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Ruby gazed longingly over her empty canvases, oil paints, and brushes. It was time to say goodbye to a lifetime hobby. Her swollen and somewhat numb fingers were constant reminders of the relentless changes in her aging body. As she slowly packed up supplies to give away to the high school art department, she wondered how she might paint one last unique picture. It wouldn’t be the usual images of people and things, but an eternal and exquisite truth. She felt a deep need to leave a message for the generations to come. An idea began to brew.
After a restless night of refining her new inspiration, she went to the school and met with the art teacher, Jason Vaughn. He seemed pleased to receive such a large donation. Ruby broached the subject churning within her.
“Jason, do you think it might be possible for me to sponsor an art contest for your students? You see, I have one last picture that I dearly wish to see painted. Since I cannot paint it myself, perhaps your students would do it for me?”
“Well Ruby, I don’t see why not. It could be an interesting exercise for them to have someone other than me giving directions. Can you come to my ten o’clock class on Monday and get them started? Perhaps we could make it less of a contest but more of an employer hiring an artist kind of experience. The student who most closely illustrates your mental image onto the canvas doesn’t win but is paid for a job well done. I think this will help them for a future in the art world where they need to be less concerned about expressing themselves and more concerned about expressing their employer.”
On Monday morning, Ruby walked to art class as briskly as her 80 some years would allow. Looking upon the youthful group in front of her, she wondered if they could see beyond her arthritic body.
“Hello everyone, my name is Ruby, and I wish to hire one of you to be an artist in my stead. Anyone not interested in this job opportunity is free to skip class today.”
She waited, but no one made a sound.
“All right then, let’s get started. I am looking for someone who can convey my abstract thoughts onto canvas.”
All eyes were riveted on her, waiting for more.
Here are your instructions. You may use your black and white oil tubes only. The canvas size is up to you. The color white is to symbolize untainted honesty and for those of you who are religious it can also represent God. The color black is to symbolize the absence of honesty or Satan. Gray tones are for tainted honesty. I wish to see various tones of gray which illustrate exaggerations of truth, embellishments, distortions, and omissions. The gray zones depict varying degrees of dishonesty and as such are not safe and are to be feared.”
So far, so good.
“Since I am the employer and not a public-school teacher I am permitted to make religious statements. I am a Christian and believe that God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. People are mostly gray and sometimes black. However, it is possible for a human to become white. Jesus said a man, Nathaniel, was a man without guile. So, I expect to feel hope in the midst of confusion when I view your picture. People inherently lie and need to escape the black zone as well as the subtle gray quagmires of deceit.”
She paused to see if she still had their full attention. Indeed, she did. Taking a deep breath, she continued.
“You will find the least bit of black mixed with white becomes gray. Society teaches us that life is not all black and white, but full of gray. This is a true statement. However, society wishes to lull us into being okay with gray. Remember the inability to see black doesn’t mean it isn’t present. If you think about these things as you paint; the depth of your thoughts will pass from you onto the canvas. The student’s picture that successfully grips my heart with their illustration will have their first year of college art supplies paid by me and have future work. Any questions?”
Several hands shot up in the air. Ruby pointed to the handsome lad in the front.
He asked, “When is the deadline”?
“How about one month from today?”
Several heads nodded, yes.
“Any other questions?”
Silence.
“Okay then, remember that as employees, you are all invited to communicate with me for clarification and additional insights. I look forward to working with you.”
As Ruby walked down the hall full of young people walking between classes, she smiled. She was so looking forward to seeing her employees’ work and knew the final product would be not one picture, but a collection. She didn’t know for sure just how many illustrations would grip her heart, but she knew more than one would. Jesus often repeated the same message and so would she. Her project was becoming a more enriching way to paint a picture than any she ever painted alone. She then realized her final years in the painting world were not over, and they could potentially be her best.
The next goal was to find a location within the school or local library where the final message could be displayed along with a typed explanation for future generations to consider and understand.
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