Dieter F. Uchtdorf | Art shows there is a greater purpose in life which transcends our daily worries, stresses, pleasures, and joys

One day, a man from the Netherlands was looking for a way to get across a canal that separated his country from Belgium. He saw a fisherman on the other side and yelled, “I’ve been looking for a bridge. How can I get to the other side?”
The Belgian shook his head and replied, “You’re already on the other side!”
There is something penetrating about this simple exchange. To the Dutchman, the other side was Belgium. To the Belgian, the other side was the Netherlands.
The perception that those who disagree with us or who behave or think differently are on the opposing side has probably accounted for as much human misery as anything else you could name or imagine.
As a pilot, I learned quickly that things look different from a few thousand feet in the air. Perhaps this is why I have taken such an interest in art throughout my life. Art in any form can give a new perspective—more holistic and more inclusive.
Art shows there is a greater purpose in life which transcends our daily worries, stresses, pleasures, and joys. Art can transmit a message of hope, light, and truth anchored in Jesus Christ, His glory, and His work for the eternal well-being of the whole human race. Expression through art is one of the ways we can help bridge the divide.
Image #1: Twice Blessed, used with permission from the artist, Sarah Richards Sameulson.
Image #2: Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Image #3: Protecting Hope, used with permission from the artist, Amber Eldredge.
Image #4: The Yellow House, Gabriele Münter, Public domain.
Image #5: Climbing Mountains with Children, used with permission from the artist, Caitlin Connolly.
Image #6: Measurement from Memory, used with permission from the artist, Brian Kershisnik.
Image #7: And Martha Served, used with permission from the artist, Elspeth Young.
Image #8: Colors, used with permission from the artist, Kathleen Peterson.
Image #9: At The End of the Day, used with permission from the artist, Colby A. Sanford.
Image #10: The Gathering, used with permission from the artist, Emma Taylor.