May Cause Drowsiness: The Prodigal Son Can Be Found On the Ben Long Fresco Trail

Recently, while in Western North Carolina, Saundria and I took the opportunity to drive the “Fresco Trail,” or at least a portion of it. The fresco trail follows the work of artist, Benjamin F. Long IV, a native of North Carolina who, after training in the arts at the University of North Carolina and New York, joined the Marine Corps and served two tours in Vietnam. After Vietnam, Long went to Italy to learn the art of making frescoes. He spent over 8 years in Florence under Pietro Annigoni. He then spent 14 years in France, undertaking many notable projects. He now divides his time between Europe and the United States and has painted many wonderful frescos in western North Carolina. We plotted our course to view seven of his religious frescoes. The map shown here shows the location of the seven frescoes and the “trail” we followed. It makes a nice day-trip.

Our Route

A fresco is a mural painting on a wall. They are special because the paint is embedded in the wall itself and the colors are very enduring. Frescoes involve plastering and painting while the lime-plaster is still wet. But before any paint is placed on the wall, a scratch coat of lime and sand is applied to the wall. After drying, another coat or two are typically needed, before the artist makes a drawing, resulting in a “cartoon”. The cartoon is a full scale version of what the finished fresco will look like. The artist transfers the design to the wall by making a grid where the image is traced on the wall. The process is referred to as “pouncing.” A large needle is used to punch or trace the outline on the wall. A dotted outline is created on the scratch coat. In the final coat of plaster (lime and sand) the surface cannot be too wet or too dry. The artist applies paint directly on the wet plaster in a technique used over a thousand years. This is where the word ‘fresco” comes from. It is from the Italian “affresco,” meaning fresh. The fresco is painted in small portions, before the plaster dries. As the plaster dries, it produces a chemical reaction that binds the paint to the surface and seemingly glows from deep within it.

Between 1974 and 2006, Ben Long painted frescoes that are scattered all around Western North Carolina. You will not find them in a single location. They are in Montreat, Wilkesboro, Glendale Springs, West Jefferson, Crossnor, Morganton, Statesville and Charlotte. These frescoes were on the “trail” I will layout. This trail consists of 7 religious frescoes in a loop that includes 3 churches, one religious college and a religious school orphanage that can be driven in one day (if the day goes well for you). The seven religious frescoes include: ‘Mary Great with Child’ (1974), ‘John the Baptist’ (1976), ‘The Mystery of Faith’ (1977), ‘The Last Supper’ (1980), ‘The Return of the Prodigal’ (1998), ‘St. Paul’s Conversion’ (2002) and ‘St. Paul’s Writing His Epistles.’

Other Ben Long frescoes, not on the loop (see map) we took are located in Morgantown, Statesville and Charlotte. With the exception of the one in Charlotte, these frescoes are secular. The fresco of ‘The Good Samaritan’ in Charlotte is located at the First Presbyterian Church.

The Prodigal

Because the fresco, “The Prodigal Son” is one of my favorites, I am going to elaborate on it and how each of the frescoes can speak into one’s heart. First, what do you see in the fresco? Jot down a few of the details. Now read Luke 15.11-32, taking some notes on what scripture (in this case Jesus) says happened.

Here is what I saw in the fresco:

· The depleted, unworthy brother who had neither sandals nor robe

· The older, incensed brother standing away from the reunion

· The compassionate, loving father embracing his younger son

· A robe being brought to the son

· A slaughtered, fatted calf for the impending banquet

· A celebrating servant

Here is what I found in scripture:

· The returning son with a plan to make amends, living as a “hired man” with his father

· In the parable, scripture never says, the younger sin “repented”

· A brother who had been considered “dead” (as if “You’re dead to me”)

· A picture of sin, the younger brother, possibly living in the Decapolis and an older brother who appeared to be obedient, but whose heart was really like his younger brother

· A father running (or sprinting) to his son, even before his son could offer his plan

· A father giving his son a choice robe, sandals and signet ring

· An ungrateful, older brother who had been obedient, living with his father

· An older brother resentful of his wasteful, younger brother refused to attend the banquet

Did you know the Prodigal of the Lost Son is known as the “Running Father” among middle-eastern Christians? And why do you suppose this parable follows two similar parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin? What is scripture telling us?

How were fathers viewed in the Jewish culture of the time? What hints does scripture (Exodus) provide? Were they not to be honored and respected? Even in America in the 1700-1800’s, how did gentlemen respond to embarrassment and disrespect? Andrew Jackson fought in many duels in addition to the one he had with Dickerson. Duels were quite common: Burr and Hamilton, Stephen Decatur and James Barron, William Glassell and Robert Ritchie, William Thornton and Francis Conway. Even among gangs today, it is important “not to be disrespected.” It has always been important to some extent not to reflect badly on one’s family (group, community or nation). In Jewish culture it was extremely important.

In many middle-eastern families today, aren’t children considered “dead to a family” if they “shame” their family? The practice is found in “Fiddler on the Roof.” A related term used in historical Israel was “Kezazah.”

Do you see that both sons were lost? One was spiritually “lost” and was going home to his father’s house because it was better there, even if you were just a servant, than it was in some foreign county (suggesting the non-Jewish area known as the Decapolis just east of the Sea of Galilee). The other son was also “lost,” only he had remained home with his father.

Do you find any similarities of this parable with the story of Jacob and Esau? In returning home, was Jacob not afraid of what his brother would do to him and his family? Is the parable based on Jacob?

And yet, what did the father do? He ran to his son and immediately embraced him. He didn’t ask him what his plans were. He didn’t set him down and give him a lecture. His kissed him and asked his servants to prepare a feast.

What was the brother’s reaction to the son who had gone off (possibly to the Decapolis region)? He was upset! His brother had just wasted away his portion of the inheritance. He had embarrassed the family. He should have been “written off” according to Jewish tradition. He had dishonored the entire family, but now he was back and the father is throwing a feast and giving him his ring.

Allow the scripture to speak to you. Carefully read it, considering what the gospel writer is including and not including. Yes, God loves us and at the same time don’t you think He might have been angry and disappointed in us, His creation. If you were a “just” being, wouldn’t you love all your children, not just one? How do you deal with disobedience and rebellion in the family?

Here are a few of the frescos we found on the Ben Long Fresco trail. Read the associated scripture (cited below) and ask yourself what is really going on. What is the point of this story? What does it tell me about God and his character? How is God being honored in this passage?

Suffer the Little Children