“Fallen Pearls”, a series from “Casting Crowns”, a collaborative project between Wai Jia and Ian Ho
(Concept and modelling by Wai Jia, Photo by Ian Ho)
After a long and arduous walk in the forest, this moment captures the grit in the journey, suggested by a pair of dirt-stained legs, which culminates in a pivotal moment of letting go a string of prized pearls and crystals.
In a parallel to the example of fallen seeds producing new life, the string of pearls, uncannily similar to a kernel of wheat, represents the pretense we string round our necks as an everyday display: Unless our pride falls to the ground and dies, it remains only as a highly-valued accessory. But if it dies, could it then give birth to new fruit in our lives, and the lives of others?
In a collaborative project I entitle “Casting Crowns”, I explore the themes of ticking time, letting go of earthly riches and the search for treasures in eternity, in light of our brief existence. Here is the third of the series, named “Fallen Pearls”.
The story behind this picture was that in our journey towards mission work in Uganda, I struggled much with letting go of my earthly possessions. This string of Swarovski crystals and pearls was a wedding gift from a dear relative of my husband’s. Yet, there was no sense for me to bring it with me to Africa- it had neither purpose nor use there. It forced me to wonder, what are the other things in my life strung together for display which I rather not let go of? Once released, do they, like the seeds of a dandelion head or a kernel of wheat, then spread forth and grow into new life?
What pearls do you need to let go of and allow to fall to the ground?
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains only a single seed.
But if it dies,
it produces many seeds.”
– John 12:24