A Living Hope (with the unburnt bramble)

An artwork based on 1 Peter 1:3-12

A commission from the Community of WELS Creatives and Hearts & Hands.

In verse 5 Peter speaks of the completeness of our salvation with credit to faith alone. God’s power calls us to faith and guards us in this faith until we reach the end of time. I am portraying heaven in the top panel with an attached metal piece symbolic of a trophy but I also wanted to show a simplified image with hints to peace and quiet with the large amount of white space surrounding what appears to be a gift wrapped square.

Verse 6 speaks of our trials and busyness here on earth: “…even now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of trials”. The middle panel seeks to show this hectic world of ours with its multitudes of emotions, complexities and overlapping drama.

The bottom panel shows the unburnt bramble (burning bush). God was in the midst of this object and spoke to Moses through this representation of fire. In verses 10-12 Peter talks of the Old Testament prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to us. God foretold his gracious plans through these prophets, the promise of a Savior, and the sending of his Son to be our Redeemer.

I like to think of myself as an unburnt bramble, a work in progress, sometimes thorny and unkempt. Life in general feels busy and crazy at times – like a continuous carnival ride, drawn-out and never ending. But I know this living hope is not just a supposed wish but also rather a confident promise for me. This letter of hope – hope in the full Christian sense of a serene and confident dependence on God - is a Living Hope for all Christians as a comfort, knowing that we can face any trial or challenge, knowing that we are safe in his care, and ultimately we will receive the goal of our faith.

Top panel: screen print on mounted fabric with attached metal piece

Middle panel: screen print on paper

Bottom panel: relief print on handmade paper with hand coloring

36”H x 14”W x 1”D