ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

The title of this wood sculpture is “SURRENDER.” Paul carved this with hammer and chisel several years ago for a religious art show in Northeast Minneapolis. From there, it stood in his warehouse studio after which it was relegated to stand in two local churches. Eventually it wound up in our backyard. With years of standing in the garden, weathering the elements and stirred people’s imaginations, it finally was in need of restoration. My son-in-law has become quite talented working with wood, so he undertook the job of bringing new life into something old. Yesterday he delivered it to our backyard. It looks like new and will be good for another few years.

The sculpture depicts a man who is in need of restoration too. Paul shows the face of the man downtrodden and depressed, with his oversized hands reaching out to God for help to his desperate condition.

When you think about it, this sculpture might give the suggestion that the Father is looking down and the first thing He sees are these huge hands, begging for mercy. Like we must appear to our children when they reach out to us. Why do we wait until the burden becomes so heavy that we no longer can carry it? It would be so much easier to just surrender to God’s will. Not that we’re giving up. We’re actually doing what Christ commanded His followers to do.

Lord, when I come to you in prayer,

I know that you will be right there.

To comfort me and heal my pain,

To bring me back to life again.

My hands I lift to you each day.

You hear the prayers that I pray.

I know that you will answer me.

Your strength alone will set me free.