This revelation was God's gift to me and to my parish in a time of brokenness. It gives opportunity for reconcilement of opposing views.

NEW LIFE

by Stephanie S. Sawyer

On the day of a recent service of penitence and reconciliation

within my home church, Church of the Redeemer, Houston,

TX, I arranged to arrive early in order to pray. Contrary to my

usual habit of closed eyes, I began to look at the altar and the

cross overlay hanging upon it. I had worked dearly upon it as

designer and embroiderer for over a year and I knew it well. It

was then that a new clarity came to me and I began to grow

very excited.

In the cross design, I saw the two outer small crosses. Each is made of countless multi-faceted woven threads, the same as you and I are. We each bear a multitude of facets in design and character. I noticed that one cross stood on the right side, one on the left.

I next considered the diversity and multi-facets within the parish body. Individuals with various threads of talents are bearing separate convictions of the Lord’s purpose to them. Going a step further, I could dare to call this right wing and left wing. Both sides are amazingly centered on the cross of Christ in the middle. Equally, they desire worship and union in Christ.

Next, I saw that as the two crosses reached out to each other, they co-joined at the point of the main large cross. This is representative of the risen Christ. Diversity among us can either break us or, hopefully, bond us and cause us to honor the light we see of Christ in each other. By reaching out with honor for one another even in disagreement, we bond and form a strong union in love.

I have always seen, as implanter of design and embroiderer, the illusion of the placement of the crossbar. Is it atop at the union of the two sides reaching out to join, or is it in perfect symmetry of artistic design? May the viewer consider.

As the revelation evolved before my eyes, I saw the two sides embracing each other and the cross of the Lord taking prominence. Suddenly, I saw the fullness of one complete design unfractured. This fullness became beautiful just as when I had seen the original vision for it.

Finally, let us consider the name of the overlay design, “New Life”. Impressed with this name while completing the stitching, it is now heartwarming to realize what a theme it is in the community home of Church of the Redeemer. The Lord is wonderful in His orchestration of events for His glory!

 

August, 2005