Waiting is not something we do well in our culture.  Pregnancy is waiting.  The heaviness of hope is borne within Mary and in each of us.  In truth we are always waiting for God’s graciousness and generosity.  Mary reminds us of this in her waiting time.

These images are part of my 2010 series on the young Mary.  Please ask if you would like to use them in some way.

Mary was carried by Grace,  but the way was still unknown.  It was her first child.  Her body and the world around her were changing.  And then there was this God Connection Thing…this new thing God was doing in and through her.  Yet she moved on by faith into what Grace was providing.  

This series of images was created on my iphone app in the year 2010.  Permisssion to use the images will be given without hesitation if I am asked.

In the prior blog post I stated that in this series of works I focused on the moment of the Annuciation and the months following.  Mary is a young girl when she and God connect.  She has not experienced the pain and struggle that will come.  Awe and wonder and gratitude carry her into the unknown of body, mind and spirit on waves of Grace. 

As with all the images in these blog posts they were created by me. Ask me if you would like to use them. I’m generous.  KCB

The Annunciation… a graphic print… first in a series created 2010… KCB

My personal journey with Mary of Bethlehem began in a moment when I realized that my call to ordained ministry made us companions. It was the 70’s when I received the call. I did not know any female pastors. It was a new thing. There was prejudice and skepticism, but the God who had called me, also led me, taught me, and made a way for me. Just as God had done for Mary when she was called to the new thing God was doing. Between 2003 and 2007 I completed a watercolor and two mixed media pieces that were expressions of my journey with Mary. These were previously exhibited. The graphic prints on this blog are new, part of the new media work I have focused on recently. As I have worked with creating these Mary images I have experienced them as returning to the time before Mary was the great lady and the precious icon she became. In these works she is the young girl, the one called and gifted with Grace. There is also a reference to what she will become in the early church: the burning bush a title she carries lightly. She is active, moving, dancing, dreaming, the picture of a youthful “yes” to God, to life and to the future.  I will post these images over the weeks of Advent.

My art teachers often directed me to turn abstract compositions upside down and sideways and decide which was the best orientation.  Which satisfied my feelings and ideas.  The new update on the app with which I create much of my work gave me the same opportunity when I save the work to my photo gallery or send it by text or email.  Below are the other orientations of this piece.  Each has a different flavor although they are similar.  Feel free to choose and to remember that we often have more choices with our feelings and actions than we first believe.

As with all my work these are images that belong to me, but I share if asked.

Kathy

There is something important about walking on dirt and seeing sky and clouds and a pine branch hanging down in front of my eyes, that reminds me I am not alone in the universe (which is stretching out larger every day); important because I remember to remember God.  There is a presence that reaches to me.  I am grateful that I remember.

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As with all my graphics it is personally created and permission is needed for use by persons other than me.  Just ask using my email address or by responding to this blog.  Thanks!

I suffered a knee injury when walking my dog recently.  I decided to express it graphically.  The amazing insight was all the fears the accident brought up instantly, the moment the pain hit.  My chiropractor called it my “fear file”.  So I know that some of the pain is located in my head, my perception and expectation of reality.  This experience has given me opportunity to explore both and to heal in more ways than just my knee, which is now back to baseline.  I am grateful to have added this experience to my “gratitude file”.