Commemorative sculpture:  Invitation to prayer

Ed Note:  I had just come from the dentist  *ugh!* and waited for the bus to take me back home.  I waited and waited and saw no bus in sight.  Okay, okay, it was only a few minutes.  I waited about two minutes, but it seemed like forever, especially because it was cold freezing.  I should have worn more layering.  I should have worn a warmer hat. 

I got impatient and even though my left foot was killing me, I decided to walk till I saw a bus, I got tired or I reached a subway entrance and felt like hoping on the train.  Although the weather was very cold, it was sunny and I decided to use my walking opportunity to look for a shadow shot for Sunday. 

That’s when I saw them — the woman sitting on the bench next to the statue.  They were both in their own world — ignoring the people passing by (people who walked by quickly, as if they had places to go, other people to see and things to do.).  The woman and her statue friend looked like an interesting pair and I couldn’t resist taking a photo. 

A question has come up about the statue.  I’ll come back later to tell you about him.

Paz

**Okay, I’m back.  Sorry I couldn’t post this information before.  Lately, I barely have time to post photos much less write a narrative.  This sculpture in located in front of the headquarters of the American Bible Society.  The ABS was founded in 1816 and is responsible for publishing, distributing and translating the Bible.  In addition to housing a large collection of religious books (the Vatican carries the largest collection), the ABS also has a museum of ancient and historic Bibles.   I think it’s pretty cool.  I remember years ago when I was studying Latin and having a hard time, a friend presented me with a Bible translated into Latin, which she bought from the ABS.  I got some good practice out of those darned declensions.     Amó, Amás, Amat, Amámus, Amátis, Amant…  Oh, my goodness, I actually remember something!  Shocking (Thank you, Professor White)!

The life-sized sculpture is of a Manhattan businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier, who in 1857 "recognized a need for the power of prayer in the lives of businessmen."  He started a noonday prayer meeting, which began with six men and continued to grow into thousands of people and hundreds of churches participating in noonday prayer meetings.  The prayer meeting sparked a great prayer movement throughout New York and nationwide.

The sculpture was commemorated in honor of the 150th anniversary of the prayer movement started by Lanphier.  Sculptor Lincoln Fox created the sculpture called Invitation to Prayer and it depicts Lanphier inviting passerbys, like he did 150 years ago, to join him in quiet reflection or prayer.  You can read more about Lanphier, the sculpture and its artist here. 

No wonder the woman looks the same as the sculpture.  She was probably praying.  Coming to think about it, I need a lotta prayer.  I’m going to take him up on that offer and join them.