Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the artist, Thomas Kinkade, known worldwide as, "The Painter of Light." Thom is the most widely collected living artist in the world, or as I like to observe, he’s the Martha Stewart of art.

But he’s much more than that. He’s a Brother in the Lord. A man who walks his talk, freely professing his Christian faith to believers and non-believers alike.

Our meeting came about quite unexpectantly. My church produces a monthly newsletter in the area called, The Kaweah Covenant, and I happen to be a member of the International Press Association. When it was known that Kinkade was going to be in our area on tour, my pastor thought it’d make a fun story for our readers (that is, if one could get an audience with the artist). He figured even with a good sized mob (over 700 people), I’d find a way to get in and meet him (he knows me all too well).

Before the arrival, I made arrangements with the gallery owner who was sponsoring the event to meet and interview Thom after the show. Her name was Vetta and she had a son that did competitive road cycling. It had to be fate. I directed her to my website (it’s much easier than explaining who I am and what I’ve done). From there, we clicked.

When the day arrived, I went to the event with my pastor’s wife and family who are big fans of Kinkade’s work. Mrs. Pastor brought along her Kinkade print to be autographed, but was told by security at the door that Thom wouldn’t be signing any personal copies. I stuck the print into my briefcase.

We took our seats near the front row and waited a couple of hours for the artist’s arrival. I made observations, took notes, and viewed print-to-canvas copies of Thom’s work (he doesn’t sell his originals anymore) that were for sale.

When the moment arrived, Thom was greeted with thunderous applause. Soon, he introduced his wife, Nanette, whom he met in their hometown of Placerville, California when he was 13 and she 12. They’ve been married now nearly 20 years.

"Marriage is a blessing from God," he shouted joyously to the crowd. "We’re still each other’s best friend and sweethearts." Nanette herself, had a chance to tell me afterwards that she and Thom have been together for so long, they’re much like brother and sister.

And Nanette, being a woman of prayer, does not look at all like she’s had four daughters. She’s been by Thom’s side, believing in his talent from the very beginning. To acknowledge her faith in him, Thom continues to paint her name in every scene he creates. They really have become, as the Lord has deemed, one flesh.

"Inspiration to me is a verb, not a noun," he professed. "Art is the ultimate faith profession and Biblical verses inspire me." He confided that the prayer he continues to ask God is, "Lord, open the doors you want for me; close the doors that are not meant for me, and make the difference between those doors real obvious to me."

The doors Thom has determined to step through that are more important than his work are, "My faith in God, my family, and my home."

And the effort shows. Thom comes from a broken home, yet has been blest to marry his childhood sweetheart. His father never had much interaction with his son, yet Thom makes it a point to be part of his daughter’s lives; even taking them with him and his wife when he travels and works.

"Children are God’s richest blessing," he proclaimed. "Parents need to make time for their children; to fit them into their lives." He and Nanette home school their daughters.

When the show was over, Thom and his troop headed backstage, behind closed doors. It was then that I had the chance to spend some time with him, although at a frenzied pace.

Once inside the room, it was as though I were back in my own element, only ten times faster, as I watched Thom race across table upon table of canvas prints stacked several feet high, waiting to be signed by the artist. Security and personal were constantly surrounding him. When he moved, so did they. When he stopped, they did, too. It was synchronized madness!

As he began making the rounds of prints to sign and heading toward me, I knew I’d only be able to have a few moments with him for a quick Q&A session. I still had the print my pastor’s wife had brought along, tucked away in my briefcase. I had taken it out along with a few 8x10 Great Wall photos (I always carry some with me, because it’s happened too many times when someone will recognize me and want my autograph) and notepaper; preparing to ready myself, when suddenly Kinkade and entourage were upon me.

I felt as though I were caught with my pants down as Thom was breezing past me to the next load of prints to sign. His eye caught my Great Wall 8x10s and he abruptly stopped (causing his human wall to bang and crash into one another). "Cool!" he shouted, picking up one of the photos. "Is that you?" I acknowledged that it was. "Wow! What a photo!"

"It’s yours," I answered. "Here, let me sign it for you." He then wanted to know some of the details of my story as I joined him within the circle and we pressed on to the next stack of prints. I only had a couple of quick questions to ask to fill in the gaps to my article on him, but during the interval, our conversation headed off in another direction, as we began to encourage one another in our faith and walk with the Lord.

Before I knew it, Thom and I were in the lingo. "Brother, you have an amazing story to tell," said my new friend. "It’d make an inspiring film."

"Amen, Brother, amen," I acknowledged. "I hope to see that happen someday myself."

I recall Thom saying his hero and mentor was the late Norman Rockwell. "I remember old Norman when I was growing up as a boy back East. He lived about 90 minutes away from me over the border in Massachusetts. You could always see him and his wife strolling along Main Street, or in the town café having a bite to eat. Very New England."

Thom beamed. "Yeah, Norman’s an inspiration."

"Much like you are, Brother Thom. My favorite Rockwell is, The Four Freedoms." Thom agreed with "amens."

As we were moving along at a good pace, Thom asked, "It’s so great meeting you! Is there anything else I can do for you, Brother Kevin?" He momentarily stopped signing, which meant a loss of at least an extra $1000 a print, and that wasn’t too appealing to his management team. In the real world, Thomas Kinkade is a money machine, and time is worth gold. Did I dare ask?...

"Well, Brother Thom, if it isn’t too much to ask, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind signing this print for my pastor and his wife." I quickly produced the 11x14 work, much to the looks of his people.

"Yes! Absolutely! I love pastors. They’re doing God’s work." He grabbed the pen from my hand, asked me what their names were and signed away.

Upon retrieval, I gave him my card. "Let’s keep in touch," I said. "You’re a real inspiration, and I feel a kinship with you."

His public relations man tried to take the card from Thom, who quickly retrieved it, saying, "No, no, I’ll keep this," and placed it in his shirt pocket. "Kevin, it’s been wonderful meeting you under the circumstances. Perhaps it’ll be better next time. I hope your life story gets filmed someday. Keep the faith, and keep moving forward."

"I always do, Thom." We hugged, and he was off with his people, signing more gallery canvas prints before catching the next plane home.

One person did stay behind to talk with me. His wife, Nanette. A lovely woman. A great beauty in her spirit that shines through. We had a pleasant conversation about her and her family and my upcoming projects. Soon, I was walking away from the frenzied world of Thomas Kinkade, through the doors of my own world. It was an exceptional evening.

Returning home, I came to realize that Thom and I were in the minority group of Christian celebrities to whom much has been given, and therefore much is required. He has done well with the talents that have been bestowed upon him. I continue to strive ever upward. We carry an awesome responsibility to inspire and encourage others to seek out their own dreams and to ask God what plan He has in store for all of us. To be a shining example, not a tainted one.

Thom has proven worthy of his title. He really is, "The Painter of (His) Light."