Psalm for Sderot
Painted in Jerusalem, Israel, May 2013
(The following is taken from the explanation I wrote to accompany this painting,. This was done for the Israeli city of Sderot, and presented to the Mayor and people of Sderot on the 5th of June, 2013. For decades, Sderot has been the target of more acts of terror than any other Israeli city. During the month of November, 2012, more than 1000 missiles were shot into or over this small city from nearby Gaza. At the time of this painting, it was reported that more than 75% of the adults and 90% of the children had chronic anxiety issues (PTSD). This painting was done as a visible antidote to such fear--a literal prescription for treating fear with Perfect Love. )
I must admit that I do not know what it is like to live in Sderot, to face and endure interaction with terrorism which you face as a city. I cannot imagine your experiences.
Last Autumn on the internet, my wife and I became aware of your valiant effort to thrive while living within reach of terror. What we read about your situation moved us to tearful, earnest prayer for you. Although ours is a very different story from yours, we felt a connection to your hearts in reference to our own interactions with clinical anxiety.
23 years ago, unrest in the East African country where we were involved in humanitarian work led to a sudden and traumatic departure for us and our young children. Our forced exit, after 5 special years there, left me in a difficult state at the time: what followed was a full year of serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms that eventually landed me in the hospital where I was sure I was having a heart attack. After extensive testing, my doctor explained that my heart was fine but that I needed to see a counselor for help with PTSD. The counselor encouraged me to try self-help meditation. To do so, I chose to search out powerful sections of the Scriptures to dive into, to focus on, and to literally seek to unlock, in prayer, the powerful promises sewn into their words. After a year of grappling with the crippling influence of fear in my life, the one thing that walked me out of the mental strain I was battling was the power-filled, life-infused words of the Hebrew Scriptures, like Psalm 46.
When my wife and I read of the high levels of anxiety in your city due to acts of terror, we felt deeply compassionate. This painting is our attempt to offer a sensitive response to your vulnerable situation.
There are many symbolic elements in the painting which I would like to explain.
I felt from the start that I wanted to have the painting model a posture of Divine Protection for your city.
At the edges of the painting on all four sides there is darkness, figurative of the close proximity to danger you are living with in Sderot.
Separating the surrounding darkness from the scene of vibrant life is a prayer shawl on which I have inscribed phrases from Psalm 46. The phrases on the top and sides are meant to build one on the other and provide the reason for the foundational statement at the bottom: “Therefore, we will not fear.”
At the core of the painting is an aged but strong figure, reaching overhead to provide a shield for the beautiful children who embrace him and lean trustingly into his strength.
Originally I intended to have this figure holding a literal shield above his head; but as the design came to life before me, suddenly I realized that instead of holding a physical shield, the protection he would grasp is the very power of the words from the Scriptures: they would be the shield and protection.
Isaiah 63 was also on my heart as I painted. From the imagery there I drew ideas for the figure of the Aged One in my painting, dressed in deep crimson, bearing his strong arm:
“Who is this coming . . . with his garments stained crimson? . . .“It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save . . . I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me . . . I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me . . ."
My wife and I love the life and hope displayed in the poppies that burst into life so faithfully in your region. I employed them in my design to echo the hope they kindle. I located them on the sides and top to reflect the Passover blood and the deliverance that Israel experienced long ago when they were liberated from terrible oppression in Egypt.
The background of the painting is rolling hills and a field full of ready wheat. This is to point to the plentiful inheritance you have been promised in this land.
Dear Sderot, may you experience the very present Help promised to you for thousands of years by the One who is the same, yesterday, today, and forever; like those Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt, may your lives experience Great Deliverance as well; and may you know the joy of fruitful harvest in this land that belongs to you.
Even in the face of difficulty—even in the very presence of your enemies-- it is our hope that this painting will invite the deeper peace, healing, tender love, and passionate protection that God has extended to Israel in the past and continues to extend today.
Shalom and love,
Jeffrey Scott Hakes and Caryn Beth Hakes
Post Script: In early May I went to my favorite art supply store in Jerusalem. I needed to buy the canvas for this piece. It had been a while since I had shopped there, so on entering, I greeted the Israeli owner. "How are you, Solomon?" I began. With a big smile and warm handshake, he answered: "You know, I am fighting the doctors!" He paused, making sure he had my full attention; he did. Then he continued: "The doctors say to fight sickness with medicines; but I say fight sickness with Art!" I smiled widely at the irony of his uninformed confirmation of the goal of this painting being done as an antidote to the crippling effects of chronic anxiety.
I must admit that I do not know what it is like to live in Sderot, to face and endure interaction with terrorism which you face as a city. I cannot imagine your experiences.
Last Autumn on the internet, my wife and I became aware of your valiant effort to thrive while living within reach of terror. What we read about your situation moved us to tearful, earnest prayer for you. Although ours is a very different story from yours, we felt a connection to your hearts in reference to our own interactions with clinical anxiety.
23 years ago, unrest in the East African country where we were involved in humanitarian work led to a sudden and traumatic departure for us and our young children. Our forced exit, after 5 special years there, left me in a difficult state at the time: what followed was a full year of serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms that eventually landed me in the hospital where I was sure I was having a heart attack. After extensive testing, my doctor explained that my heart was fine but that I needed to see a counselor for help with PTSD. The counselor encouraged me to try self-help meditation. To do so, I chose to search out powerful sections of the Scriptures to dive into, to focus on, and to literally seek to unlock, in prayer, the powerful promises sewn into their words. After a year of grappling with the crippling influence of fear in my life, the one thing that walked me out of the mental strain I was battling was the power-filled, life-infused words of the Hebrew Scriptures, like Psalm 46.
When my wife and I read of the high levels of anxiety in your city due to acts of terror, we felt deeply compassionate. This painting is our attempt to offer a sensitive response to your vulnerable situation.
There are many symbolic elements in the painting which I would like to explain.
I felt from the start that I wanted to have the painting model a posture of Divine Protection for your city.
At the edges of the painting on all four sides there is darkness, figurative of the close proximity to danger you are living with in Sderot.
Separating the surrounding darkness from the scene of vibrant life is a prayer shawl on which I have inscribed phrases from Psalm 46. The phrases on the top and sides are meant to build one on the other and provide the reason for the foundational statement at the bottom: “Therefore, we will not fear.”
At the core of the painting is an aged but strong figure, reaching overhead to provide a shield for the beautiful children who embrace him and lean trustingly into his strength.
Originally I intended to have this figure holding a literal shield above his head; but as the design came to life before me, suddenly I realized that instead of holding a physical shield, the protection he would grasp is the very power of the words from the Scriptures: they would be the shield and protection.
Isaiah 63 was also on my heart as I painted. From the imagery there I drew ideas for the figure of the Aged One in my painting, dressed in deep crimson, bearing his strong arm:
“Who is this coming . . . with his garments stained crimson? . . .“It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save . . . I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me . . . I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me . . ."
My wife and I love the life and hope displayed in the poppies that burst into life so faithfully in your region. I employed them in my design to echo the hope they kindle. I located them on the sides and top to reflect the Passover blood and the deliverance that Israel experienced long ago when they were liberated from terrible oppression in Egypt.
The background of the painting is rolling hills and a field full of ready wheat. This is to point to the plentiful inheritance you have been promised in this land.
Dear Sderot, may you experience the very present Help promised to you for thousands of years by the One who is the same, yesterday, today, and forever; like those Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt, may your lives experience Great Deliverance as well; and may you know the joy of fruitful harvest in this land that belongs to you.
Even in the face of difficulty—even in the very presence of your enemies-- it is our hope that this painting will invite the deeper peace, healing, tender love, and passionate protection that God has extended to Israel in the past and continues to extend today.
Shalom and love,
Jeffrey Scott Hakes and Caryn Beth Hakes
Post Script: In early May I went to my favorite art supply store in Jerusalem. I needed to buy the canvas for this piece. It had been a while since I had shopped there, so on entering, I greeted the Israeli owner. "How are you, Solomon?" I began. With a big smile and warm handshake, he answered: "You know, I am fighting the doctors!" He paused, making sure he had my full attention; he did. Then he continued: "The doctors say to fight sickness with medicines; but I say fight sickness with Art!" I smiled widely at the irony of his uninformed confirmation of the goal of this painting being done as an antidote to the crippling effects of chronic anxiety.