The crowds at the museum moved in a choreographed precision. There were too many people and too few works of art so the first thing to go is personal space. We were standing so close to each other. Like a glacier caving, viewers took their turn at the front and then peeled away. The watchers in the back slid into the front position.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam houses the finest collection of the Dutch Masters (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Steen, Hals). Most work comes from the Dutch Golden Age of Painting (1600s). As international trade flourished (slaves, sugar, supplies), Amsterdam emerged as the most prosperous nation. The wealthy merchants had cash on hand and a desire to be seen. They hired painters to make them look good. The church had commissioned much of the art before this time, wanting to tell the stories of the Bible. Those old stories fell out of favor. These new patrons wanted to tell the tales of wealth, power, and prestige.
The crowds in the museum shuffled between images. Our eyes looked through the windows of the past and saw so much of the present. There are competing narratives in our world. There is the story of the self-made, the bootstrappers, and meteoric success. It is about effort, intelligence, and tenacity. There is another story. It's about blessing, God-giftedness, and humbleness. It's not a very popular story today. It's about how much we have been gifted, how much God has done for us, and how much we have received from others. Instead, we tell the story as if our success is of our own making.
There was one painting slipped into the exhibit that challenged the narrative. It was called The Merry Family. At first glance, it's a joyful glimpse of a family celebration. There is food on the table, smiles on faces, instruments around the table, and a song on their lips. The father raises a glass and fills the air with laughter. Upon further consideration, there is another layer. A young girl in the front is dressed as an adult and sucking from the wine pitcher. The young boys are smoking pipes. Their sly looks reveal that they are getting away with something. The eyes of the adults are averted from the children, it's as if they are not there.
A note is tacked to the mantle. It reads, “As the old sing, so shall the young twitter.” What are the lessons we are living? Those are the ones that will be passed on to others. A home full of joy and faith - that is the home God desires. A life full of gratitude and simplicity is what Jesus modeled. We certainly pass our morality to others, but we also pass on our attitudes and philosophies. If we live in such a way that we take credit for what God has done, then we cannot be surprised if our culture shifts further and further into narcissism. The toxic waste of social media is ground central for an obsessive fascination with selfishness. If you went digging for all the evidence you need, dig where 'X' marks the spot.