My Little Gnudren,
This is a well-known painting by Van Gogh:
It has 47 errors that need correcting on it. No, no, Van Gogh didn’t make errors. Old Gnu made them in this actual size forgery, having studied Van Gogh’s technique – but using far less paint than him. Using thick paint like VG would have cost Old Gnu over £100 in oil paints. So it was that yesterday, with great excitement, Old and Mrs. Gnu went to the Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience Exhibition which has landed in a Warehouse in Bristol not far from the Temple Meads, the main Railway Station. Old Gnu hopes many of you have been to it already. If you haven’t, go when it’s in your part of the country. It’s like sitting surrounded on all 4 sides by a Van Gogh Painting. During this stupendous 35-minute projection sequence, – we sat through it twice, – various quotes from Van Gogh’s letters were displayed. Two stuck with Old Gnu:
“I put my heart and soul into my work and have lost my mind”
“There is nothing more artistic than loving people”
Not knowing the exact context in which Van Gogh said this, Old Gnu observes that very often a true word or insight can be uttered by one who is mentally unbalanced. You may be thinking that you have witnessed many incidents of this from the pulpit. Van Gogh originally wanted to become a Lutheran Pastor, but the selection committee turned him down. It seems that his inherent mental vulnerability was exposed by this rejection. It was after this that Van Gogh began to go downhill mentally. But the fact remains, a number of us have witnessed those who have plunged themselves into work, heart and soul, and have lost the sense of priorities and awareness of their children and partners and friends. And only too late have they discovered that they have wrecked their lives, or the lives of others in the community, or even those with whom they work. Quel Frommage! as the French [don’t] say.
As to the second quote, never a truer word was spoken. It is a shame that there is only one word in the English language for love. It can be used in the context of romance, food, objects, loyalty and other contexts. In Gnu language and the Bible there are different words for ‘love’ to cover these areas. Old Gnu has talked to many men over the years who cringe when they hear people say they “love” Jesus. Worse still, one was asked if he loved Jesus.
The word Jesus used in John 21 when he asks Peter Do you love me? Is agape. This means an unconditional acceptance and commitment. This doesn’t come over in our English word love. And a number of my male contacts have heaved a sigh of relief when this is explained to them.
We have had two examples of ‘love’ demonstrated in our locality of late. The first is of four households in our circle of friends have taken in Ukrainian refugees.
This is not because they are romantically attached to them or they want to eat them, or possess them, or need £300 to cover the cost of feeding and housing these good people. This is because they want to offer unconditional care, and a haven from which they can begin to rebuild their traumatized and devastated lives.
Secondly, we are short of housing in our area as in many parts of the country. Accordingly, we have seen some small new houses built and witnessed thoughtful and kind landlords buying them up, in one case four, so they can rent them out to folks who can’t afford to buy their own home.
And those who need to rent homes can put in bids for how much they are willing to pay for living in them. In our area you can rent a small 3-bedroom home for as little as £1,250 to £1,800 a month. It’s quite easy, you keep bidding until you strike lucky. Isn’t it wonderful! As is always the case, there is someone who is jaundiced about this demonstration of consideration and kindness. Here is the picture of the jaundiced spoilsport:
Her name is Jacinda Arden. She has written a little book with the very odd title: (I know this to be true): On kindness, empathy and strength. She has made bidding for rented accommodation in New Zealand illegal. No, she is not a megalomaniac; she’s the Prime Minister. There is always a spoilsport somewhere who poo poos the kindness of our thoughtful and considerate landlords. In the words of Van Gogh, she has obviously put [her] heart and soul into [her] work and lost [her] mind”, whereas our kind local landlords have discovered that there is nothing more artistic than loving people.
That apart let us ‘put our hands together’ for Van Gogh. He lived a tragically short, unbalanced, and unhappy life, ended his life at the age 37, a pauper, and gave us wonderful pictures for us to enjoy 130+ years on after his death.
Vetus Pater Gnu [he/haw]
Academiae Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
IX Mensis Iunni MMXXI