The Bloom of Blessings

The still waters below, mirroring the sky, represent a deep peace and stillness that comes from divine governance and righteous judgment, as expressed in  67:4 : "For thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth." The calmness of the scene suggests a world in balance, a world under God's care, where the natural beauty of creation flourishes as a reflection of divine order. The single flower, in its radiant bloom, represents the earth yielding its increase, just as  Psalms 67:6 foretells: "Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us."  

The beauty of this artwork lies not just in the colors and elements it presents, but in the deeper message of hope, abundance, and gratitude. As an artist, my intent was to portray the profound connection between humanity, nature, and the divine — how all of creation is intertwined, and how blessings showered from above ripple through every corner of life, much like the sunlight touching every part of the landscape in this scene.  

The single flower in the foreground, a symbol of individual praise, reminds us that each life, no matter how small, has the capacity to reflect the light of divine favor. The flower's bright yellow petals suggest joy and gratitude, tying into the psalmist’s call for nations to be glad and sing for joy ( 67:4 ). The positioning of the flower also suggests the posture of praise — a reaching, a yearning towards the light, much like the way we, as humans, stretch our hearts toward God in moments of gratitude and awe.  

In creating this piece, I felt deeply connected to the idea of growth and flourishing under divine blessing. As an artist, I wanted to show how the smallest details in nature can symbolize the grandest of spiritual truths. The flower, though just one among many, represents the larger call for all creation to rise in thanksgiving. The vibrant colors were chosen to evoke a sense of abundance, joy, and life, embodying the psalm's emphasis on how God’s mercy and blessings touch every part of the earth.  

The verses of  Psalms 67 speak to the universal nature of God’s blessings — not just for one people, but for all nations, for all creation. The reflection of the sky on the water represents this mirroring of God’s mercy across the earth. As the psalmist says in  67:2 : "That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations." This reflection of heaven on earth, captured in the still water, is a visual reminder that God's presence is always with us, guiding and blessing us in both seen and unseen ways.  

The artwork speaks to the cyclical nature of praise and blessing. As the sun rises (or sets), its light touches the flower, which in turn reaches towards the light. Similarly, when we, as people, lift our hearts in praise, we align ourselves with the divine, and in doing so, we receive even more blessings. This cycle of praise and blessing is beautifully echoed in the repeated refrain of the psalm: "Let the people praise thee, O God" ( 67:5 ), a call that reverberates across the earth, much like the vibrant colors of this artwork ripple across the landscape.  

Ultimately, "The Bloom of Blessings" is a meditation on how the earth itself reflects divine favor, and how each of us, like that single flower, can bloom when we are touched by the light of grace. This artwork invites the viewer to contemplate the ways in which we receive blessings and how we, in turn, can offer our own praise — through joy, through gratitude, and through a deep connection with the world around us. The message is clear: when God blesses, the earth yields its increase, and all ends of the earth are touched by His goodness ( 67:7 ). This artwork stands as a testament to the beauty and power of that divine blessing, offering hope and light to all who behold it.