True Peace isn't the absence of tension. It isn't peace FROM fear or imperfection or uncertainty or problems. It's peace IN all of that. Peace that somehow, impossibly, grows in the hardest, most trampled places. Dana Allen Walsh
My friend Dana is a UCC minister in Massachusetts...and writes an occasional Substack article. I was particularly taken with her recent post called Finding Peace in the Mess.
In keeping with my Lowly Christmas theme for Emily and Max....I had Max covered....but I needed something for Emily. She really doesn't need a thing....but I thought she needed her own Lowly Worm. Since I couldn't crochet her one...I decided to try and needle felt her one. How hard could it be!
I really had no idea if I could actually make it work...even when I was part way through...I was skeptical. There was a lot of messy middle.
With the help of a couple of Christmas movies it took me most of the day yesterday. I went from a pile of wool roving and some wool felt....
...to a hand felted Lowly Worm. I'm pretty tickled with him.
He can even tie himself in a knot....just like his character in the books.
More wise words from Dana's post:
Maybe we don't have to wait for everything to be fixed before we find peace.
What if the invitation is to stop waiting for conditions to be perfect and instead ask: how might peace break through right here, in the middle of the mess?
Peace IN the chaos of the family Christmas card photo - one child crying, the dog refusing to sit, the realness of it all.
Peace IN the tension of the family gathering -knowing that love is messier and bigger than perfect harmony.
Peace IN the uncertainty of a lingering diagnosis-discovering gratitude can live alongside fear.
Peace IN the long road of grief-finding you can hold both the ache and the love at once.
May we have eyes to see it.
Mary we have hands to tend it.
May we have hearts open enough to be astonished by it.
While Lowly is happy to be able to tie himself in a knot, I am grateful for your sharing Dana's beautifully articulated words about finding peace IN the times when I myself am tied in knots. Thank you, MaryAnn.
ReplyDeleteLowly is OUTSTANDING! What a terrific job you did.
Thank you Dotty....and thank you Dana. These are tough times...and more important that ever to find joy in a little wool.
DeleteI needed your words today- so thank you for that- and I needed the smile that Lowly brought to my face. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteKathy
So glad you found something here you needed Kathy. That warms my heart. Diving into this Lowly project while watching a couple of Christmas movies was just what I needed. And Dana's post is just what I needed too.
DeletePeace that grows in the trampled places - oh, my, how that struck my heart - reading the news these days certainly does leave me feeling trampled - a good reminder that peace exists here too❤️
ReplyDeleteYour Lowly is absolutely magnificent - I have tried a small bit of felting before - it is HARD😵💫 Great job - I’m sure he will be much & well loved🥰
Thanks Lori, yes...I loved that line too. If you read Dana's whole post if gives it more of a context for that. I recommend it. Thanks for the vote of confidence on Lowly...I actually surprised myself on this one and was tickled with the result.
DeleteLike others, I am grateful for this peace quote. Such wise words for our troubled times. And your Lowly Worm is brilliant! I know how wonderful it is to immerse oneself in a project for someone else. I'm sure he will be received with great love!
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy. Dana's words were comforting. And I'm sure Lowly will be received as joyfully as it was made. It felt really good to just pause and make something fun.
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