This is one of my favorites in response to a worship service at Faith Lutheran. I took pieces of the Sunday bulletin and cut them out to represent my core belief about Christian faith in community.
After I return from Sabbatical, I want to display these pieces and have an opportunity for people to really look at them and discuss them. It has been an important discipline for me to honor. This is one of the ways I believe God is retraining me to see and appreciate the small things in daily life.
While I've been at the Guild, I've created in fabric, paint, paper, clay and done a little cooking, which can also be creative! I've had opportunities to work in the garden and be a part of the cleaning crew around the campus. Each day I've done yoga, quigong and have walked a steady hour to stay limber and fit. I've also been reading each evening, which has been a true delight. Here's what I've been reading--
Take This Bread, by Sara Miles (True story about Sara's conversion to Christianity and her subsequent call to start a soup kitchen at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in San Francisco)
Garden of Hollows, by Jan L. Richardson (For Lent and Easter with Jan's own artwork)
The Contemplative Pastor, by Eugene Peterson (One of my all time favorites...but I needed time to re-read his wise words!)
The Healer Within, by Roger Jahnke (How to practice traditional Chinese techniques of movement (quigong), meditation and breathing on a daily basis)
Celtic Prayers from Iona, by J. Philip Newell (Daily offices of Prayer for each day)
Stony Road, Art by Bernd Koberling (Bob and I saw Koberling's work at the Nordiska Akvarellmuseet Gallery in Skarhamn, Sweden on the island of Tjorn in May, 2005. He splits his year between winter teaching in Berlin and summer painting in Iceland. When painting, he sits down on the land with paints and paper spread before him. His work is highly organic and cellular; very colorful. He inspires me!)
Prayers to Sophia, by Joyce Rupp (Great story about a traditional Catholic sister discovering the feminine of God in the Sophia/Wisdom literature)
Steering by Starlight, by Martha Beck (Interesting book written by a leading life coach about discernment of one's path/journey in life)
Cave in the Snow, by Vicki Mackenzie (True and wonderful story about a British woman, Diane Perry, who became Buddhist in 1976. Her Tibetan name is Tenzin Palmo. As part of her path toward enlightenment as a Buddhist nun, she lived in a remote cave 13,200 feet up in the Himalayas for twelve years of intense Buddhist meditation! I think a month-long silent retreat will be enough for me. :))
What a rich time it has been here. For the remainder of the week, I have a few projects that I need to complete or take to a deeper level. And then there is the wonderful opportunity to learn, perhaps, wood block printing!
My happy, creative table.
Hannah +
