When we were in Yirol we went to Mass in the beautiful new Cathedral there. The crowning glory of this cathedral is that all around the sanctuary are paintings of familiar Bible stories; as I was looking at the paintings I realized that if I would have seen these as a child I am not sure I would have recognized the protagonist.
I’m not sure that there are many places in the world where this could happen. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing that I grew up seeing images of God looking like people I could relate to but I think that such an opportunity should exist for all children ( and it is a problem that those are the only images I saw for a long, long, time). I am reminded of a Christmas story book my family has that has beautiful Nativity scenes depicted in many different cultures. Hey, Picture Bible People – why not make a Picture Bible that shows Jesus in many ways? Let’s open up that can of “God’s Race/God’s Gender/The Way God Looks in Traditional Clothing” with some excellent pictures. It might be just me but that tunic-and-flowing-brown-locks look, while classic, is getting a little well-worn.
I had a Picture Bible as a child. I remember one Halloween wanting to dress up like Delilah because, to me, she was the most beautiful of all of the women of the Bible. Big gold dangly earrings, a flowy dress; she was no dowdy Martha or "woman-at-the-well". Delilah, and all of the other characters in my picture bible, looked like people I knew, albeit the boys were wearing what appeared to be dresses. I did however have some understanding that Jesus' fashion sense was timeless, and if any man could pull off wearing a dress it was He.
So growing up I knew I was created in the image of God and I had a pretty good idea in my head of what this image of God looked like.
In Yirol there are children who have never (or very rarely) seen the depictions of Jesus that I grew up seeing. For these children it is very possible that their “go-to” image of Jesus is going to be a tall slender Dinka man. A man who changed the water in the clay pots into wine, who ate the last supper seated around a large drum, and who at his birth was attended to by cattle camp kids – the ones with the yellow hair and the ivory bracelets.
I’m not sure that there are many places in the world where this could happen. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing that I grew up seeing images of God looking like people I could relate to but I think that such an opportunity should exist for all children ( and it is a problem that those are the only images I saw for a long, long, time). I am reminded of a Christmas story book my family has that has beautiful Nativity scenes depicted in many different cultures. Hey, Picture Bible People – why not make a Picture Bible that shows Jesus in many ways? Let’s open up that can of “God’s Race/God’s Gender/The Way God Looks in Traditional Clothing” with some excellent pictures. It might be just me but that tunic-and-flowing-brown-locks look, while classic, is getting a little well-worn.P.S. Please someone – comment and tell me that such a picture bible exists! That would be A to the Mazing!
Ithink you should create it!!
ReplyDeletexoxoxoxo
Hi. Last time I was in a Christian Book store I was given a sampler of a children's bible written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It is illustrated by various international artists in their own cultural style. Check it out at ChildrenofGodBible.com. I think it is pretty close to what you imagined.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love your blog.
oooh! Yay! So far I can only see the cover because our internet is too slow, but by saturday I'll be in Nairobi and I will look at it more closely. Thanks for the great link! Another reason to love Archbishop Desmond Tutu!
ReplyDeleteNot exactly what you are looking for, but the Pilgrim book of Bible stories is pretty great. As is the Children's illustrated bible (think those books about birds, or dinosaurs with all kinds of pictures in the margins and explanations-- same people). I can't wait to see you soon!!!
ReplyDeleteLora