Cardinals in the Snow: Trusting God’s Powerful Purpose
I grew up on the East Coast where no winter scene seemed quite so delightful as a cardinal flitting about above fresh-fallen snow. The bright sassy red of a male cardinal contrasting with an expanse of pure white excites the eye, and I wanted to catch that excitement on canvas.
This painting of cardinals in the snow is not what I consider a completed painting. This rendering was merely a study (one of many!) on my way to a final composition. I knew that to paint a believable bird, I couldn’t merely paint feathered wings, a tail, tiny feet, and a beak. Yes, those are all aspects that make a bird look like a bird. Yet capturing the beauty of cardinals in winter involves far more than a combination of scientific attributes; the physical characteristics of a bird do not offer the viewer what he needs to consider the bird believable.
Birds captivate us because they can fly. Their capacity to sweep and soar fascinates and thrills us.
But how could I capture that on canvas? After much thought and experimentation, I realized a bird just isn’t complete unless you paint the space in which the bird flies. Only then can the painting showcase both the bird and the purpose for which he was created. The large swatch of white space satisfies the viewer’s eye knowing that yes, these birds can, at any moment, ruffle their wings and continue on their merry way.
When I painted this male cardinal and his mate, I wanted the viewer to feel as though we were on a walk through the woods. Turning the corner, we spot the birds, and dare not move—we hold our breath, so as to not disturb the pair. It’s an instant in time that will disappear in a split-second, should they suddenly take flight. We’ve stumbled into the world of these cardinals, and we don’t want to chase them away!
For all the many hours I spent in pursuit of composing this one magical moment, I would not have progressed very far in my study of cardinals if I had not considered their purpose. Only in reflecting on their design both in form and flight could I begin to do them justice with my watercolor brushes.
It’s been many years since I crafted this piece, but I find this lesson hitting home as I plan what fills my days. I must keep in mind both my form and my eternal purpose if I want a life that satisfies and excites. Without remembering the reason for which God created me, my best efforts will be stilted and stale. I’m sure you have discovered the same.
Only as we trust God’s design for us, will we, like it says in Isaiah 40:31… soar as on wings.
– Joni Eareckson Tada
From the Heart of the Founder
Joni Eareckson Tada reflects on how a diving accident, once seen as the ruin of her life, became the catalyst for God’s transformative purpose.
