Description
Medium: stone ware clay, multiple glazes, acrylics & gold luster
accompanied by self standing acrylic ‘write up ‘
about 15″ x 17″ x 18″ tall
Hannah’s name means “Graciousness”. In Hannah we meet the mother of Jewish spirituality. Her prayer is the only woman’s prayer recorded in the Old Testament. In the days of Hannah’s life the sanctuary was primarily used for blood sacrifice. Her prayer marked a profound shift in Hebrew prayer and ritual. Hers was a prayer of the heart, a prayer devoid of theological boundaries or liturgical convention. She knew instinctively that ceremony and slaughter were no substitute for one’s presence in spirit. With focused intention, she merges with the Divine by entering in to an altered state of mind.
Hannah, being barren and very bitter about it, pleads with God to allow her to conceive a child. She promises to dedicate the child to the service of God. The priest Eli witnesses her prayer and encourages her to go home in peace. Hannah conceives and she and her husband Elkanah dedicate the child in due time to God and they bring the boy to the priest Eli to be taught all the ways of serving God. It is told that God was gracious to Hannah. She conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile her son Samuel grew up serving God.
It was satisfying for me to create her image in this face sculpture. Her eyes are turned inward as she enters in to this altered state of mind where prayer becomes truly significant. Her countenance is humble; a smile plays around her lips as she feels that God is hearing her prayer. She was a powerful woman in her gentle unassuming way and a worthy role model to all of us.
To look up the prayer see: Old Testament: 1 Samuel : chapter 2
