On entering my newest year

In Buffalo. In a sculpture.

I celebrated 50 years with a jazz conert and a campaign to feed the hungry. But time marches on and so does my mind.

I was a decent letter writer back in the day. Over time it stopped. I hear that the post office still sends out such things. I imagine my friends have addresses they might share if I am lacking their current location.

So I had this thought, I will send a letter a week for the next year. Not a note, but a letter, hand written. I'm rusty. Beware my friends; I have memories of nearly getting straight A's in elementary school but being thwarted by some harsh C- marks for penmanship. Over time I developed a half cursive/ half printing scrawl. I think it can be deciphered.

Some letters may include a Stratozpheric card or maybe a suncatcher that seems to need a home. Some may be tucked inside a card that catches my eye or one of the cards sent recently by a friend. Maybe a commission will spark a letter. Some will fly solo inside an envelope. The goal is not to draw cards or give away art. I desire to return to writing letters.

Letter writing is a chance to reflect upon what is happening in my life. Like pizza making it may become a habit, something I am known for.

And who knows, if one of the letters gets a response, a life long correspondence may happen. That would be quite splendid.

 

Flowing in the Living Water

I am The Living Water
Banner
Holy Trinity Lansdale

It has been 17 years or so since I returned to church. I still have my doubts, but I cannot not doubt that the journey has transformed me.

Mosaic Woman has journeyed with me day by day and has unfolded along with me. We are blessed to have become people who still desire to share lives together.

This past year I reconnected with some friends I knew back in college. One came to town on business and I fed him pizza. One I actually picked up a phone and called. One I met halfway, by a river we both love from those days in college.

I pondered the chances of people disconnected for nearly three decades to have become new people who still would want to be friends with each other. In each case, I am glad to call them my friend. 

Watching the river that day with my friend, I was baffled; the river seemed to be flowing in opposite directions. Finally I asked if she saw what I saw. Rivers are turbulent. In fact trying to get any water to flow without any turbulence is quite difficult.

17 years ago I was afraid to leap into the living water. Where would it take me? I imagined places that I feared. Could I become shaped by God into a person I didn't want to be? A wise man told me that I did not have to believe anything, just be willing to take a journey.

The turbulence has transformed me, but so far not into what I feared. Who knew God wanted me to garden, to listen to jazz, to transform my doodles into glass sun catchers, to decide that creating joy is the ultimate goal of my teaching, to invite 50+ people a year to my house for pizza, to learn how to imagine the pain of others so I can open this stoic heart a bit more day by day, to become an Episcopalian, to find a place to finally release my pain and return year after year for eight days of silence with Jesuits ...

The journey has pushed me into so many places That I have to wonder who this new self is. Then I visit with three of my best friends from back in the day, and I can now see that I am flowing in the living water and I am pleased to have inched myself in a bit deeper each year.

Creating a Path to Jazz in Churches ~ The Thelonious Monk Septet's Monk's Music

Cleared off the top of my stereo so I could play an LP or two. Monk's Music was released by Riverside Records in 1957. It was one of the first jazz records to be in my collection, but that wasn't till nearly thirty years after it was recorded Only six tunes on the LP, five of which are tunes by Thelonious Monk, but the first tune is a less than a minute take of Abide with Me. The hymn was written by Henry Francis Lyte as he prepared for death. The opening refers to Luke 24:29, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent"

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

... but the music was composed by William H. Monk. Thus it is Monk's music. Thelonious Monk does not play on the tune and I wonder if that ever happened again on one of his albums. He arranged it for horns. Ray Copeland, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Gigi Gryce play it ~

When I first played this LP, I doubt I would have one day be a fan of jazz vespers and be planning to celebrate my 50th birthday at an Episcopalian church and with jazz. But that is where my life has unfolded.

A shirt for many occasions ~ belief plus doubt equals sanity

Margaret spotted this when we were in the midst of this and knew it had my name all over it, even though I do not own a piece of red clothing.

I am a man of hope and uncertainty. I don't know how it will turn out, but I believe it will, some how some way. I see this as a perfect shirt for a few occasions. The red and the message make it perfect for the first two.

1. Pentecost Sunday ~ my very first thought when I read it. I believe God has transformed my life but doubt God's existence on a regular basis. Being 100% certain either way is likely a state m mind will avoid.
2. A Philadelphia Phillies game ~ even in the best years I do believe they can win, but I doubt if they will win all their games. Only sane approach to being fan.
3. And maybe I will break it out when I celebrate my birthday. I believe I will have many more to celebrate but doubt they will go on for ever and can only hope to make it to the next one.
4. Where else? Suggestions...

 

Infrequent Activities ~ hair cuts for Locks of Love and handling jump ropes

I came home, threw most of my hair on the porch and took a photo of this Dancing Lady before going inside our two studio row.

All in all I would guess my hair was shortened by 15 inches. It's still long.

So there I was helping out at our track and field and fun day, counting how many successful jumps were being made over the jump rope in my hand (60 was tops) when I realized I handled jump ropes infrequently, but more frequently than getting my haircut.

Four haircuts in 14 years since I first began to grow my hair out. I miss it. I love the easier showers.

 

Being Greeted

The best thing about the commute is the greeting that happens when it is over. On Friday I stepped out of my car to the sight of a most splendid tulip. By the time I had made it to the porch, a second tulip called out for some attention ~

Then there is Bobo, who belongs to my neighbor. Bobo has been greeting us for years. Saying "Bobo" is just plain fun. You never know how Bobo will respond. On this occasion Bobo yawned ~

Once the flowers and cat have greeted me, it is time to get the business news. Mosaic Woman has been running the business and over a cup of coffee, she gets me caught up with any news. Then I get to step inside her studio to see what progress has emerged ~

T is for Thanks ~ The A to Z of One Word Messages

Wayne as a young dude
in red jacket

When said simply and from the heart, Thanks, is all that needs to be said.  

Tonight I give thanks that the young Wayne featured above survived this, that, and the other thing to see his life as one that unfolds with God's creation.  Thanks.

Gardening Dude where he teaches 

Jazz Dude at the
Rochester Jazz Festival

Strudel making Dude who carries on
the tradition 

Stained Glass Dude, who digs the color orange

Back in the Day Dude
when Mosaic Woman was not yet Mosaic Woman
but was Margaret

Nature loving Dude with his dad
who took him out west one summer and
then years later
came out to Oregon and walked across a lave bed with him

7 best things and worst things about being an artist

Stratoz with his largest Mandala
Forgiveness

Mosaic Woman and I had a conversation and as she made dinner, I contemplated things.  Into my head came a thought, enough already... stop thinking you can be both a teacher and an artist.  Step away.  Fill your life with neglected gardens, hiking paths, movie theaters, and books.

It looked enticing.

Since then we have had more talks including one after dinner over pie at our favorite diner.

Since then I have spent a lot of time in my studio:  so in my opinion this is why I give away so much to be an artist:

1. Moments in the studio when I see how I am slowly mastering the skills needed to work with glass.
2. Bringing smiles to some people who I love dearly and some who I may never meet. 
3. Spending time with colors.
4. Bringing my interests into my art.
5. Being humbled by those who trust me with commissions.
6. Opportunites to be better at accepting praise.
7. Meeting and becoming friends with artists.

now the bad stuff ~

1. pricing and then being told we charge too much and being told we charge too little
2. having to accept praise and criticism with grace
3. deciding which of the many things I desire to make, to create
4. reproducing a completed piece in the same colors
5. giving over much of your life to the making and selling of art
6. selling much loved pieces.  Selling anything (there have been some longs days at shows)
7. capturing the spirit of glass with a camera

2012, just thinking about it tired me out

The year began doing a bunch of special pieces for our exhibit at Pebble Hill Church

The other day we were driving to my parents and we began thinking about 2012.  I thought, "I should be exhausted."  The next morning I woke up sick and am still recovering.

some of the highlights from the first half  of 2012 in no particular order except how blogger chose to do it ~ 

my first and currently only Hex sign mandala,
inspired on one of my silent times with the Jesuits

I set up a place on etsy for my cards of Hope.
The commissions that flowed in have been amazing.  

My parents commissioned
peace, hope, and love
from us and it looks great
in their living room. 

Margaret was commissioned to make
another bowling ball 

In June we stopped at The Corning Museum of Glass
 after several nights of jazz in Rochester with our friends

crazy early tulips
after a crazy warm winter
which left us crazy gardeners
wondering what the heck is going on here

The Hippo Project ~
it sounded like a practical joke
but it emerged from the studio and is in California 

The Angel Wings ~
another of those places
only clients could take us in 2012

Margaret started collaborating with
our friend, Suzanne Halstead.  

 

We celebrated our 20th anniversary with a trip to see
Jane Ira Bloom, a favored sax player

A Few of My Favorite Things 10 ~ starting afresh

Collaboration by
Margaret Almon andWayne Stratz

New years, new places I called home, new friends, new hopes, new colleges, new jobs, new faith, new glass, new students, new genres of music, new bird sightings, new types of food, new understanding, new color pencils, new ways to cope, new designs, new scientific discoveries ... 

to live an unfolding life is the best thing of all.

and really how better to end this string of posts, with a man who was hanging out in my parents' album collection when I emerged into this unfolding creation ~ 

To Show or Not to Show, that is the question at hand

We (Nutmeg Designs) have had some amazing days and moments at craft shows, but we also have had disappointing and grand weekends wishing we were home finishing up commissions in the studio, or having friends over for pizza, or being rested for teaching, or going to a movie...

So we are going to look at data and combine it with our emotions to come up with what will likely be a less than perfect plan.  Here is data number one.  Margaret compiled a list of super customers, folk who have shown continued support of our art.  I was convinced that shows would be minor, but to my dismay the only thing that beat it out was friends made at work.  So clearly I have to keep my day job of teaching and keep doing shows.  Well, I knew that already.

But we will be doing less shows.  Our white board of commissionshas had a steady list on it for many months and we trusted that that would not change, so we signed up for far less shows during the holiday rush.   (take your imagination into our studio with your very own commission)  Who knows, maybe we will get to a movie.

My day job is still needed, but we feel little pressure for Mosaic Woman to get a gig.

But wait, lets add up those friends... 61.30% of our super customers are friends that have emerged from many a place.  No wonder I have made pizza for 48 friends in 2012 and still have many people on the "I want to have them over" list.  And being a super client is not required to be invited.

at the end of the year we will examine our sales from 2012 using some new software.  More data!

Walking with God ~ Day by Day, Creatively Keeping The Hours

as seen at my church

A week or so before I left for the retreat I began a novel that is broken into sections called such things as Matins, Lauds, Terce, Compline.  Who knew it was preparing my soul for the workshops I chose.

The first workshop was based on a book by Marney K. Makridakis would love if we could create time by viewing it not as our enemy (fill in negative phrase here... killing time, comes to mind) but as something we are immersed within as our life flows into creation.  That is my take on the book, which I have not read.   I took this workshop because I knew I would be given colors to play with.   I drew something, which I gifted so it is not to bee seen here.  

My second workshop of the weekend was on keeping the hours, which though I wanted to drum, called me a bit stronger.  I got to hear a great story in the process about how my friend came to dig Martha while she was in silence.

What I drew was my abstract take on my soul stretching out to God at six times during the day.  So now let me get creative with my time and create some hours to keep.

Awakening time... between 6 and 7:00 a.m. 

Prep period time... 10:00 a.m.

Lunch break time... Noon

Preparing for the commute home time... 3:30 p.m. or later

After Dinner time... between 6 and 7:00 p.m. 

Examen time... 9:21 p.m. 

Now how to fill those first five times.  one could be reading a Psalm, and another to be imaginative while reading Matthew since our Bible study is examining the book this fall, one to sit with the prayer chain list and see who I am led to pray for, maybe one just to be quiet and breathe with God.  

So how about the fifth... any thoughts?

The Bread of Life Banner

Jesus said, 

"I am the bread of life; 

whoever comes to me shall not hunger, 

and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." 

 John 6:35

I had had no idea that the Holy Eucharist would feed my hunger.  When I walk towards the meal, when I take the bread and drink the wine, when I ask to be renewed and cleansed... this is when my doubts fade to the side and my faith grows stronger.

Mystical Mondays: On the Road to Compassion

Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

15 years or so ago I took a Myers Briggs test and scored low on most things.  I guess I tended to be on the fence in defining myself at the edges where I would have earned points.  My lowest score was in compassion, which if I recall correctly was a "zero." 


I was on the verge of entering the world of the mystics, who drew out maps on which my life has unfolded.  I think for the better...

Ask Anything

"Ask Anything,"

My Lord said to me.

And my mind and heart thought deeply

for a second,

then replied with just one word,

"When?"

God's arms then opened up and I entered myself.

I entered Myself when I entered 

Christ.

And having learned compassion I

allowed my soul

to stay.

Meister Eckhart

Mystical Monday--- as I pack for Silence

Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

As I reviewed the last seven love poems, this one leapt out at me.  It expands what I see my role in a universe that unfolds.  If this is true, being aware of it unfolding is not the only key, but I also have a role in helping it to unfold.

and with that thought I prepare for a bit of silence myself and leave you with this,

may it help the unfolding that is happening inside our hearts.

Expands His Being

All beings
are words of God,
His music, His
art.

Sacred books we are, for the infinite camps
in our
souls.

Every act reveals God and expands His being.
I know that may be hard
to comprehend.

All creatures are doing their best
to help God in His birth
of Himself.

Enough talk for the night.
He is laboring in me;

I need to be silent
for a while,

worlds are forming
in my heart.

Meister Eckhart

Bowie unfolds into the Wee Trio

The Wee Trio  ~ Ashes to Ashes
Jazz takes on David Bowie

OK, so I grant that my memory is far from the best, but if it is accurate, one of the first two LP's I bought was by David Bowie.

unfold... while many other LP's were bought by musicians, who fell out of favor, Bowie hung on strong through high school and college.

Unfold... Five months after college I met Mosaic Woman, who was also a big Bowie fan, maybe not as big as her sister, but they both introduced me to gaps in my Bowie collection.

Unfold... years of sharing music and changing taste.  Jazz emerges as our favorite genre eight years ago.

Unfold... Two years ago I went to a convention of science teachers and a buddy of mine from work went as well.  We decided to linger in the big city one evening to hear some jazz, and that is how I heard of the Wee Trio, because they were playing at Chris's Jazz Cafe that evening.

Unfold... A year ago we heard about Kickstarter and started supporting jazz musicians, who were searching public support.  The Wee Trio was there one night when I was seeking for a new project.  They wanted to be funded to bring Bowie to jazz.  We leapt in.

Unfold... Two months ago I see The Wee Trio is coming back to Philly, back to Chris's.

Backup--- A year ago when slashing our budget to make way for Mosaic Woman to quit unemployment/job search and focus on our business, I made a new line item: 

After we subtracted the following from our monthly art sales, if anything was left we would put a portion of the money into a BIG DATE FUND.

1. expenses
2. taxes
3. what was needed to keep a balanced budget 

Unfold... Thursday night we saw the Wee Trio play originals, standards, and of course... Bowie.

Backup--- First I said hello to them.

I am so glad my life unfolds into space and time and jazz and Bowie

Check out :  The Wee Trio     Chris's Jazz Cafe     Kickstarter    Mosaic Woman

what I learned during silence

The Shadow of Wayne Stratz
Jesuit Retreat Center
Wernersville, PA

"Troublemakers: Since no one really knows anything about God, those who think they do are just troublemakers." -~~~~ Rabia 8th century Sufi woman.


with that said, this is what I learned and/or retaught in 24 hours of silence: 

1. If you are really tired, then God will let you sleep through dinner and then will encourage you to go off grounds to get a meal.
2. God will provide you with prophets who speak of hope and allow you the time to reflect upon your childhood.
3. God will encourage you to draw designs, once you are rested.
4. God will let you see the nature of time and retreats.
5. God will have you listen to your heart and when it aches with some spiritual anxiety over letting go of your annual 8 day retreat, your spiritual director will send you a message:  "God knows what you are letting go of and will find a way to provide what you will miss."
6. God will give you a plan that lifts your spirit and hope to face the future.
7. God digs hanging out with people who listen to jazz.

on my summer vacation...

On Wednesday I went back to teaching for our six week summer program. My summer vacation was fruitful to say the least.

as I blogged about, we saw 13 jazz sets in four nights in Rochester, then stopped in Corning on the way home.

then in 15 days:

I completed 15 sun catchers including two peace mandalas and finishing this project:



This batch will be for sale this weekend at Tinicum while a nearly identical batch is going across the street to the five families in the row homes that were displaced by a fire. The last family came back after 14 months away. Their restored houses will become a rainbow!

I gave a talk about how my life inspires my stained glass.

I cut out 43 pieces of glass to spell out gentleness. The g took 9 pieces...




I designed what will become my first stepping stone. It just may make you wish you had commissioned me.

I cut out half of patience.

I made pizza. and then I made it again.

I ate Ethiopian Food in Philly where I had this view



I gardened.

I took my mom and dad to a diner where they enjoyed strawberry rhubarb pie.

I had lunch with three different Daves, the first lunch being with a Dave I had never met before.

I chose 15 essays which my English class may just read this summer.

I cut out the pieces to spell JOY for a future mosaic.

I ordered eight jazz CD's with amazon gift money we got from Christmas past.

I enjoyed the fact that Mosaic Woman was home and not working so we had lots of time together.

I dug my life.