Cursten Branden Lewis

Finding Meaning in Life: Embracing Joy and Responsibility

3–5 minutes
Franz von Stuck (1863–1928), The Guardian of Paradise (1889), oil on canvas, 250 × 167 cm, location not known. Wikimedia Commons.

Everything returns to the place of its origin, and from dust all will return. Who knows whether the spirit of the man ascends and the spirit of the animal descends into creation? So, I saw that there is nothing better than the individual should rejoice in his lot: for this is his sole purpose on this earth.

Tree of Life

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Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), The Consequences of War (1637-38), oil on canvas, 206 x 342 cm, Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy. Wikimedia Commons.

Who can bring one to see what will be after themselves? Again, I saw all the oppressions that are done under the expanse. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their adversaries, there was authority, and there was no one to console these people. And to myself, I believe that the dead are way more fortunate than the living.

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4: 7-13

Then I witnessed all the work and all the professionalism that came from an individuals envy of another. This also is an illusion and a chasing after nothingness. The poor and wise youth was better off than the old foolish ruler who could not comprehend new advice. I observed all the living who roam around under the expanse, along with that young individual who was to stand in the ruler’s place.

What is Within the Fiery Altar?

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Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), Dream of Saint Mark (Pax Tibi Marce) (E&I 305) (c 1591), oil on canvas, dimensions not known, Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice, Italy. Image by Didier Descouens, via Wikimedia Commons.

My Deific Instruction

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Frans Francken the Younger (1581–1642), Mankind’s Eternal Dilemma – The Choice Between Virtue and Vice (1633), oil on panel, 142 x 210.8 cm, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MA. Wikimedia Commons.

The War of Ancients

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Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), The Last Supper (E&I 310) (1592-94), media and dimensions not known, Duomo, Lucca, Italy. Image by Mongolo1984, via Wikimedia Commons.

Arte e Spiritualità: Sant’Antonio Abate

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Frans Francken the Younger (1581–1642), Mankind’s Eternal Dilemma – The Choice Between Virtue and Vice (1633), oil on panel, 142 x 210.8 cm, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MA. Wikimedia Commons.

The Wisdom of Understanding

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Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), The Last Supper (E&I 309) (1592-94), oil on canvas, 365 x 568 cm, Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy. Wikimedia Commons.

La Omnipotencia

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The Paradise by the Italian Renaissance painter Tintoretto (1518-1594 CE), commissioned for the Doge’s Palace n Venice. Completed 1588 CE.

Llamamiento de Realidad

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Hans Memling (c 1433–1494), The Last Judgment (panel from triptych) (1467-1471), oil on panel, 223 x 72 cm, Muzeum Narodowe w Gdańsku, Gdańsk. Wikimedia Commons.

The Eternal Truths: Insights from Scripture

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Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), The Archangel Michael in Combat with Lucifer (E&I 287) (1580s or early 1590s), oil on canvas, 318 x 220 cm, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Wikimedia Commons.

Guard your ways when you approach the dwelling place of omniscience. To approach, and to observe is more advantageous than to offer the sacrifice of ignorance, for the ignorant do not know that they are doing evil. So then the one who loves money, will never be satisfied with it, nor the one who loves wealth with his income; this also is an illusion. When goods multiply they multiply who eat them, (More money, more problems) and there is no advantage to the owner to see these things happen with his eyes. The laborer experiences very sweet sleep, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the proud will never let him sleep. So then, there is a very grievous evil under all things: riches, that are kept by their owner to his own hurt.

Jacopo Tintoretto (c 1518-1594), The Last Supper (E&I 309) (1592-94), oil on canvas, 365 x 568 cm, Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy. Wikimedia Commons.

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

Numbers 3: 5-10

My angled garden, 2025

Behold, what I have seen to be righteous and appropriate is to indulge in the spoils of life and enjoy every moment with which one toils under the expanse in the few days of this fleeting experience that God has blessed us with- for this is our duty. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and the authority to indulge in them and to accept his responsibility and rejoice in his work- this is the gift of God. For I do not much remember the days of my life because God keeps me occupied with joy in my heart.

The Great Deceiver

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Featured image: Peter Paul Rubens – The Fall of Phaeton, c. 1604-1605. Oil on canvas, 98.4 x 131.2 cm (38.7 x 51.6 in). The National Gallery of Art. Image via Creative Commons

Preparing to Conquest

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Unrecorded artist, Virgin of The Rosary of Pomata, c. 1730–60, oil on canvas with gold leaf applications (Pedro y Angélica de Osma Foundation)
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