Sabbatical 2010, Day 2

December 23, 2010

The day started early; I woke up about 5, thinking “Blinded by the Light…”

Here we are in Advent, looking for the Light, and when we find it (or it dawns on us), it can blind us. Makes me grateful for slow sunrises—but even those, at their apex, can blind us. I wrote a very long poem a few years back; I was reflecting on the “born again” experience and comparing it to an actual birth process—imagine coming from the darkness of Mother’s womb into the brightness of this big new world. All I want to do is close my eyes to protect them from the light. Not really sure where these reflections will lead today, but that’s what I woke up thinking about…

Morning prayer: Compel me to know your ways o Love; instruct me upon your path. Ps 25

I had a wonderful drive today. I was surprised, there’s hardly any “boring” strip of land, even from I-10. Beautiful hills, and almost mountains. I finally decided that I really should get off the Interstate, at least for a few minutes, so I detoured to “see” Ft. Lancaster Historical Park—o my gosh, what a beautiful sight.

First of all, I saw a real working Texas oil well,



then a deer, then another. I even had to stop my car for the second, as the 4-point buck bounded across the road, then leapt (with ease) over the fence. Shortly, I saw a sign, “HILL”, and another, “slow to 45”, so I did. And when I rounded the bend, what a beautiful sight I saw, a canyon! I was at the top, and the road was descending to the “fort” at the bottom.




The park wasn’t open yet, but the drive was breathtaking, unexpected, beautiful, miraculous!




Later I took another detour toward the Davis Mountains—not far, just far enough to enjoy the drive. Pulled over, had lunch and pulled out my paper and brushes. I was using Bienfang watercolor brushes, and the red “dumped”, but I loved it anyway. I played with the paints until a bee buzzed into my car, only about 15 minutes, but it was fun.





I arrived in El Paso at a little after 2. I’m just down the block from UTEP, where hubby went to school. It’s been a good day. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. It’s taken me two days to get across Texas, and tomorrow I’ll drive through two states in one day! I plan to go to midnight services tomorrow night in Tucson, then on to Pine Christmas day. The weather’s been great – what a gift!

Sabbatical 2010, Night 1, Sedona TX

Mother and I left home this morning about 8 and drove (with Tom meowing in our ear) to Columbus, where I passed Mother and Tom off to Sandy. She will continue on to Leander and spend a couple of weeks there with my brother Marshall and his wife Sandy.

Then I continued my drive to Sedona. It was a wonderful drive--I forget how absolutely beautiful the hill country is, even on the Interstate.

There's a couple of things I want to do every day--one is post an update and a quote; the other is sketch or draw something along the way. So, that's the reason for my rough drawing--suitcase and shoes at rest. Me, too. I have a feeling it will be an early night. But before I sign off, I want to log in my quote for the day. I'm nearly finished with Cynthia Bourgeault's The Wisdom Jesus. It has been a delicious book. This morning I read this wondeful quote from Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet:

"Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightes us is, in the deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love."

So, I'm off for the night. I'll check in again tomorrow.

Anyone who knows me knows I've struggled with Christmas for many years now, but I'm really learning to love Advent.

I wasn't raised with Advent,and never experienced it until I spent my time in the Catholic Church. I tried to celebrate it the usual way, with wreaths, calendars, special prayers, etc., but that never really worked for me. Advent for me is praying with my art.

Way back in 2003, my artwork came back to me--I think Mary gave it to me. I hadn't touched anything resembling art supplies in years--too busy chasing God, but in 2003, toward the end of November, I began dreaming of mandalas, so I began working with them. That was my journey back into art work, and without me realizing it, it was my introduction to praying with art. And I didn't realize then that I was in the Advent season.

Advent 2003 didn't find me any closer to they Mystery of Advent--it was still just a season on the calendar. But slowly, I've come to notice over the past few years, that Advent brings me a precious slowing down (even in all the hustle and bustle). Something begins to pull me back, slow me down, and turn me in. Last year, Andy said it--Don't struggle with Christmas; celebrate Advent. Look for the Light. So I did. Last year was an art journal. Look back a year on this blog, and you'll find it. This year, it's icons. I had the privilege of sharing my love for icons (something else I discovered during my time in the Catholic Church) with our Christian Formation class last week, and I knew I wanted to paint an icon. It's not egg tempera--may never be, but it is on wood, and I did "real" gold gilding! That was an experience! And I've thorougly enjoyed the experience of working quietly and meditatively this week. This has always been my favorite icon: Christ Pantocrator. This image is supposed to be the "sterner" image, but I love it.

Now, the paints go up, and the studio gets put back in some kind of order, and I won't use it again until next year. I leave next week on Sabbatical. I plan on doing some art while I'm gone, but in small doses. So, I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. O, by the way, I read something this past week that made me stop in my tracks. Did you know that WE are the reason for the Season??? Because God loved us, Jesus came.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Merry Yule to all my friends!