tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60990624280199730352024-03-12T22:27:07.579-04:00Image & SpiritC. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-87671661708235803512010-01-08T05:13:00.000-05:002016-02-23T17:12:41.394-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Image & Spirit is taking a break. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enjoy the archives and stay connected to<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>ECVA<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>at </span><a href="http://www.ecva.org/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">www.ecva.org</span></a></div>
C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-14126411015686624022010-01-06T18:24:00.000-05:002010-01-06T18:24:44.716-05:00Epiphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UZ9zIk8II/AAAAAAAADMk/0GgoAtFMkoQ/s1600-h/JGiuliani-ChiefsComeFromTheEast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UZ9zIk8II/AAAAAAAADMk/0GgoAtFMkoQ/s640/JGiuliani-ChiefsComeFromTheEast.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world recognizes the heavenly in this tiny Child. And the Child recognizes the people of God in them. This is not a Christian child only; this Child belongs to the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Words: <a href="http://www.benetvision.org/">Joan Chittister</a> in <a href="http://store.benetvision.org/liye.html">The Liturgical Year</a>: the spiraling adventure of the spiritual life</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Image: Chiefs Come From the East to See Jesus by <a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=484700">John Giuliani</a></span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-53989791970996487582010-01-06T17:37:00.006-05:002010-01-07T07:49:16.784-05:00We're Following The Star, 6<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1905608">David:</a></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNB5VaeFI/AAAAAAAADMM/ldlz_6H_BFY/s1600-h/DOrthTableOfTheMagi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNB5VaeFI/AAAAAAAADMM/ldlz_6H_BFY/s400/DOrthTableOfTheMagi.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We shall not cease from exploration</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And the end of all our exploring</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Will be to arrive where we started</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And know the place for the first time.</span></em><br />
</div><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">......</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And all shall be well and</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">All manner of thing shall be well</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When the tongues of flame are in-folded</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Into the crowned knot of fire</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And the fire and the rose are one.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">T. S. Eliot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">from The Four Quartets</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Image: Table of the Magi by David Orth</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=850208">Jim:</a></strong></span><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNNVsnv6I/AAAAAAAADMU/KVF17FvLFyo/s1600-h/JMangumLa+Sagrada+FamiliaL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNNVsnv6I/AAAAAAAADMU/KVF17FvLFyo/s400/JMangumLa+Sagrada+FamiliaL.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I think my epiphany is 61 years in the making ...a very very slow epiphany: The star is family ...the star is old friends (like Jesus and Mary) ...the star is new friends (like David and Robin) ...the star is love. LOVE!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Image: La Sagrada Familia - The Sacred (or Holy) Family by James Mangum</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=94673">Robin:</a></strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNbwCecoI/AAAAAAAADMc/mg14p--ygZs/s1600-h/JustSayingSoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0UNbwCecoI/AAAAAAAADMc/mg14p--ygZs/s400/JustSayingSoL.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">just saying so</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">sometimes makes all</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the difference</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the star is always there</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">to be followed to be</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">watched</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">just saying so</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">reminds us</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">commits us</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Image: Just Saying So by C. Robin Janning</span><br />
</div>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-25096944584491088652010-01-03T08:21:00.000-05:002010-01-03T08:21:03.864-05:00Overcome By Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0CXhlhKiXI/AAAAAAAADL8/eywdBZZVUXg/s1600-h/SFAfternoonRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/S0CXhlhKiXI/AAAAAAAADL8/eywdBZZVUXg/s400/SFAfternoonRiver.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas—the light that shone upon a manger—was also, the ancients knew, the light that led them on beyond it as well. If God is truly with us, has been manifested among us, companions us as we go, knows our pains and our hopes, then life is not a dark forest from which there is no exit. It is a darkness, however dark, that is always overcome by light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://www.benetvision.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joan Chittister</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in </span><a href="http://store.benetvision.org/liye.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Liturgical Year</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Photograph "Afternoon River" by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=613587"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rev. Scott Fisher</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-82299888081911100412010-01-01T10:45:00.001-05:002010-01-01T10:48:05.014-05:00We're Following The Star, 5<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Christmas now. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It’s not just one star, but </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">many stars. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Too many stars to count. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It is </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">a great light pulsing, beaming from every direction. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Light for the Christmas that is born in every heart …in every dawn that pushes away the darkness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1905608">David:</a></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4Ryrhw1OI/AAAAAAAADLU/paErUUncGXQ/s1600-h/DOrth9034TreeStar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4Ryrhw1OI/AAAAAAAADLU/paErUUncGXQ/s400/DOrth9034TreeStar.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=850208">Jim:</a></strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4SCr3-92I/AAAAAAAADLc/KceWrkmfONI/s1600-h/JMangum-Nuestra+senora+y+el+ninoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4SCr3-92I/AAAAAAAADLc/KceWrkmfONI/s400/JMangum-Nuestra+senora+y+el+ninoL.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=94673">Robin:</a></strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4SUOvZ_XI/AAAAAAAADLk/FXkt2sjF-pE/s1600-h/ThatdonotlooklikestarsL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sz4SUOvZ_XI/AAAAAAAADLk/FXkt2sjF-pE/s400/ThatdonotlooklikestarsL.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A new year </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">arrives </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">during </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">these twelve </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">days </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">of Christmas, </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">bearing a spark that promises </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">enough light </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">for all ...</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">however and </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">in whichever </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">direction we </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">travel.</span><br />
</div>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-24963775471381857682009-12-31T11:18:00.001-05:002009-12-31T11:19:20.996-05:00I Saw Visions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzzDtcy0p6I/AAAAAAAADLE/xtUyi6Jpiew/s1600-h/DRiiSGrifeAsISaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzzDtcy0p6I/AAAAAAAADLE/xtUyi6Jpiew/s400/DRiiSGrifeAsISaw.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“while I was among the exiles” </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekial">Ezekiel</a> (1:1) wrote</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“the heavens were opened </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I saw visions of God.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we must rebuild </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our small habits and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">inclinations to include</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">each morning’s nativity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">each evening’s stars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and heavenly choirs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">seen even in exile</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the portal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of a heart opened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so wide so deep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so far</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: As I Saw the Living Creatures by <a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1614961">Dan RiiS Grife</a></span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-36684844024218453052009-12-26T08:29:00.004-05:002009-12-26T15:35:34.547-05:00An Illuminated Joy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5slUMEajCHA&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5slUMEajCHA&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Video: </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1936652"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jan Richardson</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (art and animation) and </span><a href="http://songchapel.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garrison Doles</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (singer songwriter)</span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-11988587800093269972009-12-25T01:00:00.002-05:002009-12-25T07:05:02.125-05:00Christmas Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzQbe1Qi3YI/AAAAAAAADK8/afZRHer_n64/s1600-h/JGiuliani-MaryGivesBirthtoJesu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzQbe1Qi3YI/AAAAAAAADK8/afZRHer_n64/s640/JGiuliani-MaryGivesBirthtoJesu.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In him was life, and that life was the light of men. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The light shines in the darkness, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the darkness has not overcome it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John 1: 4-5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Mary Gives Birth to Jesus by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=484700"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Giuliani</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-2582513119644155572009-12-24T06:00:00.002-05:002009-12-24T06:00:03.649-05:00Christmas Eve<strong></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzKP3aqP-6I/AAAAAAAADKs/51ybhzdogIM/s1600-h/MaryTreasuresAllTheseWords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzKP3aqP-6I/AAAAAAAADKs/51ybhzdogIM/s400/MaryTreasuresAllTheseWords.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2.19)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the previous nine months, Mary has entertained an archangel, said yes to becoming the mother of the Son of God, made the journey to visit Elizabeth, and lifted up a song of hope that has endured across centuries. She has waited with Elizabeth, made the journey back home, and traveled with her husband Joseph to Bethlehem to be included in the registration ordered by Emperor Augustus. She has labored to give birth to her son, enfolded him in strips of cloth, laid him in a manger, and welcomed those who came to marvel at what had come to pass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luke tells us that in response to their amazement, Mary treasures these words in her heart. Luke’s description conjures an image of a woman who, amid the tumult of angels and signs and visitors and miracles, holds all these happenings in a place of stillness. Among the memories of nine months of adventures she never could have imagined, Mary embodies a sense of wonder that is quiet and deep and wise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1936652"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jan Richardson</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at The Advent Door: “<a href="http://theadventdoor.com/2009/12/22/revisiting-the-secret-room/">Revisiting The Secret Room</a>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: “Mary Treasures All These Words” by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=94673"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C. Robin Janning</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-84616414955065286792009-12-23T06:00:00.003-05:002009-12-23T06:00:05.504-05:00Advent, Day 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzF2cPypM6I/AAAAAAAADKc/-Qot5HMyJhg/s1600-h/Georges_de_La_Tour_049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzF2cPypM6I/AAAAAAAADKc/-Qot5HMyJhg/s400/Georges_de_La_Tour_049.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, the troubles of our world have left many of us speechless. We don’t know how, in the numbness around jobs lost, illnesses we don’t have the resources to cure, a planet imperiled by the accumulated effects of our greed, and the seemingly endless presence of war and violence, to say our prayers. We are lighting candles, though – in our Advent wreaths, quietly, in side chapels of our churches, in our rooms where no one else but You can see. The candle flame is our prayer, wordless but filled with meaning, with petition, hope, and faith. And the candle flame is your answer to our prayer. You lighten our darkness, O Lord. Amen </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://bishopmarc.vox.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, Eighth Bishop of California</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: </span><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georges_de_La_Tour_049.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Georges de La Tour</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-74995528893158704012009-12-22T06:00:00.002-05:002009-12-22T07:04:07.826-05:00Advent, Day 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzAoCXRlMLI/AAAAAAAADKM/vQrHgl_MYhc/s1600-h/SFisherAdventAngels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SzAoCXRlMLI/AAAAAAAADKM/vQrHgl_MYhc/s400/SFisherAdventAngels.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now all the woods are sleeping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">through fields the shadows creeping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and cities pause to rest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let us, as night is falling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on God our maker calling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sing praise to God who loves us best.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The radiant sun has vanished</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">its golden rays are banished</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from deepening skies of night</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, Christ, the sun of gladness,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dispelling all our sadness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shines in our hearts with warmest light.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now all the heavenly splendor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">breaks forth in starlight tender</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from myriad worlds unknown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we, this marvel seeing,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">forget our selfish being</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and know a beauty not our own.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: Paul Gerhardt (17thC) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Photograph "Hidden Advent Angels" by <a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=613587">The Rev. Scott Fisher</a></span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-52068636474602207322009-12-21T06:00:00.002-05:002009-12-21T06:00:02.147-05:00Advent, Day 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy7T3jEzTrI/AAAAAAAADKE/wg3TQZCLWoc/s1600-h/JRichardsonBenedictus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy7T3jEzTrI/AAAAAAAADKE/wg3TQZCLWoc/s400/JRichardsonBenedictus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Burning/all night long/Burning/at the gates of dawn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Singing/near and far/Singing/to raise the morning star.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Cockburn"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bruce Cockburn</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Benedictus by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1936652"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jan Richardson</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-83303456526810068342009-12-20T09:02:00.000-05:002009-12-20T09:02:21.860-05:00Fourth Sunday of Advent, Day 22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1esMVsNSI/AAAAAAAADJE/MeOMB9QlFM0/s1600-h/DW1welcome+mat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1esMVsNSI/AAAAAAAADJE/MeOMB9QlFM0/s400/DW1welcome+mat.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. [Luke 3:5-6]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: photograph by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=739969"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diane Walker</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-22718745164274213612009-12-19T17:50:00.003-05:002009-12-19T17:52:38.790-05:00We're Following The Star, 4<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1905608">David:</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1WkmQ8UeI/AAAAAAAADIs/Re5rBK7LiQM/s1600-h/DOrthStarfireInTheEastL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1WkmQ8UeI/AAAAAAAADIs/Re5rBK7LiQM/s400/DOrthStarfireInTheEastL.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I feel a little out of touch again</span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And exhausted and wind burned</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But now I feel well on down the road …</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So (whispering softly to the gentle, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Frightened bird of our fluttering hearts),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Be still, and know the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">vast varied darknesses of God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Do not flinch from any Truth </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">breathing out whatever breath.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=850208">Jim:</a></span></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1W-BE8jEI/AAAAAAAADI0/o9wkXLFfaTs/s1600-h/JMangum-LaImmaculadaConcepcionL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1W-BE8jEI/AAAAAAAADI0/o9wkXLFfaTs/s400/JMangum-LaImmaculadaConcepcionL.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Epiphany: A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Advent began on my birthday this year. The next day, November 30, Robin, David, and I began “following the star.” Today, December 13, my epiphany arrived with the first line of Robin’s poem: “It’s about Mary.” What should have been obvious to me for many years became obvious. My art has always been about Mary. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I have painted her and carved her hundreds of times. With and without the Christ child. Each time my art takes me away from her, she calls me back. Her image calms me; comforts me. Despite all my doubts about so-called traditional religion, her hold on me has never loosened. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I was a psychology major in college, but came to believe all of it was a crock. Except for the theory of the mother-son dynamic. I was not close to my mother, or should I say, she was not close to me. So, I suppose that Mary became my surrogate mother. I was raised in the Catholic church and began attending Catholic school when I was five. So I saw Mary a lot. At a most impressionable age and during a most trying time, I saw her almost daily. The incredible statues, paintings, stained glass windows. She always had a beatific smile…just for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So today I will start my new carving. A giant cypress knee in which I can already see Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms. It is going to be a good day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=94673">Robin:</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1XlO1MLRI/AAAAAAAADI8/RiaKePmhf5k/s1600-h/MadonnaL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Sy1XlO1MLRI/AAAAAAAADI8/RiaKePmhf5k/s400/MadonnaL.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">it’s about Mary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">right now</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">this star we follow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">about finding</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the transformation </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">point where</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">we say yes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">like she said</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">yes</span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-11086256813984378222009-12-19T06:00:00.003-05:002009-12-19T06:00:03.368-05:00Advent, Day 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyxD86r6PtI/AAAAAAAADIk/UdShauajFRE/s1600-h/RHEstuary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyxD86r6PtI/AAAAAAAADIk/UdShauajFRE/s400/RHEstuary.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First light and then first lines along the east</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To touch and brush a sheen of light on water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As though behind the sky itself they traced</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The shift and shimmer of another river</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flowing unbidden from its hidden source;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Day-Spring, the eternal Prima Vera.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blake saw it too. Dante and Beatrice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are bathing in it now, away upstream…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So every trace of light begins a grace</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In me, a beckoning. The smallest gleam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is somehow a beginning and a calling;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Sleeper awake, the darkness was a dream</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For you will see the Dayspring at your waking,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beyond your long last line the dawn is breaking."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: "O Oriens" by <a href="http://www.malcolmguite.com/">Malcolm Guite</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Estuary by <a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=422738">Roger Hutchison</a></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks to <a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=739969">Diane Walker</a> who introduced me to the poetry of Malcolm Guite.</span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-77594894903494964242009-12-18T06:00:00.001-05:002009-12-18T06:00:00.314-05:00Advent, Day 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Syrd6TsWlTI/AAAAAAAADIc/PNqfhVQSpZU/s1600-h/RuthCouncellAnnunciation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Syrd6TsWlTI/AAAAAAAADIc/PNqfhVQSpZU/s400/RuthCouncellAnnunciation.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charm with your stainlessness these winter nights, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Skies, and be perfect! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fly, vivider in the fiery dark, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you quiet meteors, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And disappear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You moon, be slow to go down, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is your full! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The four white roads make off in silence </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Towards the four parts of the starry universe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time falls like manna at the corners of the wintry earth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have become more humble than the rocks, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More wakeful than the patient hills. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charm with your stainlessness these nights in Advent, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">holy spheres, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While minds, as meek as beasts, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay close at home in the sweet hay; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And intellects are quieter than the flocks that feed by starlight. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh pour your darkness and your brightness over all our </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">solemn valleys, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You skies: and travel like the gentle Virgin, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Toward the planets' stately setting, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh white full moon as quiet as Bethlehem!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/poetry/merton02.html#advent"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Advent by Thomas Merton</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, written in 1946</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Annunciation (Detail) by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=248166"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ruth Councell</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-82534443233522663262009-12-17T05:26:00.001-05:002009-12-17T05:27:49.195-05:00Advent, Day 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SymBNVitOoI/AAAAAAAADIE/C-AcW-432XQ/s1600-h/HenkeFoG-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SymBNVitOoI/AAAAAAAADIE/C-AcW-432XQ/s640/HenkeFoG-3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unexpected and mysterious is the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gentle Word of grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever-loving and sustaining is the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">peace of God’s embrace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we falter in our courage and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we doubt what we have known,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is faithful to console us as a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mother tends her own.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a momentary meeting of eternity and time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary learned that she would carry </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">both the mortal and divine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then she learned of God’s compassion, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of Elizabeth’s great joy,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And she ran to greet the woman </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who would recognize her boy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are called to ponder myst’ry </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and await the coming Christ,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To embody God’s compassion </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for each fragile human life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is with us in our longing </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to bring healing to the earth,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we watch with joy and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wonder for the promised Savior’s birth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: a hymn by </span><a href="http://www.pietisten.org/christmas06/sightings.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeannette M. Lindholm</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> titled "Unexpected and Mysterious," which appears in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: "Incubation," the first panel in an eight-piece work titled "Tabula Rasa" by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=399713"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linda Witte Henke</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-20297741514337997932009-12-16T04:22:00.000-05:002009-12-16T04:22:30.424-05:00Advent, Day 18<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Syil6kovK9I/AAAAAAAADH8/qY-qt9jLHIk/s1600-h/JRichardsonAsonaDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/Syil6kovK9I/AAAAAAAADH8/qY-qt9jLHIk/s400/JRichardsonAsonaDay.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"... Call it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the thin, thin place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where the veil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gives way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or call it this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the path we make</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when we go deep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and deeper still</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">into the dark</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and look behind to see</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the way has been lit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by our rejoicing."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words and Image: From </span><a href="http://theadventdoor.com/2009/12/11/advent-3-as-on-a-day-of-festival/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As on a Day of Festival</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1936652"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jan Richardson</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-18520039926929403152009-12-15T04:16:00.000-05:002009-12-15T04:16:40.577-05:00Advent, Day 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SybGRmPwN6I/AAAAAAAADHk/xkuUjB46ZBo/s1600-h/DiFalco-FoG-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SybGRmPwN6I/AAAAAAAADHk/xkuUjB46ZBo/s400/DiFalco-FoG-3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"This Mary is the woman of the land. She is sister to the poor and the mother of compassion and healing for all those who live on the edges of life, walking the roads on the outskirts of the cities, living in slums, favelas, tenements, and the neighborhoods [where] no one ever wants to get caught having to raise their children. . . . She is barefoot upon the earth; her presence causes roses to bloom in December and the birds to sing wildly and the land to bring forth its seed and bread for those desperate for daily sustenance (still more than 85 percent of the earth) and freedom. She can be a spider, as in the Native American tradition, who follows a trail home bringing light to the people, silent, unnoticed, so small and so able to steal the light from those who will not share it with others. She is the symbol of the small earth, inconsequential except to God, found with all those who live faithfully in situations of darkness, despair, lack and need, yet powerful in their very weakness and numbers."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: Megan McKenna in "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Writings-Mary-Annotated-Illuminations/dp/1594730016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260832769&sr=1-1#noop"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spiritual Writings on Mary</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">" by Mary Ford Grabowsky</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Secrets of Czestochowa's Madonna by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=242939"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gerard Di Falco</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-25016282800529625382009-12-14T05:33:00.001-05:002009-12-15T11:28:33.558-05:00Advent, Day 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyWq2FFWziI/AAAAAAAADHc/Kw-aA7j7Tuw/s1600-h/Curtis-FoG-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyWq2FFWziI/AAAAAAAADHc/Kw-aA7j7Tuw/s400/Curtis-FoG-1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ Jesus in a new way this Advent, let us also receive those around us in a new way. Let us see and know that God wants to transform and make new even the most impossible situations in our lives. Let us look and see Christ Jesus in those around us who have caused us heartache and pain. As God draws near we are given the strength to see others in a new way. And truly then, the world as we now it will pass away, and all things will be made new.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: From an </span><a href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_7592_ENG_HTM.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Advent sermon</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by </span><a href="http://mamabishop.org/2.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rt. Rev. Carol Joy Gallagher</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: "The Annunciation" by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=245073"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rev. James Curtis</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-37668207434007154402009-12-13T06:00:00.002-05:002009-12-13T06:00:01.097-05:00Third Sunday of Advent, Day 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyRinOscgLI/AAAAAAAADHU/KMhH9I7cgVM/s1600-h/SFisher-SunriseontheYukonRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyRinOscgLI/AAAAAAAADHU/KMhH9I7cgVM/s400/SFisher-SunriseontheYukonRiver.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rejoice in the Lord always; </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">again I will say, rejoice. </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let your gentleness be known to everyone. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord is near. </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[Philippians 4:4-5]</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Sunrise on the Yukon River, by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=613587"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rev. Scott Fisher</span></a><br />
</div>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-61325072859760592402009-12-12T11:53:00.002-05:002009-12-12T11:55:08.295-05:00Advent, Day 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyPI5WExOUI/AAAAAAAADHM/4AzIjgdDK1k/s1600-h/Bozzuti-Jones-FoG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyPI5WExOUI/AAAAAAAADHM/4AzIjgdDK1k/s400/Bozzuti-Jones-FoG1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:1-3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Familiar Grace: Routine that Frees the Heart by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=304611"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kathy Bozzuti-Jones</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, 2009: This assemblage-painting is made from interior house-paint and synthetic laundry bag. Daily grace, as I see it, is bright, colorful, reliable -- and radiant, too, as suggested by the light reflecting off the laundry bag -- different, depending upon the time of day. It represents household grace, the kind of ordinary loving that supports families in ways that often go undetected, but that honor the dailiness of God's constant, graceful embrace.</span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-23207996424065218712009-12-11T16:35:00.000-05:002009-12-11T16:35:28.870-05:00Advent, Day 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGVbqGrJeI/AAAAAAAADG8/Z9JyL8d0xRA/s1600-h/DW1morning+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGVbqGrJeI/AAAAAAAADG8/Z9JyL8d0xRA/s400/DW1morning+color.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"...there is a way of being and knowing that is grounded in timing I did not create. There is a way of being and knowing that dimly remembers that waiting in hope is an attitude of faith. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waiting in silence, creating space for steadfast love to grow within, may be the most essential practice of all. It is in many ways the spirit of Advent, that time of the Christian liturgical year when we practice the waiting of gestation and hoping, of trusting in new life not yet fully known. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mertoninstitute.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas Merton</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, Trappist monk and author, remarked that life is a perpetual Advent. He sensed that in that waiting, trust began to grow. Trust in God, trust in the Holy One who is beyond all that is created and is the source of all things, seen and unseen. Trusting and waiting allow the loving-kindness that is the essence of God’s own Life to grow in us, and to bear fruit that we never expected."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://www.explorefaith.org/faith/explore_christianity/holy_days/advent/waiting_in_silence.php"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rev. Mary C. Earle in Waiting in Silence</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Photography by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=739969"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diane Walker</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-87067683424799777212009-12-10T19:38:00.003-05:002009-12-10T19:41:14.134-05:00We're Following The Star, 3<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=1905608">David:</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGQ9d6MvoI/AAAAAAAADGc/qJmjDUdt85w/s1600-h/Dorth-woundedbirdtable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGQ9d6MvoI/AAAAAAAADGc/qJmjDUdt85w/s400/Dorth-woundedbirdtable.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I woke up from one those nightmares that come out of “nowhere”. I knew it had something to do with Following the Star – or rather Not Following the Star – which is in fact where I have to start. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I live on ten acres. There is no development in sight. But when I walked out into the front yard of my dream, there were some one hundred No Trespassing signs marking a convoluted circle around the house. Some developer had come in the night and staked out a ridiculous new property line for me and clearly they were flaunting this barrier and putting it in my face. A row of yellow signs divided my driveway in two, they left me a patch of grass outside the front door. On one side of the house the signs were staked right up to the foundation line. I was stunned. I imagine if I had gone back in the house, I would have found the signs in there, too – blocking my way to the bathroom. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Last time I reflected on this journey, I managed to get out of my cave and make it up into the starlit view from the tower. Now I’m back down on ground level and opening my front door. Maybe I was ready to start out on a journey. Maybe I was just letting out the cat. Regardless, some developer is out there blocking my way, blocking my view, and advertising their claim on me. I pulled out a couple of signs and threw them down, but it would not be that easy. Something inside knows the signs are mine – I allowed them to be there – I am ‘the developer’. I live in this world of illusion and preoccupation with myself. I’m terrified of getting old, or loosing the studio, or the house, of not affording my friend-wife’s medications, or having my art dry up from the inside. I’ve allowed Netflix and caffeine into my space (again) to make their claims and set me down on the couch-of-my-life. These are all the low-level comfort/addictions of a typical middle class life – and the unconscious fear of the unknown that goes along with it. The dream is sign – a sign made up of signs. I’m not being clever, I’m just getting it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The Three Wise Men, the Kings of the Orient, represent a kind of inner soul bravery of spirit, a curiosity that trespasses barriers, an expansive outlook, a search for our Origin that leads out into far flung territories, something that follows a Star. This is all rung out of us here in the West – in the West-of-our-lives – doesn’t matter if you are reading this in China – we all have a ‘West’ – a place of safety and drunkenness with safety. A place in the self with a lot of very human preoccupations and No Trespassing signs. The signs and barriers are there - even when we don’t see them - especially when we don’t see them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Who is it that follows a Star? I know what follows a pop song, a pretty woman, the warmth of the sun. But who or what follows a Star? What travels in the night sharing the road with thieves and vampires? Who were these stargazers from the east who seemed to know something, who set out from their high towers, who crossed borders at will? We domesticate them in crèches, Christmas plays, gold foil, and colorful robes. But they remind me that not all who seek the Child, who carry word of the Child, are churched, catechized, circumcised, or circumspect.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I roll over and put my feet on the cold floor. The cat wants out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Image: Wounded Bird Table by David Orth</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=850208">Jim:</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGRtEsulXI/AAAAAAAADGk/K3Ru6_JsjJA/s1600-h/JMangumFollowingTheStarL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGRtEsulXI/AAAAAAAADGk/K3Ru6_JsjJA/s400/JMangumFollowingTheStarL.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Advent = Arrival</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Arrivals, by definition, are momentary states. They last an instant. Arrivals are both ethereal and ephemeral. A letter arrives. A child arrives. A Christ child arrives. We try to find ways to hang on them. We read letters over and over. We take photographs and make scrapbooks of and for our children. We go to church, we pray, we celebrate Christmas.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This has always been my struggle. Trying to stay in the moment. I am always looking ahead. To the next project; the next adventure. When my first child was born, my wife and I looked forward to his arrival. For different reasons, I’m pretty sure. But, when he was born she was able to stay in the moment. To hold him and…just love him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I was already looking down the road. To when he would be able to talk to me. Start laughing at my corny jokes. When he would first play t-ball. When he would bring home his first girlfriend. Would I be afraid when he got hurt or became ill?</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I did the same with my first daughter when she was born. Amazed at actually having a baby girl. Amazed at how it all happened. Then, with the arrival, the looking ahead. And the same with my last two daughters. They’re all grown now. Wonderful adults. It went by too fast, while I was thinking about the future. My wife enjoyed and savored every moment with them. She still does. We’re divorced now.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The advent of Advent brings it all home. This trip with Robin and David will be a rather melancholy one. Not in a bad way. It has made me actually stop and look back on a wonderful life. I am allowing myself to be nostalgic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I love the Nativity story. How Christ’s arrival was foretold. How men, the powerful and the meek, followed a star. His arrival was over in a moment. But His story will live forever. It would be nice if we could hold onto it for the entire year. I wonder if Jesus minds that we take Him for granted sometimes?</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My thoughts are scattered now. All the pictures in my head are a bit out of focus. Robin and David, my path has not become clear. No star yet. But, I am looking forward to this trip. A new destination lies ahead. A new arrival.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Image: Following The Star, by James Mangum</span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=94673">Robin:</a></strong></span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGSara-pHI/AAAAAAAADG0/2iN2b5XsPLE/s1600-h/DancingThroughShadowsL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyGSara-pHI/AAAAAAAADG0/2iN2b5XsPLE/s320/DancingThroughShadowsL.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">daylight hours</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the star leads more</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">indirectly</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">now I trace its</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">path its rising</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and falling</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">in the faces and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">places around me…</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Image: Dancing Through Shadows by C. Robin Janning</span>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099062428019973035.post-50882261557358809532009-12-10T06:04:00.000-05:002009-12-10T06:04:21.990-05:00Advent, Day 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyDUS8H5TVI/AAAAAAAADGE/aLISLXqM7JA/s1600-h/JGiuliani-NavajoMadonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyDVp4AZbeI/AAAAAAAADGM/-qQG3TaTgcw/s1600-h/JGiuliani-NavajoMadonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_T4n7SL-6fWE/SyDVp4AZbeI/AAAAAAAADGM/-qQG3TaTgcw/s400/JGiuliani-NavajoMadonna.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Mary is, in a certain sense, the community which is my Mother. It is her love that has brought us here and keeps the community together. It is her love I have known out under the cedars, and working in the fields and singing in choir. It is her love that has made me desire solitude, and she will fulfill that desire. She is my solitude and she is here. It seems I have to keep finding it out over and over again. " </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words: </span><a href="http://www.mertoninstitute.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas Merton</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> [Journals 3:26]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image: Navaho Madonna by </span><a href="http://theartistsregistry.camp7.org/Content/Members/MemberPublicProfile.aspx?pageId=57342&memberId=484700"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">John Giuliani</span></a>C. Robin Janninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06455944415612346147noreply@blogger.com0