Artist’s Statement

June 1997 through August 1998 was a particularly tough period in my life. In the month of June, I moved to Atlanta to begin a year-long pastoral internship, and only 2 weeks after I moved there, I found out that my mom was diagnosed with a cancer that would eventually take her life. In addition to these hardships, I spend this period of time apart from all my friends in St. Louis while also working for the church and consulting with a corporate client. All these and other factors caused me to slide in and out of depression during this time. These details are important to get a full understanding of the meaning of this sculpture.

While living in Atlanta, I would often go for walks by myself around my apartment complex and into the neighboring Chattahoochee River Park. It happened oftentimes on these walks that my head would be hung low to match my gloomy disposition of heart. But as my head hung down and as I walked along, I’d often see a nail or screw along my path. I’d stop and pick it up, and would reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I’d remember that He loved me, and proved His love by giving Himself to pay the penalty for my sins. I’d be encouraged by the transcendent and amazing fact that I was loved by God with an unchangeable love in the gospel. God used each of these nails to remind me of His love and encourage me during this very tough period of life.

Toward the end of my internship (August, 1998), I had quite the collection of nails and screws from all my walks. I decided to do something with them to memorialize God’s faithfulness to me in the midst of my very trying and tumultuous year in Atlanta. So, I fabricated a cross out of rough-worn, barnacle-encrusted driftwood I’d collected from the beaches of Casey Key, Florida. I wanted the cross to be rough because after the year I’d had, I could affirm more than ever that the Christian life which reflected Jesus’ life and cross-work was oftentimes a splintery and difficult road.

I can still remember taking the driftwood cross up into the parking lot at my apartment complex along with a hammer and my nail collection. I remember nailing each piece of iron into that cross and being reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice for me. The finished piece came out beautifully. It serves as a constant reminder to me of God’s faithfulness and love.

“In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears.” 2 Samuel 22:7)

[Jesus said to His disciples,] "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." (John 14:1-4)

“…For Jesus Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5b-6)