Diary of a Prayer Jar: Inspirations

Finishing up in my studio are some prayer jars. The process of creating them is a long one. From learning to throw pottery on the wheel, setting up a studio, ordering supplies, throwing, carving, drying, glazing, firing...the process is truly a long one! But with these particular items there is something perhaps a little different. I want to share some of my thoughts so that those who might have them in their homes can know a little of their history as they add their own.

Lent is a time of quiet and reflection. A time to remember the sorrows that Jesus endured for us and the blessings he has given us. During these forty days, our church reminds us of this in many ways including through the art and environment.

My dear friend, Melinda Brown, has a true gift of decoration and design. At Christmas, she oversaw the placing of dozens of poinsettias, wreaths, garlands and strings of lights to remind us of the joy of the season. Last Easter saw beautiful and fragrant lilies overflowing the altar to reflect the abundance of love open to us through Christ's resurrection.

The past few years Mel has used large empty ceramic containers to teach about emptying ourselves to the quiet and desert of Lent. In looking at them, I felt a nudge...a desire...to create something that would be worthy of display and would in some small way inspire others to prayer and reflection. It was one of the reasons I finally signed up for a pottery class the fall of 2009.

Last October, I had the great pleasure of going to Italy with Melinda. Actually, we graduated from Arkansas High together, how shall I say, several years ago. The past four years we have attended the Little Rock Institute of Theology together and graduated with that degree this past fall. Being her “sister friend” is a gift from God! 

In Italy, we traveled throughout Rome and Tuscany. Attended a papal mass, a tour of St. Peter's tomb, prayed together at St. Paul's tomb, she drove us through Tuscany to Sienna and Florence. So many wonderful memories. One morning, we found ourselves at the foot of the Spanish Steps. I can walk for miles and miles on level ground, but stairs are hard for me. But with Mel at my side, up we went. And I was right, it was the toughest thing I physically did during our trip.

The reason we wanted to walk up them was to reach the Santissima Trinita dei Monti Pinco (Most Holy Trinity at Monte Pinco). Why this church? If you look carefully in the picture you might see a resemblance to somewhere in Texarkana! Our home church of St. Edward's was designed after this one in Rome. Our families have long histories at St. Ed's – Mel and I were both baptized here, married here and our children have had their weddings here. So to reach this summit was like coming home when we were far away.

Once we stepped inside the hush of the church, the first thing we saw was this...

Of so many wonderful, wonderful things in Italy, this is the piece of art that spoke the most deeply to me. In my next blog, I'll share some of the why...

Roma!!!

After almost 18 months of plannIng, praying, and dreaming, we are safely and wonderfully here. Right off I apologize for typos and grammatical errors. We arrived in Rome after 17 hours of flying. We are six women, three of us are sister in laws, five of us attended little rock institute of theology together. Two of us graduated from high school together. Four were baptized as infants at st. Edward's. Three of us have parents that graduated high school together in 1945. We kinda know each other!
Saturday in Roma was spent wandering the streets. Usually that would sound weird. Here it was a perfect afternoon. Campo d'fiori, piazza Navonna, piazza Farnese, and finally, gloriously, the pantheon. Sigh.
The other thing is that time is short! I will blog when I can. But now, at five a. M. Roma time, I must get ready. We are off to pick up our tickets to a papal mass which is a canonization for three people. Thank you, Abby-mark's friend, for getting them for us!!! There is so much to say!!! I will try to figure out how to add pics!
I give thanks and praise to God, the father-God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit- for all our many blessings. Be at my side, Lord. Andiamo!!!

Little Rock Institute of Theology Class of 2011

Well, the day is finally here.  The Little Rock Institute of Theology Class of 2011 will graduate on Saturday, September 10 at noon in the Morris Hall Chapel at St. John's Center.  It has been a marvelous journey.  The invitation was extended over a dinner and a glass of wine.  Thanks, Linda, for encouraging us to try it out.
   We have attended 34 weekend classes - approximately 340 hours of instruction.  I would guess that at least that much time was spent on each of the 34 papers written.  Each class entailed driving 5 to 10 hours and, my favorite part, each Friday night was capped with a "break out" session.  We always brought a bottle (or two) of wine to share with the professors so that we could quiz, argue and laugh together.  I have to admit, I didn't make it through the session that stayed up until after 2 a.m.!  I can't believe how much I have grown and how much more I appreciate my church.
     Thank you, dear sisters in study.  Especially my Texarkana ones - Mel, Louise, Ann, and Anne.  You have changed my life.  Thank you to those who work behind the scenes and put it all together, especially my buddy Diana.  Thank you to the professors who came from Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey....Wow!  How blessed we are to have you share your passion and learning in Little Rock.  Thank you to my family - my parents that instilled a love of learning, my children who challenge me to reach higher, my husband who encourages me and holds me up.
     Thank you, most of all and every moment, to my Lord and my God.  Would that I could write a sonnet of love to express my gratitude.  I never knew how much I didn't know and yet all I know now is that I have barely scratched the surface of how much there is to know.  Thank you, my unknowable God for the glimpse that quenches my thirst and leaves me wanting more.
   The following are the petitions I wrote for our graduation mass.  Thank you for joining us in prayer.        Pax et bonum...

For Pope Benedict, Bishop Taylor and all the clergy,

that they may continue to guide us in living our faith.

We pray to the Lord.       Lord, hear our prayer.

For Abbot Lawrence and the brothers of St. Gregory's Monastery,

that they may continue to sow the seeds of faith through knowledge and service in their daily work.

We pray to the Lord.      Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, for those who mourn their loss, and for the leaders of our nation as we still wrestle with the consequences of that day that those lost may rest in Your peace, those mourning may be comforted, and those in leadership might guide us toward peace.

We pray to the Lord.       Lord, hear our prayer.

For Your cleansing rains to nourish the trees, the fields, and the lakes of Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma that the beauty of the land may remind us of our Creator.

We pray to the Lord.       Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Little Rock Institute of Theology's leaders, teachers and students; that You may continue to bless their work as they grow in faith, hope, and love.

We pray to the Lord.      Lord, hear our prayer.

For our parents, spouses, children and friends that they may be blessed for the support and encouragement they have given us.

We pray to the Lord.       Lord, hear our prayer.

For the Little Rock Institute of Theology's graduating class of 2011, that we may love you more dearly, know you more clearly and follow you more nearly.

We pray to the Lord.      Lord, hear our prayer.

Chiesa o museo?

Chiesa o museo?

Two months from today, our plane will land in Rome! To celebrate completing the Little Rock Institute of Theology with our bachelor's degrees and/or certification, my Texarkana classmates and I are going to Italy for two weeks. It really is a dream come true. The history, the art, the architecture of this vibrant city fascinates me. Even more, the opportunity to explore this area's sense of the sacred seems to call me. To fashion a fabulous vacation into a prayerful pilgrimage.

When I was ten, my parents decided to take our large family to Washington, D.C. on vacation. My dad wanted us to get the most from our time there. Before we left home, he assigned each of us a topic to research and share. I don't remember what every body else had, but I had the executive branch of the government. I went to the library, wrote about it, gave it to my dad. It really did make seeing the White House more “real” for me.

Today, as I daydream about my Italian trip, I follow Dad's advice. There are stacks of books in my office and bedroom about Rome, Tuscany, churches, pilgrimages, language, art. To sift through some of those topics, over the next 8 weeks, I'll write about different areas we plan to visit. I would so love any input and/or suggestions of where you think we should visit. What should we make sure we see? Where is your favorite place in Rome? In Tuscany? In Umbria? Where did you experience the “sacred”?

A friend of mine recently returned from a European trip. She was troubled that so many of the churches now charge admission. She shared that she told the ushers that she was there on pilgrimage and wanted to pray at these sacred places, not as a tourist who just wanted to look and leave. Most places graciously let her in without paying. Often she put money in the poor box as she left. I have been pondering: church or museum? How will I handle this when we are there? Surely each of these sacred spots have maintenance costs, but is everyone charged upon arrival? How does that change one's purpose of prayer? Does it rather take away the spirit of freely offering...hmmm...

What have been your experiences?