My husband and I had pulled up in front of a local church on a Saturday afternoon, shortly before the vigil mass would begin. It was a beautiful summer day, and the doors were propped open, giving a straight view toward the altar. The church was dark inside, except for a soft glow around the crucifix. I was moved, and rolled down my window to snap some pictures.
I chose the title, “Abide With Me” because it’s something that we ask of God and that God asks of us; it also ties into the “Domus Dei” (House of God) etched into the stone that hovers above the entrance. “Abide With Me” is a traditional hymn that has comforted me in difficult times. Here is the final verse, which calls to mind this scene:
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Details
Size: 8″ x 10″
Medium: Watercolor on Paper
Completed: October 2023