Feed the Poor

I was at an Advent Cafe at a church in downtown St. Catharines this week. 

It was great, complete with a barefoot Anglican woman priest celebrating the Eucharist, (I haven't been an Episcopagan long enough to understand the significance of this so don't ask) and lots of

funky music/musicians.

But as it turned out that isn't what I was meant to see.

As I approached the back of the church I saw three men sitting on the ground.  Each man had his arms locked around a large dog as if he was afraid someone would take it away.

A few other  people were milling around. I was mildly puzzled but I went inside and came upon a crowded room filled with laughter and children playing tag.

It didn't look the way I had pictured an Advent Cafe but I shrugged and stepped forward.  I didn't get to go in though,  the person at the door directed me upstairs when he found out why I was there.

As I climbed the stairs I asked a woman what was happening inside the busy room.

"That's the "Out of the Cold" programme she said. Every night a different church hosts it.

Oh.

Living so far away from downtown I had no idea of the number of hungry adults, children and animals in our cities.

She looked at me and said kindly," They don't all sleep here, some are just here for the meal.

First lesson of Advent.

I See

1995, self portrait

Last night I dreamt that I found a horse.

 

Then I realised it was my horse and that it was dying of thirst and starvation as I had neglected it for years.   

I was distraught to think I had done this to such magnificent creature.

I tried to find a bucket to give it water but all I had was a wine glass which I knew was too fragile and small. 

A friend of mine who owns a horse walked by and I decided to ask her for some hay.

***

When I woke up I immediately e-mailed my friend and told her about the dream.  

I also asked if I could buy some hay from her. 

She understood that I was joking but I don't think my unconscious would get the joke.

It would, however, get the message that I am listening to what it is telling me.

You need to take care of the aspect of your life that you are neglecting.

You are in a rut and only a healthy horse can carry you forward.

Sacred Labyrinth

Colouring books for adults are popular these days because someone - probably an artist realized the 'zone' we get into is marketable.

People occasionally ask me if I get bored when I'm doing my oil pastels, mechanically putting down layers of colour.  The truth is that those are the times that the spirit comes to me.

I've noticed the same thing happening in spinning class at the gym. There is something about our conscious minds being preoccupied with repetitive actions that opens the door to the unconscious and the spirits that dwell within.

I don't know why it is so, I just know that it happens.

Hence the interest in colouring books - people are searching to reconnect with the Sacred.

This is one of my attempts to design a colouring page. Unfortunately it is harder than I expected.

Drawing a straight solid line is not for the faint of heart.

I'll talk more about this design in the next post.