Rest In Peace

“A heart is a fragile thing. That's why we protect them so vigorously, give them away so rarely, and why it means so much when we do. Some hearts are more fragile than others. Purer, somehow. Like crystal in a world of glass, even the way they shatter is beautiful.” - Irv's narration, Everwood: Last Looks

Hello Dear Friend,

I can’t believe how fast the time seems to go. I remember when I finally finished this drawing thinking how ridiculously long it had taken me. If I was more disciplined and serious enough about my art, this project probably would have only taken a couple of months to complete instead it took a couple of years. I also remember telling myself that I was going to make it a priority to pursue creating more art more often. That was five years ago and aside from “Rest in Peace” I only have one other drawing to show for it aside from some smaller typography pieces.

“Rest in Peace”, also referred to as the heart in the hands, is an idea I had for a drawing before I had fully developed the concept. It’s also something that stayed an idea for a good long while before I started to put the pencil to the paper and began to bring the idea to life.

I remember when I was developing this piece of art and I’d be on a break at the office talking with people or out to lunch and they would ask what my plans were for the evening or weekend or whatever and I’d respond saying that I hoped to be working on a drawing that was currently in the works. Of course curious minds would want to know what I was drawing. I would say that it was a heart inside of hands and they would think nothing of it until I would further explain that it wasn’t the cutesy valentine type of heart but rather a heart like a human organ. “Oh!” would be the only response I’d receive after that and they would quickly change the subject.

So when I started this drawing this idea it was during a time in my life when I was anxious about my future and struggling to find peace and rest. Trusting in the Lord wasn’t the easiest thing for me to do and the anxiety of what was next continued to grow. The thought behind the name “Rest in Peace” comes from what it is intended to symbolize. I’m aware that the heart isn’t proportionate to the hands and that it’s actually a bit smaller then it would be in real life. It’s not an accident, that was done intentionally. The heart was designed to represent a human heart. The heart represents my heart, your heart, any human heart gently placed inside of the hands that created it. The hands represent God’s hands, the Creator of every living being.

“'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light'” - Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

The meaning behind the art is to let go and rest in the peace that comes when we surrender our life, our worries, our doubts, our circumstances, everything that haunts our thoughts and hand it all over to God. The piece symbolizes a true act of faith as the owner of the heart offers it to God and places their life into the hands of God, trusting that He not only knows what He’s doing but He’s doing it with intention and everything He’s doing is for their best interest. In turn God offers the owner of the heart to embrace the everlasting peace that can only be found when we truly rest in Him.

With love,

a Poetic Soul