A New Samurai
Title: A New Samurai
Date: January 4th, 2026
Canvas: 24" x 24"
So, I proceed to wait ninety long minutes for an image to express Abraham and Sarah’s self-reliance vs. their Holy-Spirit-reliance in the story of the birth of Isaac, the theme of Doug’s sermon. The image I get is a samurai fervently praying and waiting for guidance. I think, ‘Too trite, too out of place.’ So, I take a water break, check my phone and see an image of…yes…a samurai–‘Ok, God, I get it.’ But, by this point, I’m sitting cross legged on the floor feeling whiney and wishing God would just paint it without me. Right then Duane comes up behind me and says light heartedly, ‘Hey Isaac, good to see you, now get to work.’ This snaps me out of my spell…I stand up and grab my brush. Feelings and thoughts flow back and forth between the Spirit and I, as we sort out the lines and colors together. Once again, I'm swept up in the dance.
Doug emphasizes that waiting and listening to the Holy Spirit is a vital first step, but that the second step is equally important: acting on what we hear–reliant on the Holy Spirit’s power to flow through us as we act. I’m currently reading The Way of the Samurai by Inazo Nitobe, which reflects this dynamic, especially how the samurai is fiercely devoted to his master, acting swiftly once given his mission. But, there is one major difference: Our Sho-Gun hasn’t given us directives and supplies only; He's given us His own life and forged Himself and humanity into a new creation…a new samurai.
If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation: The old is gone. The new is come! —2 Cor 5:17