Four Statues

The Paris Olympics is drawing to a close. There’s been fierce competition, but there’s been a huge sense of camaraderie between athletes of different nations. The spirit of the Olympics seems to be symbolised in the New York Statue of Liberty..

Originally a gift from the people of France to the United States, against a backdrop of civil war and the abolition of slavery, the Statue of Liberty speaks of the friendship between people of different nations; there’s the light of the Olympic torch… there’s hope, freedom, and inspiration. It speaks of high ideals.

This weekend’s Lowestoft Journal reported on the ‘Black Shuck Festival’, that celebrates the legend of a mythical, fearsome, ghostly dog which terrorised the town of Bungay and surrounding region. As part of the celebrations a statue of the black dog was carried through the town. This black dog brings the community together…

Over the past week across the UK communities have come together in demonstrations, sometimes with the high ideals of liberty; sometimes there have been the dark, the fearsome and the evil spirited.  

Eight years ago the Olympics were in Rio de Janeiro, This morning I was reminded of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Christ’s outstretched arms form the shape of the cross. speaking of God’s love and forgiveness, embracing the city below, and welcoming all.

‘Christ the Redeemer’ speaks of redemption, somehow bringing together the friendship of freedom with the dark and demonic.

The Walking Men sculpture on our South Beach in Lowestoft, are still attracting interest and attention both from locals and holiday makers. The five, eight feet tall statues raise questions… Who are they? Where have they come from? Where are they going?

I identify with them. They’re a constant reminder of my journey… encountering freedom and hope of demonstrated in Liberty, seeing too clearly the fearsome and terror-full symbolised by the Black Shuck, aware of the outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemer …

…And I keep walking.