Mural in Blades Lobby
Everything Will Live Where the River Goes, Spring 2019
Artwork above Blades Chapel entrance way
“God’s grace is like a river of living waters poured out in abundance to nourish creation, to bring healing and wholeness, and to draw all creatures to its banks. God’s welcome is like a tree, rooted in good soil, opening outward toward us in hospitality. God’s hope is for jubilee, for places where righteousness is at home, where love and faithfulness meet together, where justice is known and truth is spoken. God’s glory dwells here: in creation, through our city, on our campus, with us. God’s presence is here in this place of worship: here in water and Word, here in bread and cup, here in friends and strangers, here in singing and in silence. You who are thirsty, come drink from this river of grace. You who feel rootless and far from home, come, take shelter in the branches of God’s welcome. God is here and there is a place for you.”
This work of community art was created by students, staff, and faculty members from the Seminary, DART program, and Campus Ministry. It evokes prophetic visions of God's work to redeem, reform, and revive our life together. Ezekiel envisions a river that flows out of the Temple and into a dry and weary land: “Everything will live where the river goes” (Ez. 47:9). Isaiah envisions a community where shalom reigns, the bonds of injustice are broken, and the hungry are fed (Is. 58: 6-12). John envisions a city where “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal,” flows from God’s throne through the streets; on its banks is planted the tree of life, whose fruit never fails and whose leaves are “for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22: 1, 2). This work depicts a tree of life, living waters, and images of creaturely flourishing, stirring us to imagine a God who is the ground and wellspring of abundant life.
The artwork was made possible through the Campus Ministry’s Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, with funds provided by the Lilly Endowment.
