman Hunt’s Light of the World

Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale by Innegram author, Ian Morgan Cron (listened on audio while in Italy; historical fiction)

Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi by Richard Rohr

The Road to Assisi: The Essential Biography of St. Francis by Jon Sweeney and Paul Sabatier

I pray a blessing over you as you live a quiet and intentional life, learning more about Jesus, more about you and the people around you. Amen.