Stories in Sand
We recently went to the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival's International Sandsculpture display on the oceanfront. There were 22 intricately designed sculptures created from sand - each with a different, clever theme. The one above was my favorite -- sculpted by Meredith and Dan Doubleday from Florida (it won 2nd place in Team category). It is loaded with detail and meaning. I'll share some of what I observed - and use the observations to illustrate scripture.
First, notice at the left corner in the photo above, the story of The Old Woman in the Shoe is cleverly used as one of the bedposts at the foot of the bed. In the nursery rhyme, the old woman had so many children she didn't know what to do. Well, we might encourage her not to complain because we're told in Psalm 127:3-4: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth." It's possible. the old woman might not readily agree.
Next, we have the bedpost on the end of the headboard. You may not recognize it, but Jack is climbing a beanstalk that wraps around the post, with a small house at the top of the stalk. Since we know that Jack is in danger from the wicked giant, as he seeks to retrieve what has been stolen from his family, we might encourage him by reminding him that, "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good," Proverbs 15:3.
This photo shows the back of the headboard with its detailed carvings in sand. Humpty Dumpty caught my eye as he balances on top of the headboard. For such a fragile guy, he has put himself in a rather vulnerable position. Should he fall and splatter, I'm afraid all the kings men would be unable to put him together again. Be careful, Humpty! "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it," Proverbs 27:12. Oops!
On the end of the footboard, we have a dainty sand carving of Little Red Riding Hood and the wily wolf. Although Little Red was a bit suspicious of the wolf, his smooth words lulled her for a time, but thankfully she caught on to his pretense before it was too late -- and that's a good thing, because we're told in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." If you're not careful, they might eat you!
This sand sculpture has a much more obvious message for us. The artist is Matt Deibert from New Jersey and he aptly calls it, "Footprints in the Sand." The concept for his sculpture is taken from the poem written in 1936 by Mary Stevenson. And here is the corresponding scripture:
"The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place," Deuteronomy 1:30-31.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
