for Rex Otto, a bittersweet story

James Lynch doesn't see any meaning or irony in the lightning-sparked fire that destroyed a giant Jesus sculpture that took him a year to create.
The Jacksonville Beach artist said he's heard and read many of the comments. Blogosphere buzz ranges from the incident proving there's no God to being a warning to the membership of the Monroe, Ohio, church where the 65-foot "King of Kings" stood - until Monday.
Lynch doesn't buy any of it.
"I truly believe that some things happen for no reason," he said.
Lynch doubts there's any more to the incident than Mother Nature's power. The statue, featuring Jesus emerging from a lake with arms stretched heavenward, was the tallest structure in a region of Ohio - about halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton - known for its stormy weather.
According to news reports, the six-story artwork flanking Interstate 75 was struck by lightning about 11:15 p.m. Monday and burned to the ground. The sculpture, erected in 2004 at Solid Rock Church, was made of Styrofoam and covered in fiberglass.
"The way its hands were raised like that, I really wasn't surprised [it was struck by lightning], honestly," Lynch said.
Lynch said he's been getting calls and e-mails from friends, and many of his Facebook friends are posting comments offering condolences.
Among Lynch's Facebook status updates Tuesday was one expressing amazement that the statue had elicited a wide range of emotions the past six years.
"People were 'saved' and others hated it," he said in the update. "As an artist, I felt 'mission accomplished.' "
Another update declared: "Giant Jesus goes out in a blaze of glory ... Nothing lasts forever."
Lynch said the statue wasn't his design or vision. He was commissioned to create the work based on his reputation for creating large sculptures.
The artist described himself as a "seeker" when asked about his spiritual beliefs. He said he believes in God, but questions religion.
"If I had done it my way ... it would have focused more on Jesus as a human being," or even as a carpenter, Lynch said. "It would be more of Christ looking down on us as opposed to looking up."
But he spent a year of his life on the sculpture, feeling privileged to work on a piece large enough to garner international attention.
Now he watches the YouTube videos of the blaze and cringes.
"It's hideous for me to see it on fire," he said.