The sacred work of burden bearing: Russ Ramsey’s Lyceum lecture on Van Gogh

By Chelsea McKanna

Students filled the seats, lined the back walls and sat on staircases in the Scharnberg Auditorium to hear pastor and writer Russ Ramsey’s Lyceum Lecture and following Q&A on his book titled, “Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart.” The lecture took place on Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. A hush fell over the room when Ramsey began to speak, eager to listen after some technical difficulties set back the start fifteen minutes. 

“I want us to see the hope of the Gospel in the way we look at art,” Ramsey said. 

An articulate speaker, he captured the audience’s attention and garnered both laughs and moments of silence with his storytelling. Ramsey then explained he was going to tell a story about Van Gogh.

After he had finished the story of Van Gogh cutting off his own ear in the main lecture, Ramsey appealed to the audience, “be gentle,” towards their friends with hurt, sorrow, and pain.

For Ramsey, Van Gogh fascinated him from the time he was 15 years old. When asked in the Q&A following the talk about researching for his book about Van Gogh, Ramsey said he had one main rule:

“No hagiography.” 

Ramsey wanted to portray Van Gogh the way he was, including all his pain, sorrow and fear. For Ramsey, it was vital to communicate honesty in his own “art” of writing, just as he believes all art should be honest.

In response to another question he built off this idea of honesty by asking the audience to consider how they portray themselves to the world. When painting a self-portrait for others to see, Ramsey urged his listeners to allow their woundedness to be known.

“To truly love someone is to move beyond first impression…to truly know someone is to know their sorrows,” Ramsey said. It is “to do the sacred work of burden bearing.” 

For Ramsey, it is important that godly and loving friendships do not remain on the surface, but that sharing suffering with others would be the mark of a believer. 

The night ended with a Q&A and a giveaway of 50 free signed copies of “Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart” where students lined the hallway outside of the Scharnberg auditorium to grab a copy and ask Ramsey further questions. 

It was clear Ramsey wanted to impress upon the audience that sorrow and affliction is not something to be ashamed of but instead something to share with those who truly love us. 

“In the end we are not our worst moments,” Ramsey said. “No one is in greater need of the grace of Jesus Christ than anyone else.”

Chelsea McKanna is a Sophomore Professional Writing and Information Design major with a minor in Missions. She spends her free time with friends or sipping coffee with a new book to read. 

Photos taken by Preston Canvin