God and I

     This collage reflects the myriad emotions I experience regarding my faith and closeness to God. I created most of the collage using pages from Friends Journal, a Quaker magazine, as I found the poetry and art reflective of my experiences as a Quaker. Many of the phrases within the collage are either direct quotes from the Bible or allusions to religious concepts like transcendence. 

     I’ve had periods of my life where I feel very connected to God and in tune with Him in worship, and other periods, often more common, where I feel distracted and distant in worship. Parts of the piece reflect my desire to regain or maintain my closeness with God, while others reflect my human tendency to neglect my end of our relationship. The poem I selected depicts these feelings of direct connection to God, while also emphasizing my responsibility to respond and continue seeking that connection. Additionally, the poem highlights my reliance on God as He is often the one who is left to present “something else for us to do” when I get lost in corporeality.

     I selected the background image in combination with the phrase “Take Me Higher” to again illustrate my internal conflict between wanting to further my faith but feeling too trapped in my human desires and distractions to do so. The girl begs to be taken to a higher level of spirituality and faith yet shields her eyes from the necessary path. The conflicting imagery and messaging of this piece encompass the simultaneous growth and setbacks in my faith.