Welcome to this month’s Abbey Photo Party!
I select a theme and invite you to respond with images.
We began this month with a Community Lectio Divina practice (stop by to read the beautiful responses). As I prayed with the reading from Thomas Merton, this image of what it means to become a saint kept shimmering for me, and the image of creation as witness to this call to be myself.
What if we could receive the trees and rivers and creatures as wise guides about what it means to truly embrace ourselves? What can they teach us about not refusing our divine call? How might their witness reveal new dimensions of my own sense of self?
With our overall theme of the year at the Abbey as discernment, I love the possibility of exploring how creation can remind us of what is most essential, can call us back to our true selves.
I invite you for this month’s Photo Party to play with this idea as you go out in the world to receive images in response. As you walk hold this inspiration of the true self and be ready to see what is revealed to you.
You can share images you already have which illuminate the theme, but I encourage you also to go for a walk with the theme in mind and see what you discover.
You are also welcome to post photos of any other art you create inspired by the theme. See what stirs your imagination!
How to participate:
You can post your photo either in the comment section below* (there is now an option to upload a file with your comment) or you can join our Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks Facebook group and post there. Feel free to share a few words about the process of receiving this image and how it speaks of the “The Call to Our True Selves” for you.
*Note: If this is your first time posting, or includes a link, your comment will need to be moderated before it appears. This is to prevent spam and should be approved within 24 hours.
23 Responses
The ocean has a constant call to me. Listen. Listen. Listen. In all her moods, the ocean calls, and I stand at her shores, mesmerized by infinity, constancy.
On the way to my prayer corner one morning this week, I glanced out the window and received this image. The trees willingly allow the light of the new day to pass through them. May I allow this light to come through me.
Light passes through.
In considering the approach of Advent and the Christmas season, I made a commitment to myself to approach this season differently this year. Coming to this sacred place is art of it. Now . . . . from a walk last weekend which passes over Sugar Creek.
I am very drawn to reflections in photography. Perhaps it is an internal response that we ourselves are reflections to those we meet, and our reflections cast our own unique perception. It is no different to those who live in nature’s quiet solitude. The trees and flora also cast their reflections in the streams and in the shadows. It takes an open heart and open mind to encapsulate the divine manifestations shown to us in all forms.
I gazed on this tree for long moments through the fog. I was struck by its beauty, even in the midst of what many would have considered an unlovely day, in a forsaken space as fall was giving way to the death of winter. True to its Creator and itself, it spoke of the wonder of color and standing true, regardless the situation. I had said the final goodbye to my earthly father just the day before, yet this tree beckoned me to follow its lead, to lift my head and let my beauty, my self, my created wonder stand true, even in the midst of grief.
very powerful photo and reflection…
So alive.
Two weeks ago this milkweed pod captured my attention. It was only after photographing it that the phrase “letting go” came to me. That was its lesson for me. Sometimes embracing God’s call in my life means letting go of some thing, someone or some idea.
Here’s the picture. Not sure why it didn’t post before.