- Morning Devotional
- December 14, 2003
- "The Baveux Tapestry"
- by Don Emmitte
Since we believe that Christ died
for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to
live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer
live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died
and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world
thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he
were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this
means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the
same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
(2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NLT)
Many museums around the world
house collections of embroidery. Some of these works of art are centuries old
and provide us with an idea of what life was like in times past. American
samplers from the 18th and 19th centuries were often stitched by schoolgirls and
are highly prized today. Old European cathedrals and churches were richly
decorated with altar cloths and kneelers painstakingly crafted by skilled needle
workers.
One of the most famous historical
embroideries is the Bayeux Tapestry. It tells the story of the Norman invasion
of England in 1066 through panels which depict scenes of battle and of daily
life. Castles, boats, hunters and men dressed in armor decorate this wonderful
piece of needlework. It measures approximately 20 inches high and 230 feet long,
although its original length is not certain due to a damaged final panel. Odo,
Bishop of Bayeux from 1050 - 1097 and half-brother of William the Conqueror
probably commissioned it.
The Bayeux Tapestry, as any piece of
embroidery, begins as blank fabric. Even the plainest material can become a
thing of beauty in the hands of a gifted artist. Satin, silk, needlepoint canvas
and cotton are commonly used as the base. Threads made of silk, cotton; metallic
and even velour provide different textures. They can be shiny or flat, thick or
thin, and give the finished piece its unique character.