Ten years ago as Wendy and I prepared to move to Mercer Island from Chicago, we faced the challenge of finding a place to live. Our equity from a home in Illinois wouldn’t go far. Quite discouraged, we happened on a home for-sale-by-owner that showed promise.
As Emil Riccardi and his wife, Roberta, escorted us through their home, he told us how much they loved the residence they’d owned for thirty-five years. They went on to explain how they’d raised their five children in the Catholic faith in a home that radiated God’s peace.
At that moment I looked up and saw a framed picture of Jesus.
The face on the hallway wall that greeted my wife and me was no ordinary religious art. It was Sallman’s “Head of Christ” that had graced my boyhood bedroom. It was the famous brown tone profile that also hung in my grandparents’ house on Queen Anne Hill. At once I could sense the countenance of God smiling on our home hunting expedition.
The picture on the wall provided me an immediate connection with a man I’d barely met. It was mutual. Mr. Riccardi proceeded to acknowledge a doctor’s diagnosis about which he was quite apprehensive. I suggested we pray about it.
To my delight he was willing to let me. As the Jesus on the wall looked on, the four of us joined hands as I prayed for healing and grace for the journey ahead.
Needless to say, we bought the home. Looking back, it was the familiar face in the frame in the hallway that gave us the “God wink” we needed to proceed.
Remarkably, the tenth anniversary of our purchasing our home is the 75th anniversary of the Sallman’s “Head of Christ.” Since 1940 that representation of Jesus has been reprinted over one billion times. It is thought to be the most reproduced image in history.
Ironically, my married daughter and son-in-law are moving to suburban Seattle from Chicago next month to join the staff of a church. A couple weeks ago I visited them. God winked again! I learned that the bungalow where Warner Sallman once lived and where he’d painted his masterpiece was just five doors from my kids. I introduced myself explaining my interest in their historic residence. When they showed me around his upstairs studio, I sensed God’s smile again!
Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a regular contributor to the Mercer Island Reporter
