Lisa, is a fellow member of Multicultural Solidarity of Long Island's Friendship Circles. She responded to a recent request I forwarded to her and others from Dr. Helen Wolf - who serves as the Director of Mission Integration for The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood. Dr. Helen asked for submissions of crosses and crucifixes that will be put on public display on campus in the Kean Window Gallery in Building 5.
This just arrived today in my Inbox:
FYI - During the Christmas season Dr. Helen curated a collection of creches from many countries and located them in this same space. You can view it here.
In Lisa's email reply to me, she included this personal information with her red cross image:
Title Red Cross
Origin: Home Depot Central Islip
Artist: Lisa Roller
Medium: Plywood
Description: It was the Christmas season in 2020, the year of the pandemic. As the neighborhood deals with the lock downs and yard greetings, I wanted to put some faith and hope in my yard. The red color is for the covenant that covers over the weariness the period was in.
That's all I got.
LisaR
I sent her my enthusiastic reply:
Love it…Jesus as a Red Cross worker!
LISA,
Your words immediately reminded me of the Grateful Dead song "Help on the Way." As I looked again at the lyrics, it could have been written about Jesus. BTW- I have a friend who’s said for years, “There’s a Grateful Dead song for every occasion.” YUP!
“ Without love in the dream it'll never come true”
"Help On The Way"
Paradise waits, on the crest of a wave, her angels in flames
She has no pain, like a child she is pure, she is not to blame
Poised for flight, wings spread bright, spring from night into the sun
Don't stop to run, she can fly like a lie, she can't be outdone
Tell me the cost; I can pay, let me go, tell me love is not lost
Sell everything; without love day to day insanity's king
I will pay day by day, anyway, lock, bolt and key
Crippled but free, I was blind all the time I was learning to see
Help on the way, well, I know only this, I've got you today
Don't fly away, 'cause I love what I love and I want it that way
I will stay one more day, like I say, honey it's you
Making it too, without love in a dream it will never come true
Whoa, Oh what I want to know...is are you Kind?
Then give BLOOD...
Found this while composing...So, before we DEcompose...let's practice KINDNESS...and share our life's blood with someone in need....
Grateful Dead and the Bible...
PSALM 121
--there are SO MANY inspiring images in this video...
Check out this YouTuber's creative artwork:
