2020
“Remember the moon as it wanes and fills / among the clouds, / at holy days. / Consider the moon: it is closer / to the earth than any star or planet. / It pales in comparison to these. / Its light does not sparkle. / It’s spotted, mottled. / Oceans wax and wane with the moon. / But the morning star, / how different, / is always present. / It is always and equally near, / shining in the sky before the sun overwhelms us, / raised above earthly concerns / as your soul should be.”
—Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart by Jon M. Sweeney & Mark S. Burrows, p. 23
2019
“Part of remembering Jesus is… remembering his life, all the things he loved, the food he loved, the parties he loved, the people he loved. That’s how we really feel a connection to someone who is no longer with us in the way they were once with us. We remember them through the things that they loved: the foods they loved, the sounds, the tastes, the smells. … We remember in a very mysterious way… “
In the interview, Rachel goes on to describe the sacrament of anointing enacted by the woman who poured perfume over Jesus’ feet prior to his death — an act that filled the whole room with a sweet scent.
“In his darkest days, Jesus was surrounded by women, and in that first moment of resurrection, that first break of daylight… Jesus chose to introduce the new kingdom to women, the ones who stuck by him through death. If you stick with someone through death, even when there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, that’s when you see resurrection. When you show up with the burial spices… that’s when it happens.”
What a profound gift the anointing must have been to Rachel… and in turn, to all those in the room… and now, to you and me.
2018
Creativity joys in love.
Pondering the Grunewald Guild’s mission of art, faith & community this morning as we prepare for our closing sacrament of the celebration of creative gifts for this Sacred Arts Week.
2017
Just one more week with the brace on my wrist… yay!
My markers have been waiting patiently and faithfully on my desk, ready to spring into action. We’re SOOO close to switching over to the Guild’s new website. Wow! My life is full of things that want to express themselves!
In this time of waiting, it’s been good for me to ponder and share past journaling images. Today’s images come from a set created while listening to a webcast called “Imagining Another Way” with Christena Cleveland and Richard Rohr. There are more from this series here: https://www.pinterest.com/vondadrees/richard-rohr-notes/.
So, hear I stand… I can do no other. Thanks, Martin Luther… pun intended.
“Seven Years of Wonder” is a daily look back at my creative journaling posts since 2014. I began this journey on Feb. 11, 2021, and hope to continue through Feb. 10, 2022. What am I learning about my art and faith journey thus far? What has remained constant? Where have I been changed? How is this impacting present and future art-making?
A deep bow of gratitude to you for keeping me company on this journey.
vonda drees art 