All birds can’t fly

She crafted the altar piece at Tureholmskyrkan in Sösdala, Sweden, where several of our Serve Globally colleagues and another Covenant pastor friend have all served and lived in that community.  I remember the first time ever seeing that altar piece and being stunned when it was pointed out to me that this wasn’t a painting but, in fact, was pieces of leather that had been handcrafted together to make up the altar piece.  Steve and I thought for years that it would be the best final exam for confirmation students to have to go through all the different scenes of the altar piece and explain the Bible story.

 

Tureholmskyrkans altar piece...the nativity of Jesus...those are pieces of leather, friend, that have been crafted together in this altar piece

If you can see beyond the Lucia pageant kids (I know, they're all so cute!), you get an idea of what the altar piece looks like...

This is a confirmation student's final exam dream...just fill in the blanks about the stories of the life of Jesus that are represented in these panels!

So imagine our pure delight when we discovered that the same artist, Ingrid Ohrberg, had another art exhibit available for public viewing.  In the art hall of Hässleholm, which is just an hour away by train from where we live in Malmö.  Sabbath day plan #45 for 2021…get on the train, get up to Hässleholm and enjoy the exhibit.  Oh, and for sure, enjoy fika somewhere!  Check it out here:  www.hassleholmkulturhus.se

 

The artist's words from the brochure publicizing the exhibit:

"I grew up close to nature. Every spring we, children, we waited for the migratory birds. They came because the conditions for laying eggs and raising their young were the best here. Birds fly over deserts, mountain ranges, seas and forests. Even if there are dangers, there are no barbed wire, clocks or border controls up there. My theme in the exhibition is a paraphrase of the refugee situation in the world. I can never fully understand, yet as a fellow human being, I have the opportunity to feel empathy, solidarity and - in my case - commitment through image."

Got on the train….one hour later, we’re still sitting in Lund…got up to Hässleholm at 11.20am (the exhibit is only open from 10-12.00noon).  Frustrations related to the train delays were thrown out the window as soon as we entered the room where the exhibit was in place.  It was like we had entered a sacred place.

Loved the theme of the birds flying...after their season of captivity...praying for freedom and flight for friends who still are waiting for their new lives in Sweden to settle down so that they can soar!

Three birds on a log....just because!

Take memories. Leave footprints.  Oh, if only this is how we would live in our world today!

I forgot to mention that the name of the exhibit was “all birds can’t fly” and was the artist’s reflections on the flood of refugees who came walking across Europe in 2015.  161,000+ of those refugees landed in Sweden, and that stream of refugees landing in Sweden is part of God’s call and plan for our ministry years here alongside the Swedish Uniting Church (Equmeniakyrkan).

 

Sacred place.  Filled with beauty.  Birds.  Words that have shaped, are shaping, and will continue to shape our ministry and life experiences not only here in Malmö but in our world.

Att möta nya hinder ~ meeting new obstacles...this one really touched my heart as I thought of all the obstacles I've met as we landed here in Sweden...and how many more are the obstacles that refugees come up against in their journey

Words that shape...strength; someone needs you; freedom; confident; share bread; just distribution of resources; dreams; security.

All birds can’t fly.

Feeling empathy and solidarity as words and art flooded over us.