A thorn can appear quite tiny and insignificant, but the sharp wooden stem of a plant can inflict considerable pain and discomfort.
Ironically, some of the most vicious thorns are found on the most beautiful plants. The rose, for example, has become a symbol of love and for simultaneously experiencing pleasure and pain. Since ancient times the thorn has been used in stories as a potent metaphor. I remember reading a story in my youth about the child that removed a thorn from a lion’s paw, and as a result they became dear friends.
The Bible is chock-full of powerful references to thorns. After Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden for their disobedience and rebellion, part of the curse placed on them was that thorns and thistles would grow in their fields. Another reference involves our ability to identify an individual’s character or essential nature: a tree is known by its fruit, for no men
gather figs from thorns… Another parable uses thorns to describe the way a farmer’s seeds are choked out like individuals who are distracted by the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth.
The piece shown here is one in a series works entitled “Thorn In The Flesh.” The title refers to a phrase used by the apostle Paul to describe a chronic trouble, aliment or perhaps temptation that plagued him thorough out his life. If you have ever had a thorn lodged in your skin you know how annoying it can be. It is rarely life threating or debilitating but demands a great deal of our energy and attention until it is removed. Interestingly, Paul did not see this thorn as a curse but rather as a gift that kept him from becoming over confident or full of pride.