The painting represents the life of one soul, from birth to its return to from where it came. The entrance into life is through the small doorway in the center of the painting, represented by a flash of light from "out of the blue". The unfolding life of the soul is then represented by the succession of rainbow colors as they proceed through a tunnel of time, drawing always closer to the present. Sometimes the edges of the tunnel are rough and in shadow, representing those times in our lives when we deal with difficulty, illness, sadness or loss. At other times, the edges of the tunnel are brightly lit, smooth and gently curved, reminding us of those times in our lives when we were not troubled, but were blessed and joyous.

The center of the painting reveals a massive, transparent hand, holding a large golden ball. The hand supports the ball, as God supports the golden gift of our faithfulness, as we are carried through this, our life's journey. The hand appears to be the final portion of a long, continuous vine of intertwined, humanesque forms that wind from the hand in present-time into the past, through the tunnel of life's colors. The winding circles of forms represent our relationships with all the other souls in migration through life's time tunnel toward their destination and their return to the blue from where they came, for none of us journeys alone. We are all intricately connected to each other, some intimately, some only superficially. But all are inter-connected nonetheless, and all are divinely connected, as represented by the golden highlights that shimmer all along the vine of humanity.

The center of the golden sphere, supported by the steady and sure hand of God, reveals a wide-open mouth, suggesting the human desire, need and even gift to communicate or "voice" our feelings and thoughts freely and openly. The gift of this voice is represented by the out-pouring of luscious ivy and dancing violets, the floral symbols of faithfulness in flower folklore. The array of flora, bursting forth in such bounty and fullness suggests a warm and reassuring welcome for our voice and strong support from human as well as divine connection.

The painting is framed in what seems to be a most peculiar and provocative manner. If the symbolism of the painting represents an individual soul's journey through life, then the frame represents the boundaries or restrictions imposed by social expectation--the will by society that we should all "fit in".

But the painting, placed in its frame in this configuration, suggests that sometimes, particularly in the case of a creative, thoughtful or individualistic soul, not quite fitting in is still all right; or being a little askew is all right, because every living soul is a gift from God. We are each a blessing just as we are -- askew or straight, off-center or perfectly balanced. There is room in the world for each of us, and appreciation for all of our individual gifts in whatever shape we come. Each one is a gift and a blessing for what he or she brings to collective life, and all are profoundly protected and cherished in the hand of God.