I am painfully aware that I haven’t written a blog in about 3 weeks. it’s just kind fallen off the radar with everything else that is going on at Bethany. But I have missed writing what is in my heart. And for the first time in a while, I feel like I may have something to say,
You know by now that I am a knitter. Or, at least I try to be. I have surprised myself over the past 20 years at some of the things I have created … some have been quite complicated patterns that I initially thought “I’ll never figure this out.” But somehow I do (thanks to youtube videos which I usually have to watch over and over again.)
I talked about one such pattern about a year and a half ago … and I still haven’t finished that one. When Alana, who has never asked me to knit anything for her before, asked me to knit a vest for her I was honoured. I said “sure.” Turned out to be my most challenging piece yet for a number of reasons. Took me months. Then for some bizarre reason I decided to do another one for myself.
I finally finished it this week. (pictured below). I am not sure I will ever wear it … but at least it is done. Then as I was looking around for the next project (because I have read several times that knitting lowers one’s blood pressure … clearly not with some of the patterns I choose …) I picked up another half finished project … one with a dead easy pattern, but one that somehow I had set down a long time ago in favour of something else. I pulled it out. And the top picture is what landed on the floor. The wool was hopelessly tangled.
I discovered a long time ago that untangling wool can be a spiritual discipline. And the messy pile of tangled wool can be an opportunity to reflect on what is inside one’s head. And to get to the end product (see the last picture) can be satisfying and soothing. But it requires patience (which I seem to have in short supply these days … which is cause enough for reflection) … and the discipline to keep at it. To have faith and believe that it will be untangled in the end. It is, I have discovered a kind of spiritual discipline.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I will admit to using my scissors several times to free a knot. Sometimes … (to continue with the metaphor and application to life) … one just has to do that. Make the cut … break the wool … whatever that means to you. In the end – perhaps it really doesn’t matter how many pieces you have … you will have a knot in the finished garment that will remind you that sometimes … well, you know.
I continue to muddle my way through the fall at Bethany. I won’t deny it’s challenging on 25 hours per week. And even though I might look cross at you for asking me if I am taking care of myself and minding my hours, I really am touched by the care and concern folks have shown towards me. I am trying. I have been to choir practice every Tuesday evening since September (yay!) … and have been trying to get back to a practice of exercise (physio and pool) … but a number of projects at Bethany we have all been working on are coming together and we are all so excited about them.
And so I take a breath … and realize that the wool is ready now for the next project.
The weekly faith study gives me life, surprises and joy. I am hearing new songs and we are having deep discussions. This past week Kathy McKay shared a beautiful song that the St. Paul’s worship band sang often … Still Waters, by the Hello Darlin’s with Matt Anderson. It has become a new favourite to (as Kathy observed on Wednesday evening) “lower my blood pressure.” It does have that effect on me. Between this song and the ball of wool, I just might make it through the week.
https://youtu.be/_HFUSp7lnq4?list=RD_HFUSp7lnq4
Blessings everyone. May you too find ways to untangle the messy-ness that may be in your life and see the blessings all around.
