sacred day two hundred forty-eight

returning home.

9.5.2011

flying like a bird. watching my boy look out the window of calm after a previously bumpy flight.  enjoying the memories and sounds of the national folk festival still within.  happy to be traveling home.  

sacred day two hundred forty-five

adventure.

9.2.2011

excitement and a little nervousness welling up from within.  witnessing the afternoon light from a window on a plane that's carrying us to places familiar.  excited for the adventure that awaits.  trusting. listening. being.  welcoming the sacred on this adventure with us.  life's a grand adventure with this little lad.

sacred day two hundred twenty

sacred souls.

8.8.2011

gathering with fellow clergy women, in a place filled with light and life.  breathing together. sharing together.  delighting in the spaces of quiet and spaces filled with a calming voice.  what a gift.  what a treasure.  sabbath space.  sacred space.  sacred souls.

sacred day one hundred eighty-two

the spirituality of baking bread.

7.1.2011

each time i lead others in making bread, i am given a gift.  sharing this simple way of bread making has brought joy to my life.  it's daily bread. it's life giving. it's nourishment for the mind, body, and spirit.  three in one.  a gift.  sharing stories over a loaf of bread, minds absorb the underlying meaning.  sharing bread, hearts and spirits connect.  

sacred day one hundred fifty-eight

receiving.

6.6.2011

there's a goodness in being in the space of the studio as it is.  in this moment, i am receiving what i am called to do, in the chaos of the space as bags are dropped between this and that, as projects are in their piles and corners, as fabric is waiting patiently, as i lead and as i teach.  i am receiving all that i can in this moment, from blessings found in fun places.  i am receiving the sacred that is this space.

sacred day eighty-five

sacred circles.
3.25.2011

i love, love circles, especially those created with love and color. with this custom creation, i was completely absorbed by the color and life flowing through.  i was immerced in pure goodness as i let go, releasing what i was holding in by using my hands to create.  this week has been a week filled with words and on-screen computer work.  i held in my hands my creative balance and found restoration in the work of my hands.

sacred day eighty

beauty.

3.20.2011

i see beauty in the spaces she creates.  i see a sacred story and an uninhibited telling.  her hands take care in how she creates.  it what seems like a second, she's made a work of beauty.  i believe that she can see how beautiful the work of her hands is. i truly hope so.  i see it in the sacred telling of this story.  

sacred day seventy-nine

morning light.

3.19.2011

welcoming the day with a walk/run along the beach, i took in the sights and sounds of the waves.  the waves hold so much wisdom. their sound is mystical and strong. my heart was full thinking of 30+ foot tall waves, finding their way on shore and leaving destruction and death. my heart aches and is at the same time soothed. i leaned into memories of the many summers i would find myself on the beach where my spirit was fed by the waves and sand. the sacred is in these spaces of the natural world, in the soothing waves and the waves crashing upon the land.  

sacred day seventy-eight

a good omen.

3.18.2011

when i was in kenya i was told that a bee coming near was a good omen, a good sign.  the bee on the beach, caught in the waves caught my attention.  i couldn't help but be touched by this bee, seeing it as a good sign for the retreat i was to lead here at the beach.  this bee connected me to kenya, a space i hold very dear.  i felt focused, attending to the present moment, ready to encounter what was before me.

sacred day seventy-one

evening sets.

3.11.2011

the backdrop of earth and sky was spectacular as i drove toward bumpass, va making my way to lead a retreat on bread making.  setting the tone for the evening was a glorious resting of the sun.  the sun setting lower and lower on the horizon created a delightful dispay of color & contrast, and led me into a space of rest and renewal.  i love the setting sun, it's marker that the day is shifting. i love the dusk where the word is mystical.  seeing these silos and farm roofs in the distance held meaning and presence.  here the world is created in the dirt, again and again with the work of farming hands.  here the sun sets just as it does everywhere else.  life stills its pace. life sets a new rhythm. 

sacred day sixty-six

color & stitch.

3.6.2011

stitching during sabbath.  creative rest.  the colors speak to my spirit, connecting me to the divine spark wtihin.

sacred day fifty-four

tree.
2.22.2011

i love the presence of trees. i love the process of growth, the life stories that they carry. imagining how many have held hands under this tree or how many sojourners have saught personal retreat under these branches. while leading a worship service for other clergy this morning, i had to stop in the cold and behold this glorious tree. my spirituality is rooted here.

sacred day forty-five

bubbling through.
2.13.2011

on a walk with my beloved he pointed out the water moving underneath the ice above. i loved watching the water's movement, seeing the water mixed with bubbles flowing. water is sacred.

sacred day eight

beginning the day.
1.8.2011

when staying on a mountain, the morning sun has a particularly spectacular view. when looking out the window with such a view: snow, wind, trees, ice, and mountains, you are stilled from within. a sacred space. a sacred view. a sacred way of being. standing or sitting still, knowing that all that is IS. the spaces of creation speak in their own voice and we each respond as created beings to this our Mother Earth.

sacred day seven

wonder snow.
1.7.2011

stepping from our respective spaces of worship and play, using the bowl that delivered communion bread, my sweet boy sat inside the bowl and made his way down hills of snow. this freshly fallen snow brought giggles and joy, peace and wonder. as i watched this creative, delightful vessel of the sacred sit in a vessel that carried the sacred, my heart found awareness and wonder. worship as play.

sacred day six

look, mommy!
1.6.2011

"look, mommy! tiny pine cones! aren't these adorable?" said my sweet boy on a walk. he stopped and gathered them as i waited while speaking to a dear friend. he carried them for a while and then laid them on the table, counting them. then he presented them to me as my gift. nature is full of sacred sounds, textures, and bounty. these tiny pine cones filled my sweet boy with wonder and awe.

day three hundred fifty-eight

warmth.

12.24.2010

what a greeting: warm friends, warm food, and the best of fires to enjoy. all these creature comforts speak to the mind, body, and soul. the food was so tasty, and we enjoyed each moment. each delightful food was presented with love. warm welcome. warm home. warm friends. pure delight. pure warmth.

day three hundred fifty-four

cheers to my love.
12.20.2010

seven years of marriage. more years than seven of loving, knowing, stories, cooking, friendship, companionship. i find it a creative act to be married: to share, to love, to witness, to grow, to forgive, to apologize, to appreciate, to plan, to laugh, to cry, to be known, ... oh, the love of my life brings creativity and i am thankful for this love and this life day after day.

day three hundred forty

morning light.
12.6.2010

i stood watching the ginkgo leaves fall from the tree by the dozens. entranced by their fluttering down to the earth, i put on shoes and stepped into the cold wind with my camera. i wanted to capture the golden droplets mid-air, but couldn't. there are some moments that are only captured within the soul, within the memory, within the spaces of emotion. and so i looked to the light and saw the reflection on the leaves below. the creative moments impact us and are reflected through our light. lesson and example in the glow of these leaves.

day three hundred twenty-eight

morning tastes.

11.24.2010

before setting of on holiday travels, i wanted to share a wednesday morning treat with my two loves: hot beignets at the best spot in rva for such treats (and also has the best po boys in richmond). hands down i love, love spending good time with my boys, watching them enjoy good tastes and good time together in the morning light.