Houston, Texas

This is the crucifix that was placed on top of my father’s casket during his funeral. My mother gave it to me to remember my father. It tears me apart because the crucifix shows death. I’m torn because I don’t like to think of my father as dead. While my father died in 2009, I still feel his presence everyday. He was my hero. He was an impressive man who taught me how to live out loud. He taught me to be daring. He taught me to help others. He was/is amazing. So I guess the crucifix makes sense in that although it depicts Christ’s death, as Christians we still believe Christ is alive. That’s how I feel about my father. Though he is physically dead, I feel his spiritual presence constantly.