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Prayer walk

12/28/2021

Since returning from Florence on the 17th, the weather for walking as been superb. In Florence, I walked about 7 miles; here at home, my walk is 2 or 3. That’s okay.
I’m committed to paying attention to the moment on these walks, noticing the surroundings, especially the trees; being aware of God’s creation and God’s gift to me to be living in this moment and in this beautiful space. God invites me to look up. And here is what gratitude I am blessed to enjoy and share with you.

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Praying as a child of God

12/14/2021

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This is just for you, my prayer diary friends. (As you know, I do my best to keep anything too prayerful, too religious, too Godlike out of my cottage by the sea blog.)
As I started out this morning to wander the streets of Florence and settle on where to stop for my first cappuccino of the day, I felt a restlessness.(I’m sure you know that feeling). So I decided to stop in at La Badia where I knew I could sit silently in prayer. When there isn’t a service going on in this ancient church, all that is happening is prayer! I sat for a good half hour, gazing at an icon of Jesus. My prayer felt deep as I sat with God and then prayed for people and situations. I left renewed, back in God’s world.
These paradigm shifts have been happening to me more and more these day, not just in Florence, but at home. I shift from trying to negotiation this world as only a human being, to being fully present in this world as a child of God. I think of Jesus, fully human, fully divine. I know I must spend time praying and meditation at the start of each day.

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Annunciation in picture and message

12/11/2021

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Below is today’s post on www.acottagebythesea.net. Put here I want to talk about the different poses and expression that the artists have given Mary when she is told she will be the god-bearer. As I consider God’s call to me, at various times I resonate with each Mary. I can receive God’s call with joy, acceptance, and willingness, but also with fear, reluctance, and denial. My stance can be confident, privileged, and powerful, but also meek, common, and humble.

Every time I come to Florence I get fixated on the paintings and frescoes of Annunciation . Just when I think I have snapped every depiction of Mary and Angel Gabriel, a new one appears. Yesterday, it was at the Academia. Most of us go there to see Michelangelo’s David, but I also love to climb to the first floor to absorb the paintings of the Florentine School 1370-1430, which include Late Gothic and Early Renaissance works. Most have been restored to the vibrant colors that were a landmark of the shops (bottega) where the artists and apprentices worked to create these magnificent altar pieces.
Wealthy patrons made sure that their own portrait joined the adoration of the magi or was present somewhere in the picture, tympanum, or predella. They were eager to do what they could do gain a place in heaven and to gain favor with the powerful in the city.

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Prayer walk

Praying as a child of God

Annunciation in picture and message

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