Horace Pippin, “Night Call”
I have become persuaded that the truest and most effective way to think about discipleship is as a calling. God calls us to His Kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2.12); he calls us to a place or “condition” in life (1 Cor. 7); he appoints us a sphere of service and grants us the gifts and equipping we need (2 Cor. 10.13-18); and he calls us to follow Jesus and make Kingdom disciples as we are going (Matt. 28,18-20).
Thus, calling—a heavenly calling, as the writer of Hebrews refers to it (Heb. 3.1)—defines the nature of our lives and draws us forward into every next moment and every next step along the path of obedience God marks out for us day by day.
But this is not one of those walk/run races that allows us set our own pace and lollygag around the drink tables if thing get too tough. Our calling is a race to win honor and glory for our God, against all odds, without whining or complaining, whatever it takes, and with no thought of giving up.
Horace Pippin’s painting, “Night Call” captures that sense of what it means to be called to something that you must fulfill no matter the cost:
I’ll let the folks at the Daily Art App fill in the details: “Horace Pippin was the grandson of enslaved people and the son of a domestic worker and a laborer. Despite lacking formal artistic training, he completed his first oil painting in 1930 at the age of 43. Pippin sustained a serious injury to his right shoulder while serving in the all-Black 369th Infantry Regiment during World War I. This injury forced him to adapt his painting technique, holding the brush in his right hand and guiding it with his left. With this meticulous approach, Pippin created artworks that reflected his war experiences, the domestic lives of African Americans he remembered from his childhood, outdoor scenes, still lifes, religious themes, and portraits.
“In today’s painting, Pippin demonstrated remarkable skill using a limited palette and an instinctive sense of design. Thin washes of white pigment depict a heavy snowfall, through which a country doctor guides his horse and covered cart, presumably en route to treat a patient. Pippin initially painted the snow a grayish tone but later repainted it brighter white—traces of the original gray can still be seen around his signature in the lower-right corner. The jagged slash of a small creek anchors the foreground, while the delicate patterns of bare tree branches emphasize the frigid, nocturnal setting. A clear path stretches into the distance, marked by footprints that trace the doctor’s journey. The painting celebrates the resilience and dedication of the rural country doctor.”
As believers we need to be as sure of our calling—all the ways God has called us—as Horace Pippin and his country doctor. Perseverance, endurance, courage, and joy in serving: These are the watchwords of those who know that God is calling them along in life to a finish line of glory and joy, and who are running their race without hesitation or interruption, faithful in details small and great, to bring honor and glory to the Lord.
