Hommage to a Life of Love and Devotion
In Memory of Mr. Luis Alberto Rodriguez Jordan
He was a man of only few words.
But the few words he spoke were immensely powerful.
Lucho was almost always quiet. He didn’t talk much.
But it was more than enough
Like a divine embrace.
He always had that peaceful smile on his face
as only those who are constantly in contact with God’s thoughts would act
His ears and nose were big and so was his fate.
But his head and hands were great like his heart.
“He was one of the first one to bring it to the Chilean Market.”
His son would say proudly.
But his legacy was not so much of being a pioneer in his own world,
but what made him really fulfill his heart was actually being a servant of God.
At that time he already enjoyed working with his hands,
painting, sculpting or simply sensing objects in an atelier he hired
so that he would handle the wood inspired
by the entire splendor of the Creator’s manifestation.
He already had six children
when he decided to have a full time career as a sculptor.
He was poor
but his wife poured
encouraging thoughts on him
and she helped him find clients to his art.
He then started to sell in small parts
with scketches and wood varvings which he would later paint
growing to larger than life sculptures of Saints
for the Catholic Church in Santiago as a start.
Many Churches in Chile now,
from North to South,
have his sculptures in vow
to beautify their sanctuaries with their grace and majesty
Even the Pope has one of his woodcarvings next
to him as a Christ on the cross lies at the Vatican office desk.
Lucho, as he was known by his peers,
worked with his hands as fast as he could endure
so that he continued to work gladly,
while he raised the family which was getting bigger and bigger.
His wife bore eleven children,
but like a miracle, eight survived
and are very much alive
form a life of faith and light.
He always believed God would provide.
And he was right!
He was going to turn eighty
when he contracted a rare illness called “Wagner’s Disease”
and he became weaker and weaker
as he could no longer feel at ease.
But not even that stopped him of being away from his Art.
For him this was not a farewell.
He kept drawing and he continued to sculpt as well.
His last work was made with his trembling hands
for the baby of his family
who is actually my husband.
He made a serene-look Christ without a cross with only four toes in one of his feet.
And we cried in our loss for him it was the last time we would greet.
He died exactly at midnight on Sunday, the day God rested after so much labour.
And a week before the Father’s Day. He didn't miss the call from the Saviour.
And as a devoted son he couldn’t delay.
Not even for one day.
His last words were for his wife,“Don’t miss me too much!” he would say.
As usual, he always thought of someone else rather than himself, I guess.
What a bless!
(Excerpt from book "Ph(r)ases of Life" by Ana Bowlova):
With all my heart, to this artist who I admire and a man whose life made great Art.
Many came but only two blue did appear.
Enlaced in a sleigh, all happy the reindeer,
Rolled in the snow that covered the house,
Reindeer darling of she who's Ana Claus,
Yell to the whole world to hear:
Christ, the Lord, oh so near!
Holy Saints rejoice and sing,
Real life comes for us to bring
In tender thoughts and dear salvation
So is the Lord and all His Creation.
Tender and sweet as the little things
Mild and soft He who is the King.
All in one voice echoing with no parallel:
Save us the Lord, it's Noel, Noel, Noel!
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Copyright © 2009 Ana Bowlova Ink. All rights reserved.