I spotted John 3:16 written in chalk on the ground of 75^th street and Central Park West. What I strive to do is understand the importance of this religious symbol by the means in which it is portrayed and how it connects to the message. I could not help but notice that the words written are not the original words from the Christian bible, but rather a simplified version of what the verse is trying to say. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life” is what the bible says, but the meaning of John 3:16 is the story of love and appreciation. The message written in the sidewalk is ‘You are love(d)’. The ‘d’ placed in parenthesis is well thought of as it gives two meanings to what is written down. John 3:16 summarizes the relationship between humanity and God. The first meaning is that you are love because God created you with love, therefore the life we have has an origin of love. The second meaning with the ‘d’ added at the end is a reminder of this. A reminder that God loves us and cares for us in more ways than just existence and expresses his love by giving us the capacity to have spirituality and feel a connection with him. The word ‘loved’ is used as an indication that God sees no boundaries for love. This sidewalk message in short is playing a role in motivating oneself to radiate love as to understand that oneself is loved unconditionally. With this love, one will eventually find salvation. Basically summarizing what the whole Christian faith is about.

             It is important to consider the location of the verse: the ground in New York City.  Millions of people walk over that sidewalk every day, and it is very likely that not everyone will stop and read what it says. First let’s consider the fact that it is not a very striking image or sign that people would stop and stare like if it was the Mona Lisa drawn in chalk. It is a very simple verse written with 3 different colors and truly not big of size. Second, it is important to consider the material that it was created with: chalk, which is not permanent. It fades extremely quickly. Street art is usually created for the purpose of making a statement and that is why spray paint is essential, because it is almost permanent. Chalk is not meant to last forever so it seems like this sign is making an invitation rather than a statement. It catches a person’s eye just the right amount for them to become interested in what the text is saying. It reminds people of the meaning of love and their relationship to God and therefore invites them into salvation without necessarily shoving it their faces. The chalk is a symbol of something ephemeral that will fade when pedestrians walk over it. However, it is still there for those who choose to notice it. Just like religion, this sign provides an insightful message about love and spirituality for those who choose the path of faith.