Illuminated by ‘Lightposts for Living’
THIS WEEK’S WINNER
Dr. Christopher Rey G. de Guzman is a specialist in internal medicine and a subspecialist in asthma, allergy and clinical immunology. He is based in
Inspiring. Practical. One-of-a-kind. Prose and painting in one volume. This aptly describes the remarkable book written by Thomas Kinkade.
The book Lightposts for Living is a trailblazing innovation among inspirational books. Reading the book gives me a refuge from these stressful times. As a Type A personality living a fast-paced life, I find the book, along with the beautiful paintings accompanying it, a joyous respite from the increasing demands and complexities of the present times. Among my wide collection of books, this marvelous volume is one of my favorites, which I tend to reread, review and reflect on. It is truly a luminous lightpost for living.
Meditating and applying the principles of the book, I’m discovering that I’m being changed gradually into a better person. Moreover, by God’s grace and enabling power, I’m turning into a more calm and collected person. In essence, the stories and paintings of beauty, light and tranquility provide a soothing balm to my weary life as a doctor.
I’m deeply grateful to the Lord for creating a “painter of light” to be His channel of blessings to all his readers (as well as to the collectors of his paintings).
Seeking the light is one of man’s most fundamental needs. For instance, if you enter a dark room, you automatically reach for the light switch. Light is such a positive force: it dispels darkness literally and gives beauty, hope and clarity to one’s life.
Medically speaking, Kinkade is right when he says that man’s skin absorbs essential vitamin D from sunlight. Likewise, man’s eyes need proper lighting to remain healthy. The writer-painter speaks like a medical doctor!
As the pages unfold, the reader finds that each one is powerful and inspiring, filled with statements that encourage readers to live in the light. Noteworthy to mention are the chapters on living in a balanced light, living in a selfless light, living in the light of thankfulness and living in the light of abiding happiness.
I was particularly touched by Kinkade’s narrative of looking for the big picture in life. I can identify with him when he and his wife were just a beginning painter and nurse, respectively. Though the only job available to his wife was an all-night shift that lasted from
With God giving them the grace to step back and see the big picture, they managed to adapt. During their days off, which were really nights off, they explored the world of the night, enjoying moonlit bike rides, shopping at the all-night supermarket and generally observing their beautiful city at rest.
Because they chose to look at the big picture, what was potentially an unpleasant phase of their lives turned out to be an enjoyable one. Truly it reminded me of my medical training years in the hospital, along with my wife who happens to be a medical doctor as well. We likewise decided to look at the big picture and reminded ourselves that the training years were just temporary. Most importantly, we claimed God’s grace, mercy and His promise to carry us through. Now, we praise God that by His loving kindness, He has given us success in our medical practice. It is true that the greater the sacrifice, the sweeter the victory.
Fundamental to Kinkade’s writings and paintings are the underlying principles that acknowledge the fact that having an intimate relationship with God is so vital. Moreover, the author writes that love, joy, peace, contentment, hope, fulfillment, enthusiasm and inner quality are all shining characteristics of living in the light.
Kinkade’s enthusiastic memories of his early married life are so honestly narrated. It reflects his core belief that God comes first, family second, and career third.
Like a delicate dash of golden yellow rays illuminating the sky and the luminous lampposts lighting a cobblestone pavement, the author’s remarkable writing and superb landscape paintings almost bring me to the actual site and stir in me a yearning to live there and to enjoy fully the scenery illuminated by light.
Truly, there’s spontaneity, hope and faith in Kinkade’s writing, which is excellently complemented by his panoramic paintings of nature.
For as one anonymous author in the past said: “Nature is an outreached finger pointing towards God.” This is surely true, for the Lord created the earth, and as Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”
Kinkade says that what he paints is what he tries his best to live. In short, he tries to walk his talk.
Nowadays, the concept of “quality of life” in the treatment and management of diseases is being advocated. What’s the use of having a live patient when he has a poor quality of life, when he’s in a vegetative state, one who merely exists but doesn’t live fully to what God created him to be?
Finally, this amazing book makes me think more of my relationship with God and moves me to be closer to Him. Naturally, as I’m intimately related to our loving God, He brings light into my life.
Moreover, the author challenges his readers to follow the advice of the Book of Matthew, which says in 5:16, “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Yes, I have to live in the light rather than to merely exist.
I’m prayerfully accepting the challenge of the author to embrace life fully and joyfully. Most importantly, to live a life that shines with wonder, love, beauty and above all, faith in God.
