"The Conversion of St. Paul"

    On the rock wall in the entry is a sculpture entitled "The Conversion of St. Paul" by Mr. William Stockton.
    How does one portray the conversion experience in sculpture? How does one capture the moment when God touches the life of a man, the moment when man reaches out to touch God?  Mr. Stockton has chosen the thorn branch to represent God, symbolizing the fact that we often meet God in the thorny situations of life. In the sculpture, while St. Paul is reaching out for God, he is also shrinking away from Him. Often we desire to leave the old way of life and enter a new relationship, but we are afraid to leave the security of our old life. St. Paul is in the prenatal position, about to be "born again," to enter into a new life.  He is agonizing, but birth and growth in our relationships with one another and with God, many times are connected with suffering and agony.  It is a difficult thing to become a follower of Jesus Christ.  Mr. Stockton says, "Many, who demand their art to veer toward the decorative, will be somewhat offended by this interpretation of Saint Paul. But, then, isn't there a great deal of him in all of us?"
    This sculpture was placed as a memorial to William Eagle by his loved ones and numerous friends.  As one of the original residents in 1959, Bill was instrumental in establishing the Wesley House, and was president of the Wesley Foundation.  He received his B.S. in civil engineering in 1962 and was married to Lyla Dyer. He was tragically taken after a short illness. This statue is placed in tribute to the deep religious commitment, many hours of devoted service to his fellow students, and the love of Christ which was so evident in the life of William Eagle.
 

  Christus Collegium
    714 S. 8th Ave.
    Bozeman, Montana 59715
phone: 406-586-3172
fax: 406-522-8882

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