For those of a certain age, Norman Rockwell was the artist who captured our American way of life. Beginning in 1916, he painted over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post which have become classics in American art—everything from childhood adventures in the old swimming hole to moving tributes to war heroes, gentle laughter and deep sentiments. He imaged what we imagined life was, or could be, like in those days of my growing up.

Along the way he also challenged some of the narrow attitudes and prejudices of the era and called us to a broader vision:

• His well-known "Freedom of Worship" is one of the "Four Freedoms" which he painted during the Second World War. All four hang in our hallway. It shows not just Christians, but the broad variety of religious traditions, all part of the A…