Brian Kershisnik (1962 – ) is a current and nationally renowned artist based in Utah. He travelled extensively as a child and although he didn’t have any plans to be an artist, he often spent time drawing. He continues to sketch as the basis for his paintings.

Brian Kershisnik paints about “everyday heaven” complete with everyday challenges, everyday dreams, and everyday calls. His works are most often about relationships with each other and the divine. He is quoted as saying that you can’t hear ‘love God with all our heart,’ without it involving how we treat each other and ourselves.

His works present a unique perspective. He actively suspends interpretation during his artmaking and his answer to the question of what his paintings mean is “I don’t know.” He believes art should open not close down conversation. He himself moves from artist to spectator at the end of each piece searching for meaning and inspiration and inviting us to come along.

In Empathy we may be seeing a true definition of that act. What does empathy require of us? Does it require a deep joining prompted by beliefs in justice, kindness and humility? Can we truly empathize without these beliefs and this commitment to another? Without these might it be just a moment or two of surface noticing and hollow, inactive concern?

God’s way of love calls us to find an honest imagining of another’s circumstance and emotions. Then God’s way of love calls us to do what we can to care and help.

May we hold this image as a reminder of what it means to love God with all our hearts. Amen.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church