The Cover

The full cover – front, spine, and back.

After I learned that my friend Josey had been killed, I spent some reflective time mourning with watercolors in hand – a memorial to Josey’s artistic pursuits. The Arabic word stamped into the center of the flower is salaam, or peace. I think this image conveys an accurate first impression of weightiness for the subject matter of the book.

White butterflies show up in my life all the time. Maybe they do for everyone, but it’s just that I notice them. They make me stop and think of the Holy Spirit’s presence and role in my life. This image is a photogram of a Lebanese postage stamp. Instead of using a negative, the stamp was placed in the photographic enlarger in the darkroom, which produced an enlarged negative image. Later, I made a contact print, which resulted in this highly detailed positive image.

Bill and Gracia gave me an ink stamp boxed set as a gift once. I stamped this symbol on a piece of paper and then scanned it to acquire this image. A translation of the Arabic: In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. These are the first few words of the Qur’an, and Muslims call it the Opening. They are repeated as a prayer whenever something new is embarked upon.

One of my favorite photos of the Roman chariot track can be seen on the back cover. The obelisk stands in the center, nearby the altar of Melkart. The remains of a section of seating are next to it on the far side of the track. The Hippodrome is one of my favorite places on Earth.

After our daughter Naomi was born, I used her foot in this watercolor to record how tiny she had once been. The Arabic stamp is the word for blessing. You can just make out her toes in the clouds on the back cover.