Shema

Shema draws from Deuteronomy 6:7, where God’s words are to be spoken daily and placed upon the doorposts of the home. In this painting, a mother carrying her child crosses the threshold of a worn Cuban doorway—an ordinary yet sacred passage between the outside world and the refuge of home. The oversized entrance becomes symbolic of both physical and spiritual transition: inheritance, protection, faith, and the values passed from one generation to the next. In a culture of material abundance, we often overlook the profound meaning of shelter and trust in God; this image invites reflection on the threshold as a place where love, memory, and devotion quietly dwell.

The original photograph for this painting was taken by me on a mission trip to Cuba in 2003. I was inspired by the love and care this mother had for her little daughter as she picked her up into her arms and bring her inside the safety of the house in the evening. These people didn’t have much in physical riches but they abound in spiritual wealth.