12.19.2008

The words to this song by Samuel Barber:

Sure on this shining night of star made shadows 'round, kindness must watch for me this side the ground. The late year lies down the north, all is healed, all is health. High summer holds the Earth, hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder, wand'ring far alone for shadows on a star. On this shining night.

This song is one of those mysterious things that has touched me to the depths of my soul. I cannot put into words what I feel when I hear this song. I have tried for 20 years to put those feelings into words. I can listen to this song over and over for hours. And everytime I hear it I have the same indescribable feelings. Surely, it is a "G-d" thing. ( I am using the Jewish spelling here- which is done out of respect for the awe and wonder of the Supreme being.)

I considered not writing anything and just posting the video. But I just had to say something. I want to know if anyone else has something that does this to them? To what do you attribute this?

12.04.2008

WHY?

So- I am getting ready for this Open house/Boutique which I have been planning for months- and along comes Sojourner the Inquisitor!
"What the heck are you doing this for? What is it in the big picture- it's not like you are going to make tons of money or anything like that. And everyone already has all these parties and crap to go to. And so many people hate December and Christmas and all this hoopla... and you don't even consider yourself a Christian anymore... so what?"
Okay- questioning Scrooge! Just bring me to my knees why don't you. But here- I will try to answer some of this for you. First of all- I love to make jewelry..and well, I can't keep all of it. That would be ridiculous.
Second, I want people to know why I make jewelry. I want them to see that it is about sharing my Spirit with them- opening people's eyes, if you will, to the connections we have. And in that same spirit, I donate a portion of my proceeds to causes that I believe to be worthwhile, further expanding the spiral of connection.
Third, I love to share my home and food, and self with others. I love to bring people together from all the pieces of my life, and for one weekend, sew the pieces together in a big beautiful quilt. It will warm us all for a little while, and hopefully the memory of it will warm us a little longer.
And then there is Tracy. My neighbor across the street, who emailed me a few weeks back to tell me she has stage 4 lung cancer. I called her this week to see how things were going, and she told me how she wants to call some of her lady friends in the neighborhood and bring them together at the Open House, and asked if that would be ok. She said " We haven't gotten together in a long time". And in her voice I heard...and maybe this will be the last time for me. So- Sojourner- I want to bring people together for what may be their last times. The Advent Scriptures talk about "The end of days" this week. We are all waiting for our own end of days. Maybe we can help each other fill our end of days with love. That's all- really- that's all the whole thing about is love.