By David Magallanes / Guest columnist
I was at home one day this past week, immersed in tasks (I tend to dive—headfirst—right into them) that I was knocking off my to-do list when my cousin Phil called. Phil and I grew up together. He lives far away now, so we don’t see each other too often. But we’ve kept in touch for more than six decades.
I’ve learned so much from Phil throughout my life. He got me — I’ll admit it —“excited” about algebra at a very young age. As teenagers, he and I would explore the night skies together with binoculars and telescopes, simply because we found it fascinating. No, we weren’t exactly “normal” teenagers, but it kept us out of trouble. Usually.
Back in the ’90s, he pushed me, kicking but not quite screaming, into cyberspace as he taught me how to send an e-mail. Just last week he pushed me — again — into yet another universe: the blogosphere. I wrote my first blog at his insistence that I must do so, because he knew how much I loved to write.
Relatives are sometimes famous for asking “dumb” or embarrassing questions. But Phil often asks me intriguing questions that make me, well, think. He actually makes me think before I can even begin to offer an intelligible answer.
On this call, he asked me, out of the clear blue sky, “Why did our grandfather paint?”
Some background is in order here. First of all, our grandfather, Candelario Rivas, was not a house or construction painter, though I do admire the talents of those who do such things. In fact, I’m in awe of people with trade skills. But I digress.
Our grandfather, to make a long story very short, was a professional religious artist throughout his life, most of which he spent in Mexico before being forced into exile in the U.S. for many complex political, religious and historical reasons. His art and life story can be seen here. He was of service to the Catholic Church in Mexico and the U.S., as well as to prestigious art firms in Los Angeles and to individuals in both countries, including Hollywood stars.
I never knew my grandfather. I’m told that he held me in his arms when I was a newborn. But he died suddenly just months after my birth. I wish I’d known him. And yet, despite the infinite physical chasm that separates us now, I can still feel his caring nature, his encouragement and inspiration.
Going back now to Phil’s question, “Why did our grandfather paint?” we agreed that he painted because he didn’t have much choice. He knew from the depths of his soul even as a child that he had to paint. He instinctively knew that this was his purpose in life: to inspire others with images of the sacred and the sublime; to give glory to his God for the talents with which he was so generously blessed; to grace the Mexican churches, temples, cathedrals and basilicas, as well as numerous California houses of Catholic worship, including Mission Santa Clara in San José, with the images that flowed magically through his arm, into his deft hand, and onto the canvas. Most of his major works of art can be seen to this day throughout Mexico and California.
This, then, is what my abuelito Candelario would say (in Spanish, translated to English) to inspire us all: “Find and know your talents, cherish them, give thanks for them, earn your living with them, and then use them to give, and give, and give to the world. Make the world a better place, so that when you are gone, your spirit and your gifts continue to contribute, just as mine do.”
Te quiero y te admiro mucho, abuelo. Me inspiras y me ayudas a través de mi vida.
I love and admire you, grandfather. You inspire me and you help me throughout all the days of my life.
— David Magallanes is the creator of his own enterprise, Real World Projects, a business primarily dedicated to building marketing business networks for the creation of affluence. In this pursuit, Real World Projects constructs distribution outlets for highly reputable products that offer a healthier life and a more vibrant lifestyle, as well as free training and guidance for those who wish to create their own similar enterprise. David may be available for speaking opportunities. To contact him and for more information, you are invited to visit and explore the Real World Projects web site at www.realworldprojects.info
Editor’s note: Please click on links on the right-hand side of the website to see previous guest columns by David Magallanes.