The “Butterfly Effect” is a phrase coined by meteorologist Edward Lorenz. It is, as he defined it, “The phenomenon that a small alteration in the state of a dynamical system will cause subsequent states to differ greatly from the state that would have followed without the alteration.” Lorenz realized that the inherent problems involved in predicting the weather belong to chaos theory. He famously stated that a butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world could inaugurate a tsunami in a distant part of the world. Lorenz did not lack talent for marketing his theory, nor did he for hyperbole.
Life is a dynamical system, and a small change can precipitate, over time, a large result. An act of kindness, for example, can lead to an amazing flood of positive consequences. This idea has been the gist of more than one motion picture. In one of them, a young boy expresses kindness to another, which starts a chain reaction of innumerable additional acts of kindness. A single act of kindness can change the world. In the Merchant of Venice, Portia says, “How far that little candle throws his beams. So shines a good deed in a naughty world” (Act 5, scene 1).
In reflecting on my own life, many instances of the butterfly effect come to mind, one of which warrants retelling. My wife and I spent a pleasant evening with another married couple. As the wife was leaving, I happened to mention that I would be taking my aesthetic students to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. She suggested that on my way to Buffalo, I should visit the Ukrainian Art Gallery near Niagara Falls. She had no idea, of course, when she said this that she was flapping her butterfly wings. I acceded to her suggestion.
We never got to Buffalo. What happened at the Ukrainian Gallery changed my life.
The showpiece at our unscheduled stop was a display of 160 paintings by William Kurelek illustrating many passages from the Passion of Christ according to St. Matthew. Kurelek was a man of deep faith, and that faith was evident in his paintings.
The curators, Mykola and Ola Kolankiwsky were most gracious to us. Mykola was preparing a tri-lingual edition of the paintings (Ukrainian, French, and English) and invited me to write an Introduction. I was pleased to comply, and my host was pleased to accept it. I had mentioned to him that a book of mine, Abortion in Perspective, was soon to be published. Mykola then made what I thought was an outrageous suggestion: that Kurelek would be happy to illustrate it. “He would do that,” Mykola said, assured of Kurelek’s generosity. Soon thereafter, and in time for the release of my book, seven illustrations arrived. Thus launched the beginning of a friendship.
The atmosphere of the art gallery was very spiritual. One of my students, sensing this spirituality, began weeping. It was a moment of grace that led her into the Catholic Church.
I wrote several articles about the Gallery and William Kurerek. One that appeared in the Chelsea Journal introduced Canada’s most endearing painter to priests of the Order of St. Basil. They were impressed by his artistry. An important anniversary of their order was coming up, and they wanted a mural done for their school at the University of Saskatchewan, St. Thomas More College. Kurelek was chosen. He accepted the assignment but redirected the commission of $30,000 to feed the poor. He produced a beautiful work on the theme of the Sermon on the Mount while fasting and dealing with occasional chest pains.
Once, when I was at his home, he showed me a number of cows he had painted. He informed me that the money he receives for each painted cow is sent to Brazil to provide a real cow for its poor. He was a strong pro-life advocate and often sent money he earned from the sale of his paintings to Birthright or other pro-life organizations.
Many good things eventuated from my colleague’s initial suggestion that I take my students to the Ukrainian Gallery. It was because of Kurelek that I was invited to speak in Windsor, Ontario, at Assumption College. We invited Ola and Mykola to our home for supper, and they brought with them something more lasting and cherishable than a bottle of wine. They gave us a Kurelek print.
William Kurelek, faithful husband and father of four, passed away too soon, in 1977 at age 50. He was made a member of the Order of Canada and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. His murals grace the walls of Parliament, and Canada Post has honored him with a series of postage stamps. Patricia Morley interviewed me when she was working on Kurelek’s biography. She acknowledged that, “Kurelek is one of the great painters which this country [Canada] has nurtured.”
We believe, in the practical order of things, that what is large and logical directs our life: graduating from college, securing a job, getting married. We should not ignore the flapping wings of the butterfly. They can prepare the way for extraordinary things and life changing events. I am grateful that I could be a factor, through my articles and by word of mouth, in bringing more people to the Ukrainian Gallery so that they could learn from an a man whose artistry, devotion to Christ, and personal humility would have a salutary effect on them.
Photo by Ian Parker on Unsplash
