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vonda drees

journaling the Spirit's stirring

Keep Watch with Me

Keep Watch with Me – Advent 2017

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my notes for this morning matins talk... a little messy... just the way I like ‘em

Here we are. So grateful for friends with whom I get to share life. #vondadreesart

Recently I’ve been working with the other sides of journal pages that were originally part of a study on Ignatian Spirituality. This image’s other side brought to mind a kind of abstract Madonna and Child... Although I turned the journal around and around to try to see something else, the same orientation, the same concept kept coming back. #vondadreesart

Light walks on water, lifting my heart to newness. Wholly, buoyant path. “The same spirit that hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation hovers over the mind of the artist at work.” —St. Thomas Aquinas #vondadreesart

In the beginning — Treasure within tradition — Art evokes Love’s Source. I read and then listened to a powerful reading this morning, called “The Religious Value of the Unknown.” Here’s the link - http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=8235. While listening this image was created. “A dark flame sprang forth from the innermost recess of the mystery of the Infinite.” —from the Zohar, “Splendor” #vondadreesart

Spiraling seasons bring all creation homeward. Love’s merry-go-round. #vondadreesart

“Because high heaven made itself so low, That I might glimpse it through a stable door, Or hear it bless me through a hammer blow, And call me through the voices of the poor, Unbidden now, its hidden light breaks through Amidst the clutter of every day, Illuminating things I thought I knew, Whose dark glass brightens, even as I pray.” —an excerpt from “Heaven in Ordinary” by Malcolm Guite To listen to Malcolm read the whole poem, here’s the link - https://malcolmguite.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/heaven-in-ordinary.m4a. The video is of a tree near the Grünewald Guild’s garden. It was a treat the other day to listen to her golden rain. #vondadreesart

“‘There reaches a point where you see other humans drowning, or washed ashore with nothing,’ says Tara, ‘where there is no possibility other than to help with all your heart. It isn’t kindness, exactly— because there is less an element of choice than people think, and for this reason it is less noble.’” —an excerpt from an essay titled “The Understory” by Robert Macfarlane This link, I hope, will get you to the article, if you’re interested in reading more - http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=8231. Compassion flows through the eternal jugular. Tender hearts beat on. I’ve shared this second image before... interestingly, almost a year ago to the day. This morning I opened the journal to the page’s other side and began working. Then, I read The Understory article, returning to work on the image when I needed some time for reflection. (It’s a pretty long article.) When it felt done, i turned over the page to see what was on the other side. Seems there’s some news here that I’m still needing to absorb into my being. I know there is... because yesterday, as Jim and I drove by a man sitting on the corner of an intersection, all I could do was feel bad that I had a half a sandwich lowered to my lap. #vondadreesart

Layers of stories light ways of being. Listen, My love sounds through you. “When space acts as an instrument, the space can tune you.” —Shea Michael Trahan What a grace to resound love in a place where Love sings a river song and a ponderosa tune. #vondadreesart

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