Capturing the spirit of Christ in one image
is both impossible and potentially inspiring, a challenge that feels both
daunting and inviting. I can’t imagine an artist ever feeling “on
top” of the task, even for the greats that gifted us with the fruits
of their spiritual imaginations for the last 2000 years.
Ideas raced through my head, each vying for attention but one never quite
adequate. I finally settled on a mandala image or a circular Christic
collage for several reasons, the least of which was that I couldn’t
pick any one image over another. The most significant reason, though,
was that a mandala reflected symbolically how Watershed Community is,
and has been, approaching the study of Christ. Jesus, a mere fish in the
sand (skeletal at that), has caused a ripple effect that is still felt
today. A ripple that, in essence, hasn’t changed yet it takes on
the uniqueness and spirit of each age it flows through. Or better yet,
each generation is knocked about and transformed by this ancient wave
of love.
My inspiration came from the layers dating back to 4 BCE – 30 CE.
I didn’t presume to capture each ripple but those that worked their
way into my mandala were: the thorns of suffering, the bricks and stones
of dogma, the cutting edge of the Enlightenment that began to separate
the “whole” into parts, and barbed wire – the closest thing
to the crown of thorns in our modern experience. I felt glad to end with
the world. It is a hopeful container and symbol, as I imagine the power
of Christ lies in inclusion, incarnation, nature/creation, and more.
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