Quote

God doesn't use us based on what we look like.

He uses us based on the condition of our souls.

- Judith Couchman

"and the seasons shall be confused..."

IQ: Carpenter's Squares

From my latest IQ (infant quilt) class comes Carpenter's Squares. Based on a traditional quilt block rich in symbolism, the design has been enlarged and modernized. The L shaped tool known as a carpenter’s square has been used for centuries to help square-up and measure in carpentry. Early quilters of the traditional (much smaller) block recorded their beliefs in this block, referencing Jesus as The Carpenter. Harking back to traditions in early Gaelic Christianity, Celtic interlace represented the way in which all life is woven together. The interlace patterns represented in this design symbolize the idea that the afterlife (heaven) and this present world (earth) intersect creating a pattern that, at least for now, only God the Creator sees the whole of.

The use of triple bands to create the interlace in this design also suggests the Trinity, a concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together as One. Another use of religious symbolism is seen in the repetition of the four isolated background squares in each corner. This design feature suggests a relationship to the idea of the “foursquare gospel” (meaning a good foundation for one's faith), terminology borrowed from the Biblical book of Revelations.

To make the quilt shown in this post I used a dark purple reproduction fabric from P&B for the background, with a Michael Miller Asian print and one of Northcott's Quilt for A Cure(TM) fabrics as the bands. Machine quilted in a random free-motion swirliness. The combination of these fabrics, I think, is visually striking but also speaks to diversity -- reminding me that there are many different people with many different backgrounds, talents, and gifts who come together to make up the beauty of the body of believers.

...Shall Set You Free

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6

Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes

So far this year the best producing tomato vine in my garden has been the Matt's Wild Cherry.

Roughly the size of a dime, or smaller, they are prolific. The plant is a bit all over -- I'm harvesting these little wild ones off towers that were supposed to be supporting other tomatoes. The vine bends over, grows sideways, stretches out into the yard... and makes more tomatoes. More and more tiny tomatoes.

Aren't they adorable?

Today's wild tomato dish is a simple fresh pasta sauce for angle hair. Olive oil, basil, black pepper, whole wild cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts went into the skillet.

When the tomatoes started to want to split that was the signal to add the cooked (al dente) angle hair pasta. Mixing the pasta in the skillet gives the noodles a chance to absorb the sauce. They turn a little pink.

Fast, simple, delicious. Life is good.

Time Passes

First, apologies to loyal readers who have been wondering if I dropped off the face of the earth. I'm still here. Amidst the business that has been August 2010 so far I took some time out to celebrate another birthday. Hooray for time with family! Hooray for chocolate cake!

Not so much hooray for people who say "So. How does it feel? Now that you're almost 40."

I have no problem with being this close to 40. I don't think I'll have a problem when I get this close to 50 or 60 either. (Nearing 120 I might start to wonder what's going on, but that's a topic for a different post.) I like greying hair. I like not being expected to feel spunky after pulling an all-nighter -- I like not being expected to pull all-nighters. I like having a back pocket full of experiences that give me wisdom, help me connect with others, and let me share strength with those who are just now walking through valleys I've already passed through.

What I don't like is the gloating patronizing tone of the people who ask how I feel about getting older. As though I should feel guilty for not remaining young -- and not wanting to.

Being young is great (or was great, depending on your perspective) but so is being older. So is maturity, experience, growth, wisdom... There is grace in aging and beauty in the fading of flowers. The human heart holds more each year, the mind expands, the spirit is honed.

So...
To the woman some 20 years my elder, who commented on my being "over the hill" with a glee that suggested she had found my Achilles heel... the woman who mentioned my age 23 times in a five minute conversation ... and the woman who questioned my mental capacities "now that you're getting so old.": Get over it.

If I have not matured, if I have not learned from these years I have lived, perhaps I should be embarrassed by my age. Thank goodness I'm not ashamed.

If I can not offer more compassion, more basic human respect, and more understanding of others with each passing year perhaps I ought not to claim my true age. Praise God I have no need to lie.

If I didn't think there's so much more to learn and love about the years to come perhaps I could worry about being old. Thank goodness I am spared those worry lines.

If I did not believe in filling each year with a record of obedience to the Lord and service to others, then maybe the piling up of those years would concern me. Praise God for helping me make each new year better than the last.

... because time passes

... the flowers fade

... the sun rises, sets, and hurries to rise again

... the waters travel to the sea

... man is born of a woman, only to return to dust

... the histories and generations come and go

... and time passes

For everything there is a season, there is a time for every matter under heaven...and God seeks out what has gone by. -- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 15b

Friday Photos

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more." -- Psalm 103:15-16