Wayne Forte

At a time when honesty is a devalued concept and integrity in short supply, we desperately need men and women with courage and authority to call those who lead us to account for their actions. So, then, where are these modern prophets willing to speak truth to power? Why don't we hear any "voices crying in the wilderness" to make the path straight in our time for our God? Is the decibel level of our rowdy, rude, and raucous political debate too high for any divinely-appointed words to be heard these days? Filipino-American Artist Wayne Forte offers a visual meditation on the theme in this charcoal sketch of a modern day prophet. Messengers from God have never had an easy time of it when calling the rulers of this world to repent of their ways, whether they be secular or religious, backed by security forces or mob rule. In this caricature of the inevitable moment of confrontation between those who speak timeless truths and those too blinded by pride and prejudice to listen, our modern day prophet, bearded and robed like a doomsday street preacher, lies trampled underfoot, his bullet-riddled sign fallen in the dust. He has not spoken his final word. Like all true servants of God, he will stand up again, bandage his wounds, and make a new placard for the next public protest. The message he has to deliver about what God requires of us from Micah 6:8 is simply too important to be ignored, whatever the personal cost: ACT JUSTLY. LOVE MERCY. WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. (John Kohan)