Guardien stands watch in a quiet corner of Dubai’s International Financial Center. This was an early work of a Spanish artist. Raw steel, rusting, imposing, and silently dominating was my reaction as I waited. Looking at it from all directions, I realised I could share the warrior’s vision. Four distinct lines of sight emerged, a vision of the world beyond the self.
I would have lobbied for a different position if I were curating the art piece. This is not something one hides or puts in an obscure corner where few realise who is committed to our protection. As it was, my vision etched itself alongside whispers I still hear as today begins.
I hear a call to respond. Life is not passive. It is more than something to be consumed. Life is an irrevocable invitation to be involved, acting, and engaged. In each moment, there is a battle. In this setting, we are guardians of compassion, soldiers of kindness, and warriors that care. Life gives us experiences and visions that inform and equip our hearts and minds. The warning still rings true; “If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice [of love]” (Hebrews 10.26)
I see life through the eyes of my calling. My perspective changed as I looked through the artist’s vision. I realised I was looking through the eyes of being protected and my calling to protect those around me. We are each other’s brothers, sisters, and protectors. I have yet to find anyone strong enough to go through life alone. I need you, and you me. We are in this as a family, a community that cares to make a difference for each other and our futures.
Being present and engaged takes a physical, mental, and emotional toll. Dark, rough, and reddish oxidation dominates the externals. I imagined bloody scars that permanently altered the warrior’s appearance. Life is not always pretty. It includes painful scars. Welcome to the battle for hope and our future.
