I don't remember where or
when I found the bone/skeleton which inspired this assemblage
nor do I know what creature once animated it. But its
extraordinary ressemblance to a crucifixion immediately
struck me. I inserted a thin strip of wood behind the
'crucified figure' but otherwise altered nothing.
A small palette knife painting I did a long time ago provided
a Middle Eastern kind of landscape and two small stones
plus a suitably deep frame completed the scene.
Even though I was brought
up Catholic I have never felt I fully belonged in
that tradition - there are too many things I question
and disagree with, and that goes for all religions. As
I try and usually fail to explain whenever the subject
of faith comes up, I do believe in God but I don't believe
that God is a member of any human religion.
The concepts
we are taught, whatever culture we come from, are
merely the opinions, the points of view of human
beings, shaped and solidified by repetition over thousands
of years. But faith itself is something else. It has
an independent existence which is not necessarily the
result of any kind of indoctrination. Some people are
believers because they've never questioned their tradition,
some because they've been converted to or have freely
chosen a particular tradition. But some simply 'have faith'
- it is part of them, like their name or the colour of
their eyes. It's not a crutch, not a consolation for
all the suffering life doles out, and not an explanation.
Inexplicably and illogically, it just is. That's my position.
That a crucifixion should
be the main symbol of a creed which, before becoming
institutionalised as a religion, was based on love -
love of God and of our fellow humans - seems to me very
strange. Couldn't they have made a logo for love instead
of suffering? Suffering is always unjust, unfair, tragic
- whoever it afflicts and for whatever reason
it happens. Jesus on the cross did not deserve to suffer.
No one deserves to suffer.
On this Good Friday I send
love to all who suffer, whoever and wherever
they may be, and may the God they believe in, or do not
believe in, bring them a resurrection.
7 comments:
Good words Natalie. Dave Allen, that Irish comedian, used to end his shows by saying "May your G/god go with you" which I always thought, still think, is a good wish.
Me, I believe in no god, but unshakeably believe in goodness - I have a sort of pantheism.
Namaste.
Thank you for that sentiment, Natalie -- it's very much what the Dean expressed today in his meditation, which was also about the weirdness of the cross as a symbol of love when it was an instrument of torture and death. It's a good day to stop and think about those who are suffering, those who have suffered, and to pray for courage and fortitude to do better.
Adam, I well remember Dave Allen's parting wish. I always liked him a lot - one of the great Irish wits.
Have a happy Sunday tomorrow, filled with goodness.
Beth thanks, and I wish you a happy Easter too, filled with love and joy.
Yes, exactly. And I love your work.
Thank you Hattie, and I hope your Springtime is a beautiful one.
Great post for Easter time Natalie, thank you; despite the organised churches best efforts to dissuade me from having anything to do with them I still have my faith and I love that construction with the crucifixion bone, very meditative and great hot deserty colour
Phil, I'm glad this post resonates with you. Sometimes an image can say much more about the mysterious subject of faith than any explanation, analysis or preaching.
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