On Life 30 – Albrecht Dürer and True Love – June, 13, 2014

   In the previous article, we tackled the companions in the path of life, asserting that they greatly impact our directions and progress, we mentioned that keeping the company of the wise and modest people teaches us and gives us life experiences. Along the path of life, choose your path companions among those whose hearts are filled with love, because they know but giving and sacrifice, they will teach you to cherish the value of giving and sacrifices made to you. Watching “Praying hands”; the painting of the German artist, Albrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528 AD), you shall consider it carefully, recalling the story of this painting drawn in 1508 AD.

   Albrecht Dürer was raised by a large family consisted of twenty people amidst poor financial conditions. The two elder sons had a dream of joining the Academy of Arts as they were talented in painting. Although it was nothing more than a dream as their father wouldn’t afford the study fees, they reached a solution after a long period of thinking and discussions. They decided that one of them would work to incur the costs of his brother’s study along four academic years, then the graduate brother would work to support his brother’s study.

   They held a draw to choose the one who would start studying, it was Albrecht; he went to the academy while his brother began working at mines. Albrecht occupied a great state due to his unique talent; upon his graduation, his paintings and statutes were providing him with high income. After finishing his study, Albrecht returned to his family and was received with celebration, he expressed thanks for his brothers’ love and toil, without which he would have never been able to study and achieve great success in arts. He then asked his brother to be prepared for travelling in order to start studying as agreed. Let me stop at this point; as it highlights what the people with love-filled hearts offer to others. They are accustomed to giving.

   How lucky they are who meet those givers! They will experience a new depth in life taken from great unique figures whose likes are rarely found.

   The story comes to an end by the brother rejecting to study, as working in mines had impacted his hands that he wouldn’t be able to hold a small brush and maintain control over accurate lines! Albrecht passed by his brother’s room one day to see him praying with his hands clasping together, he was impeded by this impressive sight! He immediately decided to paint these hands, honoring his brother’s sacrificing love in which his own life was indulged, the world was fascinated by this painting, which then became the reason of this artist’s fame, despite his other wonderful works found in several museums! When you pass by a man who knows the meaning of true love and sacrifice, make sure you learn from him the true meaning of life through giving and sacrifice.

And “on life” we are still sailing…

The General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center