It was early morning in 2005 on the beach. I was fishing for sunrise photo-subjects at Nags Head, NC. Just after daybreak, some expert fishermen appeared overhead. As they began their daily commute and trawling routines for substance, I was captured by the stunning beauty of the sky, the sun, the clouds and the pelicans flying among it all. Quickly, I raised my camera and clicked off as many shots of this moment as I could.

Some spiritual nudges were harboring there, too, and I suspected my photos would not catch those. They didn’t. Yet, I hoped that one day I would somehow re-visit those underlying mystical messages along with the photos and find appropriate ways to share the multiple layers of this dawning experience with others.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Eight years later, while I painted that scene, metaphors jumped out at me. Now, I hope this meager reflection on canvas might stir a brief nudge in you of the greatest fisherman of all, Jesus the Christ. The Messiah. God in human costume. His earth-layer, divine illumination awakened many, including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (symbolized below); and His light glows on today, through the Gospels, other Biblical writers, His churches, through layers of creation, and yes, you.