baptism and stained glass

I am working on large commissions. One started at work, the other when I was a babe.

An administrator at work saw my stained glass and asked me to make two panels, which would be mirror images. I put it off for this and that, but finally I got set to cut glass...



a rainy weekend and some dedication led to this...



since then nice weather and gardening has delayed the process.

At church I have been given a ministry of talking to parents on their way to the baptism of their child. Last night it happened again. The last time it turned out the woman had grown up two houses away from where I grew up. Life is interesting that way.

This time I had found a new article that talked of how the path to baptism in the early church took as big of a commitment as one does now to become ordained. It was not child's play. It was for adults who were being transformed in Christ. I want the parents to see this as a moment for their own spiritual journey as well as the beginning of their child's.

I sat in my church last night trying to imagine a community where all were ministers to Christ while two friends, who also showed up, talked logistics to the parents. I felt a craving to do what was done 1700 years ago and wished the spiritual exercises had not ended.

Then I thought of that post I wrote about how I had changed over the last ten years since I returned to church.

Like I implied several posts ago, I am unsettled. The exercises have ended, but I crave more.

baptism's power and humility

The spiritual exercises have gone another week of week 2. They are stirring my soul, so I guess I am getting my work out.

first I am in awe of the powerful nature of Jesus's baptism. Following him out of that scene over the last few weeks has shown me how it energized him into a life with a desire to do God's will. Made me think of being confirmed and how little that meant at the time. Being anointed on Christmas Day 10 years ago, a month after returning to church, comes to mind as a day of accepting the spirit, or at least becoming accepting of the spirit.

I have been selected as the person to gather photos to celebrate my parents, both of whom are turning 75 in 2008 and celebrating their 50th anniversary. A package came from California this week. Downloading the photos I see one I had never seen before.... my elder sister at her adult baptism which took place out west.

I sat with the three phases of humility this past week and it brings up my struggle with self-promotion. I feel awkward advertising my craft.

The other night I came across someone selling stained glass for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Is my goal to limit my work to 5% of the population, to have fame, to have great wealth? What is my desire? Is it to do what I have loved all my life, create designs? If my craft brings me fame and wealth, then I will have to accept or reject those things based on how it touches me.

What do I desire from my life? What great desires does God want to stir up in my soul? I have doodled all my life.

Last night we went to Philadelphia to see Maria Schneider's Jazz orchestra. I closed my eyes and was taken away into the music's beauty and complexity. She has made a life from her passion. How many women who desire to compose and direct big bands end up 20 years winning a Grammy award? Did she do this for the fame or did the fame come because of a combination of talent and passion?

at the concert we ended up sharing a table with a jazz promoter. He was quite excited about one singer (a future post) and gave me her card. I gave him mine (first time I did such a thing) and told him what we make and told him we would save him a seat if he ever came back to the art museum.

with all this mind.... here is my latest piece...mostly made from scraps remaining after making the piece which I dropped...

ETSY SHOP