Threads of Redemption: 

meditations on lent

My meditations for Lent this year started on Ash Wednesday and continued throughout the season with daily scripture reading and thoughtful research.  These images were responses to those meditations. I used thread and stitching in each image to unify the work as a meditative action bringing me back to the mending and healing of Christ’s death and resurrection. 

He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—

holy and awesome is his name.  Psalm 111.9

(For complete reflections on these pieces, go to www.phyllisthomasart.com

 under Artist Reflections)

how much more
30" x 30"
acrylic on canvas with stitching

Excerpt:  . . . as I pondered the questions about my own practices on my Lenten journey, I came to this conclusion: the Cross of Christ overshadows every outward sign of repentance meant to soothe my conscience. It is what is left when everything else is burned away. If I am hanging on to anything in my life as a traditional ritual practice hoping to come closer to God, it will fall short. A change of heart from the inside out and an awareness of what is essential summons me to cling to the One who dwells within. 

a pound of nard
30" x 30"
acrylic on paper mounted on canvas
with stitching

Excerpt:. . .though a fragrance is not seen visibly, I let myself imagine how it might look with the aroma filling the dark room.  I was curious about this intense ointment and found in my research it is only obtained from the Spikenard plant.  The plants, consisting of stalks and ribs of leaves were dried and bundled together and sold in the markets.  When the rhizome was crushed and distilled, the thick, amber-colored essential oil had a sweet, woody, spicy and musky aroma, sometimes overpowering to the senses.  It was and still is known as healing oil in some countries, reserved for deep-seated grief or pain and used in palliative care to help ease the transition from life to death,  though effects no cure.

    

why are you so far?
30" x 30"
acrylic on canvas with stitching

Excerpt:. . .the sky dramatically darkened in the middle of the day as divine wrath fell on Christ.  He voluntarily sacrificed Himself for me.  To say this was easy is a lie.  This abandonment by the Father of His Son was excruciating, indicated by His crying out:  My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?!  He had never been abandoned by His Father before. His human soul departed and his body was left a limp and breathless mass of clay. . . 

Do you ever ask the question, “why”?    Sometimes I feel abandoned, unhelped, unheard and ask why am I sick?  Why is this delayed?  Why did you allow this tragedy?    Though I know God is sovereign and everything is under His control, I still sometimes wonder why He withholds an answer. 

this hour has come
30" x 30"
acrylic on canvas with stitching and beads

Excerpt:. . . at first glance this piece may seem simplistic with familiar symbols and you may want to yawn. But I challenge you that it is quite a complex image. . . A significant part of this work is the bright light.  The sun in my physical universe is the source of biological life and it illuminates everything.  In my spiritual life it is comparable to God, the source of all truth and life. Dr. Timothy Keller says in The King’s Cross, if we are orbiting around anything else except the light of God, we are heading toward darkness and disintegration.