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Kingdom, I might reflect him in everything. retreat from one another and from ourselves,
I do this by first thinking relationally. My fri- to states of disintegration, but art can call us
end Larry Crabb says that if the Bible could be back to the beauty of wholeness. In his excellent
summed up in one word, that word would be book, Culture Care (2017), Makoto Fujimura
„relationship.“ Ours is a Trinitarian faith. The asks, “Artists in the last century have been func-
Trinity has always existed in perfect relation- tioning in society to reveal brokenness; in this
ship. As Jesus was praying for his disciples, he century, can they lead the way toward recon-
expressed his desire that his followers might re- nection, reconciliation, and reintegration?” Re-
late in the same way that he and the father relate gardless of our vocation, can we stretch towards
within the Trinity (John 17:22). Crabb calls this reconciliation, fullness, and shalom? The road
the “relational glory of God.” As a husband, I will be bumpy, but it is a road we must travel.
ask myself what the Trinity has to say about our
marriage. As a father, I need to remind myself Third question: would you like to add
that my children bear the image of God. Na- something about your Christian identity?
turally, this Trinitarian view should extend to
other relationships as well--friendships, clients, During my childhood, I lived in a town of four
and those I meet on the street. I believe it is im- churches in the Dutch reformed tradition and
portant to ask myself whether I am intentional- fewer than 2000 people. Growing up, I felt as
ly recognizing the duality of being God‘s image though there were more substantial differences
bearers, but also living in a creation affected by between these church bodies than there actual-
the fall. If we can hold beauty and brokenness ly were. When I was exposed to other denomi-
in tandem, I think we can more effectively love nations, it became clear to me that the simila-
others. rities superseded the differences. What I have
I have also been intentional about thinking become aware of over time is that doctrinal
through wholeness in creative endeavors. I differences often get in the way of loving one
published a book of poetry, Soil of the Divine another well. Increasingly, I am coming to a
(2017). One of my guiding principles was to place where I recognize our shared humanity.
press into the biblical ideal of shalom. A com- Christ‘s table contains great variety. I recently
mon understanding of shalom is that it means did a watercolor I titled Everyday Wonder that
peace, but in reality, the term is much broader. features a folding table, cheap white bread, and
In his book Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, a jug of grape juice. I want believers to recogni-
Cornelius Plantinga Jr. (1996) described shalom ze the miracle of the beauty and glory of Christ
as “the way things ought to be”--in other words, present in common elements. Christ pervades
wholeness. Again, my writing tends to contrast our common humanity. As we begin to reco-
living in a broken world with the longing each gnize the image of Christ in every person we
of us feels for this sense of completeness, which encounter it helps us to open our eyes to the
is found only in Christ. I recently painted a magnificence and wonder of God. I resonated
picture, The Ministry of Reconciliation, which with David Benner in the introduction to his
contrasts red and blue villages, reflecting our book Human Being and Becoming (2016): „I
political divisions. At center, combining blue have gone from being a dogmatic fundamen-
and red, there is a purple church, which reads talist to a Christian who holds his beliefs with
„Peace“ above the door. My hope in painting humility as I journey with those of any faith
this picture was to represent the hope of the or none; from someone whose primary identi-
church to bring unity to a world that is so often fication was with fellow religionists to one who
divided. now feels a profound solidarity with all humans.
I find that although my motive to pursue shalom I cannot say that I am no longer invested in
is intact, my brokenness often gets in the way. I boundaries or in emphasizing uniqueness, but
desire to live a true, good, and beautiful life, but I can say that I am much more oriented toward
those desires are mixed up with my own sin and similarities and connections and the sense of
the sin of others against me. Since the fall, we belonging that comes with this.“ Ultimately, in

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