Ichabod

In the TANAKH (Old Testament to Christians), Sefer Shemu'el - the Book of Samuel - the story is told of Eli and his sons, Phinehas and Hophni, who are not amongst the noblest of characters in scripture. Hophni and Phinehas take the Ark of the Covenant (yes, that gold box from Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark) into battle with the Philistines. Not only are they killed but the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant and take it back to Philistia. When Eli, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) hears the news, he falls out of his chair, and dies of a broken neck (and probably a broken heart upon hearing that both his sons have been killed). When the pregnant wife of his son, Phinehas, hears of her loss she goes into labor, bearing her dead husband a son.

“And she named the child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel!’ because the ark of God had been captured and (because of the deaths of) her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, ‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured’” (1 Samuel 4:21-22). Names in ancient Hebrew culture had powerful meanings - Ichabod literally interpreted means “inglorious” or “there is no glory.” Rabbis have interpreted the use of this word, by a woman whose name is unknown in scripture, as indicating that the Kavod, or glory of God had departed from Y’srael (Israel).

I realize that many may not share my faith, but I hope you’ll understand that, in a sense my faith, my theology, does interact with my photography. Stephen Covey wrote, “Our tendency is to project out of our own autobiographies...” Lenny Bruce, a comedian who became famous for his irreverence, disregard for religion, and use of profanity in his act (a daring thing in the late 1950s) was once asked what influenced him. “What an absurd question,” he responded, “I am influenced by every second of my waking hour.” So I acknowledge that my work is influenced by all the elements of my life; which includes theology.

Each of these churches are abandoned, empty, left desolate. But does the glory of God that the parishioners believed dwelt there depart with the congregation? Or does it linger, even in a place where hymns are no longer sung, prayers no longer offered, sermons no longer preached, and the sinner no longer offered redemption?