A 60-Second Year

So now the year of “Daily Crosses” is complete.  Looking back on all the crosses that I found—in nature, on buildings, and in so many mundane places—I have this new sense of Christ being everywhere.  It’s a great feeling.

 

I also love how this project engaged my friends and acquaintances from all over the world who commented on my daily Facebook postings and even contributed photos themselves.  If you’re one of those people, thanks for participating.

 

Here is a video that shows all 366 crosses in one minute.  I hope you enjoy it.  I am also making a book for those of you who want to look at all the photographs at a more leisurely pace.  Let me know if you’d like a copy!

Discovering a Cross

I take the camera with me now. Everywhere. Always ready to take a picture of a cross. There certainly are crosses everywhere, but by now my search has narrowed on crosses that are not as obvious. That are unexpected and need a little discovering. Please enjoy the slide show of the June selection below.

Seeing the Cross

At first, my “Daily Cross” project felt merely playful to me. It was fun to bring my camera with me everywhere and search for hidden crosses. I started in my backyard and on walks with my dog. Then I took some photographs on my trips to South Jersey and New York City. It was always surprising where I found them. And there were so many crosses everywhere! Soon my everyday life began to feel like one continuous game of “Where’s Waldo!”

But, in searching for crosses all the time, another aspect of the project began to emerge. I began to think more often and more tangibly about the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The project constantly reminds me that Jesus acted physically in the material world to grant us His life. He carried His Cross through the sweltering streets of Jerusalem. He felt real, soul-wrenching pain as He was nailed to and hung on the Cross. He suffered – and He died a horrific death. He did this for the joy that was set before Him: His creation brought to the fullness of its intended good. That's us.

Everywhere I look now, I see reminders of this great life-giving love, this beautiful divine mystery. And tomorrow I will be reminded again.

Daily Cross

Inspired by Debbie Young's "Stations of the Cross” photographs (www.faithartfarming.blogspot.com), I decided to post a photograph of a cross every day for one year on Facebook. These are “found” crosses that I encounter in the world as it is: the grill of a car, the string holding together a bundle of newspapers put out for recycling, the grass growing in the cracks of a sidewalk.

As soon as my sister saw me start to post these photos, she asked if others could contribute to the series as well. At first I hesitated, because this was going to be my personal project. But then I decided to go with her suggestion and invite my friends to participate. I am already getting photos from all over the world!

These images are proving to be surprising, touching and beautiful. So please use the email alert feature here if you want to watch the series grow. And feel free to send your own contributions to me at liebmanng@yahoo.com.

I am planning to post a slideshow of the crosses at the end of every month. It will be interesting to see what the collection looks like at the end of the year—and what may be the best way to share it with the rest of the world.