"Trials or Tragedies are inevitable
as long as we are alive on earth."
How we face them and go through them
is what makes the difference
between living in fear and anger
or living in peace and joy.



In Refuge, I want to depict the truths
that we all need to know and
believe if we are to find
the inner peace we all long for.



These truths are: we are "never alone,"
and we are accompanied by One
who gives us the ability
to face anything that comes our way.



When we do face these times in our lives
He helps us make it through them "intact"
they are not unto our destruction



In this painting,
I've portrayed these truths
in the stained glass window
depicting the three Hebrews
from the Bible in Daniel,
who were protected in
Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace
by the angel of the Lord
to the amazement of many witnesses.



The fireman in the painting is also,
a symbol of someone who is protected
from modern day flames and is
pondering in a moment of reflection,
the Truth of the biblical account.



As the fireman gathers courage
from the ancient story
and from the reality
of the One who says
"I will never leave you,"



He realizes he has chosen to go
against what seems like "hell" (fiery blazes)
to help those in trouble -
taking a stand in a way
and place that could do him great harm.



His willingness to take this stand
is worth emulating as we, too,
will be faced with our own
too hot to handle circumstances.
It takes more than fireman's gear
to face the blazes of life,
It takes courage, as well.



"No matter what you face in life,
from past hurts to present circumstances,
I hope you find the courage to go through it -
in the strength and comfort of the
One who longs to be your Refuge."

~**~

Written by Mark Keathley