{"product_id":"original-painting-the-chapel","title":"Original Painting: \"The Chapel\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"The Chapel\", 16\"x20\". Acrylics and glow-in-the-dark paint on gallery depth canvas. 2026.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoem\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"High in a tree with branches wide,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere emerald leaves and sparrows hide,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere stood a chapel, warm and fair,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLifted gently into the air.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts leaves had danced in summer rain,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHad listened to both joy and pain,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd now its mighty arms were wide,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs if it wished to bless the bride.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe chapel glowed with amber light,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA lantern in the coming night.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWarm stained glass filled each window frame,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd every panel sang God's name.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA dozen loved ones gathered there,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClose family and friends who cared.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo crowded hall, no grand display,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJust treasured hearts upon that day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome carried laughter in their eyes,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome carried years and sacrifice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome remembered younger days,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow softened by the passing haze.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOutside, the leaves began to sway,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs if creation wished to pray.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe forest hushed its busy song\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo hear the vows before too long.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen hand in hand the couple stood,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeneath the beams of aged wood.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir hearts were full, their eyes were bright,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReflected in the chapel light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir vows were not of fleeting things,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot built on what tomorrow brings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey spoke of faith and steadfast grace,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd walking close in God's embrace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey pledged to trust when skies were gray,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd when the sunshine lit the way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo lift each other when life bends,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo be companions, lovers, friends.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd as they spoke, it seemed to me\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe great old chapel tree agreed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts branches stirred from limb to limb,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike leaves were singing quiet hymns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor those who walk where God will lead,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd trust in Him through word and deed,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe road may twist, the hills may rise,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYet blessings bloom in sweet surprise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd suddenly the room seemed filled,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith every hope the years had built.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe guests stepped out onto the deck,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere countless lights hung overhead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach strand of light crossed through the leaves,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike constellations caught in trees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe canopy became a dome,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat somehow felt like heaven's home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe bride and groom stepped to the floor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd shared the dance they'd waited for.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen I found my daughter there.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe lights were dancing through her hair.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI reached my hand and she took mine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether we stepped into time.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI hope this painting inspires joy in the viewer, and encourages remembering to weddings past, the blessings of family since, and the imagining of weddings in the future. Even though my children are only 10 and 8, I pray for their future spouses, that God would keep them in His perfect will. Brides and grooms-to-be, spend so much energy on their wedding day, and then once its over, for the rest of their lives, it drifts as a memory. This painting seeks to stir up the emotion of remembering. For the hope of a tear of time gone, and a swell of gratitude for what is.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stephen Lursen Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50887267614887,"sku":null,"price":640.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1288\/4631\/files\/TheChapelbyStephenLursen16x20copy.jpg?v=1781622867","url":"https:\/\/stephenlursen.com\/products\/original-painting-the-chapel","provider":"Stephen Lursen Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}