Recently, I visited the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., and stared at this painting for nearly an hour. I couldn’t look away. When I closed my eyes, the piece remained visible. Once again, Van Gogh challenged me to live my calling.
Something was wrong. I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know how to fix it. I went to a museum and stood in front of a self-portrait by van Gogh. The painting was life-size. It felt like van Gogh was staring back at me. Rising through the silence, I heard these words: Cut a bold path to truth. Sometimes in life, I am awake. Sometimes I am asleep. Art always wakes me up. — Howell Burnell