Created: 2014
Background:
As a child I learnt the song ‘Wide, wide as the ocean’ whilst attending the daily United Beach Mission on Porthminster Beach in St. Ives, Cornwall. It created a lasting impression on my young imagination. Now, as an adult I live in the middle of a wide, wide ocean (okay, it’s a relatively small sea that joins a very large ocean) and I have that strange awareness that the world is an unimaginably large place and yet God loves all of His children and desires the best for them. Sometimes it feels lonely in this big world and the injustices and cruelty that seem to flourish on our beautiful spinning planet make us question that promised love but God gave His beloved children freewill and with that a responsibility to show His love in our actions. That wasn’t a life tip just for Christians, it was a suggestion for everyone. Some awful things happen in life, some of them can’t be avoided but we can do our best to counteract the deliberate wrongs in the world by doing as Jesus taught:
‘You must love each other, just as I have loved you.’ John 13:34
Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the Heaven above;
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere. Charles A. Miles, 1914
As I created this piece I knew that there was something needed, there is a prayer attributed to Breton Fishermen, ‘Oh God, my boat is so small, the ocean’s so big. Keep me safe.’ I added
a small boat on the horizon, hoping it will remind you that God’s love is available at all times
and in all places.
Printing and Sizing:
This item is 210mmX297mm and is printed on 300gsm card stock using our in-house printer. Each print is individually signed by Mary Fleeson and is packaged in a cellophane wrapper with a descriptive backing sheet explaining more about the piece and the Scriptorium. Comparitive sizing between our A4 prints and other cards can be found by clicking here.