standing among strangers....

so,
I am supposed to be up here in my office writing my sermon about driving in Boston, strangers, the public, and the road to Emmaus...
but after writing the intro, am thinking I need to read a little more to figure out how all this will tie together.
hope it does...
but also am thinking about my life as an artist,
and how it has virtually dried up this past year.
Yes, I have continued to get to the studio at least 3x a month, but with clay, you can't just do three days a month.
I miss it...and almost feel like a stranger to it...instead of thinking about it all of the time. I love thinking about it.
My skills have really lagged...I had such a wonderful foundation when I was throwing everyday a couple of years ago...and although all of that body memory will come back, what I need to do is practise.

Few people are clay prodigies!

Back to strangers, Jesus, and driving.

hands

last week, a 93 year old woman in my congregation taught me to knit. I am so excited...I have wanted to learn knitting for some time now, and I am thrilled-da-dilled. I know crocheting, which I love--I even learned how to crochet beaded bangle bracelets...and pottery is my love, although I feel like I have backslid somewhat in that area...

I just find that when I am doing something with my hands, creating with my hands, I am most happy. I need to find a way to integrate this into my current ministry setting, as I haven't found the place or way yet...I pray that it will emerge.

Ministry of art, of creating, is important to me..and it is definitely a part of my calling......

Releasing the Imagination

Releasing the Imagination is a book on my shelf. In it is a set of essays written about education, the arts, and social change by the renowned professor of philosophy and education Maxine Greene (Teachers College at Columbia U). It is a wonderful, inspiring read, if you are into educational philosophy and changing the world. It is also one of my favorite books just to glance at on my shelf...the jacket is muted reds/oranges/warm toasty yellows with a spot of blue for contrast. The title reminds me to "release" and "imagine"
Release my imagination.
Wonder about the possibility.
Embrace the hidden potential.
Dare, be bold, live big
but in a giving over, releasing, relaxed kind of way.
I have an image of releasing like a fountain and then just watching where the drops of water might fall...
watching their random patterns,
seeing the natural beauty.

It seems these days, it is hard for me to release anything at all. I breathe, I walk, I try to focus, and then get caught up in minutia (sp?)...then I breathe , I sing, I walk some more.
Breathe
Walk
Release
Imagine (just gently imagine...)
O Holy Spirit,
Breathing in, I breathe in awareness of the moment
Breathing out, I release that which I need to let go
Breathing in awareness,
Breathing out release...
in the in between, I pray for your help and guidance and trust....
Breathing awareness
Release...
Awareness,
Release,
Imagine.
amen