Hope
The best depiction of hope, for me, is a burning candle. It signals a light that can dispel darkness even when the darkness is thick and bleak. One kind word, a drink of tea, a prayer can change the way in which we see the situation or even our lives.
But another way to depict hope is to show it as a spiritual truth, that though life is hard, even when life is threatened, there will be a way through this difficulty and that we are not alone. I quilted an icon of this idea from Psalm 23. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me."
Hope can be the force that gets us up in the morning for the simple reason that, if the sun can rise, (or in this icon, the moon) we can too. Hope restores our faith in our own journey. It gives us a will to live. It instills courage.
Never doubt the strength of hope. It makes all the difference in a world that sometimes does not seem to care. Carry hope with you and pay it forward...be a hopeful burning candle in the world, a presence in the valleys of life.
An illustration of hope:
Hope is epitomized for me by the Black Madonna. She is another representation of Jesus' mother but with black skin. She is the brutally honest, real, sad, compassionate woman who is deeply connected as a friend of all those who suffer.
She is the patron saint of all those who need to find a small path to inner freedom in the midst of pain. People travel across continents to pay homage to her and to touch her hand, to have her bless them. They know she has compassion on their pain and offers them courage for the journey. She holds Jesus in her lap and he gazes on those pilgrims as well.
After reading about her, I took a pilgrimage to Spain, to stay in the Benedictine monastery that houses one of the most accessible statues of her, in Montserrat, outside of Barcelona. I felt her presence. I heard her words of comfort and wisdom. I knew her compassion. She epitomizes God's love.
Photo: the Black Madonna with Jesus, housed at Montsarret, near Barcelona, Spain. She sits tall in a simple throne with Jesus on her lap. She is about four feet tall and is housed in plastic protective coating except for her hand which holds the world. All pilgrims who come to see her can reach out and touch or kiss her hand. The air around her is calm and also energized by the holy spirit. So sacred. Her eyes see all, accept all, understand all and have compassion for all.
But another way to depict hope is to show it as a spiritual truth, that though life is hard, even when life is threatened, there will be a way through this difficulty and that we are not alone. I quilted an icon of this idea from Psalm 23. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me."
Hope can be the force that gets us up in the morning for the simple reason that, if the sun can rise, (or in this icon, the moon) we can too. Hope restores our faith in our own journey. It gives us a will to live. It instills courage.
Never doubt the strength of hope. It makes all the difference in a world that sometimes does not seem to care. Carry hope with you and pay it forward...be a hopeful burning candle in the world, a presence in the valleys of life.
An illustration of hope:
Hope is epitomized for me by the Black Madonna. She is another representation of Jesus' mother but with black skin. She is the brutally honest, real, sad, compassionate woman who is deeply connected as a friend of all those who suffer.
She is the patron saint of all those who need to find a small path to inner freedom in the midst of pain. People travel across continents to pay homage to her and to touch her hand, to have her bless them. They know she has compassion on their pain and offers them courage for the journey. She holds Jesus in her lap and he gazes on those pilgrims as well.
After reading about her, I took a pilgrimage to Spain, to stay in the Benedictine monastery that houses one of the most accessible statues of her, in Montserrat, outside of Barcelona. I felt her presence. I heard her words of comfort and wisdom. I knew her compassion. She epitomizes God's love.
Photo: the Black Madonna with Jesus, housed at Montsarret, near Barcelona, Spain. She sits tall in a simple throne with Jesus on her lap. She is about four feet tall and is housed in plastic protective coating except for her hand which holds the world. All pilgrims who come to see her can reach out and touch or kiss her hand. The air around her is calm and also energized by the holy spirit. So sacred. Her eyes see all, accept all, understand all and have compassion for all.
Video Poem: You Learned Along the Way Not to Believe in Love Janet Hagberg
ct on Hope
1: Write a beatitude that describes your hope. Here's mine:
Blessed are you who created me along with every leaf and bird and animal and snowflake; and now watch over us all
Blessed are you who know me inside and out and shower me with your love
Blessed are you who weep when I weep and laugh when I laugh
Blessed are you who make plans for my growth in ways too deep for words
Blessed are you who pick me up when I fall and hold me until the fear transforms me
Blessed are you who choose to use all of my weaknesses and imperfections to display your glory and power
Blessed are you who bring forth joy and gladness out of my pain when I attend to it with courage
Blessed are you who make your home in me
Blessed are you
2: Light a candle in your quiet place or go to the burning candle video on my site
Where I find Hope Poem by Janet
Links: an essay on The Black Madonna, Is God's Grace Sufficient?
1: Write a beatitude that describes your hope. Here's mine:
Blessed are you who created me along with every leaf and bird and animal and snowflake; and now watch over us all
Blessed are you who know me inside and out and shower me with your love
Blessed are you who weep when I weep and laugh when I laugh
Blessed are you who make plans for my growth in ways too deep for words
Blessed are you who pick me up when I fall and hold me until the fear transforms me
Blessed are you who choose to use all of my weaknesses and imperfections to display your glory and power
Blessed are you who bring forth joy and gladness out of my pain when I attend to it with courage
Blessed are you who make your home in me
Blessed are you
2: Light a candle in your quiet place or go to the burning candle video on my site
Where I find Hope Poem by Janet
Links: an essay on The Black Madonna, Is God's Grace Sufficient?