There are 3 questions for reflection in this section of #ContemplativeKnitting The first is: how big is your #orbit (meaning the world you see & interact with on a daily/regular basis)?

My answer is twofold: 1) my orbit isn’t as big as it used to be & 2) it’s not as big as I want it to be. There may be a third facet in there, too. As I discovered recently when my dad died, my orbit is bigger than I realize.

And honestly, I’m just leaving those answers there, ATM because, although I read the section days ago & have been thinking about my answers since then. I still feel the need to #contemplate it a little longer. Maybe take a #walk or #knit another row….

The current section of #ContemplativeKnitting talks about changing your spiritual awareness & begins with a verse from 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Although theologians & Bible scholars have found many diverse meanings to this verse, from prophecy of a new age coming soon to the inadequacy of human perceptions, particularly of God, what I hear this morning is a call to gather & interact with one another face to face. That’s quite a challenging call given the prevalence & popularity of #SocialMedia these days. For me, it’s perhaps even more challenging as I am something of a solitary knitter. I try, whenever possible, to knit in public, however, I rarely manage to meetup with #KnittingGroups . So here’s your chance, social knitters: drop the name, location, & a link to your favorite #KnittingClub below! #Knitting #Crochet #Yarn

#ContemplativeKnitting asks What is the most significant modification you’ve made in your #Knitting life & in your #Spiritual life?

I wouldn’t call most of the knitting modifications I’ve made significant. They tend to be changes in colors or needle-size more than anything. Recently, I’ve attempted creating some of my own designs, which is mildly entertaining but hasn’t resulted in anything I want to make again, let alone try to sell (although my current #YarnBomb experiment might be the first)

My spiritual life has gone through many iterations, as most people’s do. Today, I’d say the most significant modifications would be cultivating a discipline of using female pronouns to refer to the Holy Spirit & swapping out 3 traditional lines in the Lord’s Prayer (“forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation”) for more contemporary language (“forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial”)

When is modifying a #pattern helpful?

When isn’t it? 🤔

Seriously, with the exception of #testknitting I don’t recall the last time I followed a #knitting or #crochet pattern to a T. At the very least, I change the colors or the #Yarn or the needle/hook size.

Perhaps more importantly, I make mistakes. I’ve been known to start & frog projects multiple times before I find the rhythm of a pattern. Once I have it, things roll merrily along…until they don’t (which usually occurs when I’ve lost count or miscounted) At that point, I have a choice: to frog or to figure out how to fix it. Usually, I choose to “fix” it by adapting the next row/round to fit the pattern (or adjust my row counter to a row that fits what’s on my needles) & just keep going. Sometimes that even works & no one notices the mistake but me. I won’t lie though, I’ve also left a pile of unfinished projects with errors I can’t hide in my wake & whose yarn I hope to reuse.

#ContemplativeKnitting #ChapterOne #WhyKnit

Today, #ContemplativeKnitting asks me to reflect on: Where do you fall on the modification scale?

In #knitting as in #life & #faith I fall somewhere in the middle. I like having a template I can use (& preferably memorize quickly) however I am forever tweaking it so that the end product/result is never an exact duplicate of the template. Part of this is because I don’t want to look or be like everyone else. I also don’t want to stand out too much (I am, after all, #Episcopalian )

The #joy of my faith tradition is that it holds room for everyone & meets them where they are. This isn’t just #socialjustice It’s also understanding #God & living in the world. Knitting & #crochet have shown me what it means to be #Christian I’ve learned you can go on after most mistakes & few people will notice them. Big mistakes can set you back but can always be redone. Beyond that, the great joy of #FiberArts is sharing them with others & building #Community beyond ourselves & our #imagination

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, & put a new & right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

This is the first bit of Scripture I’ve encountered in #ContemplativeKnitting & it both condemns & challenges me. I sat with it as I #knit (my #WIP is a #TaffyShawl ) most of the day & it still makes me uncomfortable. I found it hard to focus on the words & my mind kept wandering.

I tend to cling to things way past the point of usefulness. My heart & mind are bound up in the habits & patterns of the past, most of which no longer serve me. A clean heart would mean letting them go, & also releasing those who taught them to me. It’s scary.

Being in the process of starting a new business, I find myself caught up in wanting to do things “right”. It’s a common issue for me that often becomes an excuse for not doing anything or giving up. I’m so afraid of making a mistake. What I need to do is trust that God will help me fly.

#Chapter1 #WhyKnit #Psalm51 #startup

What is the right way to pray for me?

I’m not sure there is one. Which may be why my #prayerlife feels inadequate. I may not like the status quo however I do like having at least some basic rules or guidelines for things. That way I know when I’m breaking them. I don’t really feel like I have any guidelines for #prayer

Being #Episcopalian I do like community prayer, the kind done during worship services. I also like the prayers included in the Daily Offices of Prayer for All Seasons & the St. Helena’s Breviary, which are the 2 prayer books I use mostly frequently (aside from the #BCP ) That said, I’m not convinced every prayer done in a group or in public needs to begin with “the Lord be with you” It feels to formal or something for extemporaneous prayer.

I’ve been told that prayer is like a conversation with God, in which case, I pray a lot, although I don’t always address God by name. Some might call it thinking but there is a difference #ContemplativeKnitting #Introduction

How were you taught to #pray ?

I don’t recall ever being taught HOW to pray. As a kid, I recall being taught #prayers (God is great, Now I lay me down to sleep, Hail Mary & the Lord’s Prayer, among others). By the time I became a teenager I was memorizing swathes of the #BCP including prayers. But being taught how to pray or even the parts of a prayer? Not so much.

I was taught to mediate (it was the 70’s & mom was into TM, so I have a mantra I basically repeated while walking around in a dim room since I wasn’t old enough to actually sit still). I found it similar to the contemplative prayer as taught by a Benedictine monk during a prayer workshop a few years ago. That’s as close as I’ve gotten, which probably explains why I feel my #prayerlife is lacking. My prayers come from memories or books because I lack the confidence to “just pray” outside of dire circumstances. It’s one of the attractions of doing #ContemplativeKnitting #Introduction

How important is it to me to knit the right way?

Having taught myself #Knitting from a book, I’d say not very. Over the years I’ve learned to hold my needles & yarn in all sorts of ways with the result being fabric that is individualistic & unlikely to be mistaken for something knit by a machine. That’s important to me. It’s also a major selling point for my hats, headbands, scarves, & other accessories/items because honestly, if you are not looking for something unique & handmade, you aren’t going to be willing to pay a fair price for my work.

Hand knitting is a very personal activity. I put a lot of me into each item I make, even when I’m not trying to. That, to me, is what makes each creation special.

#ContemplativeKnitting #Introduction

#ContemplativeKnitting #Introduction During the Easter season, I’m using the book Contemplative #Knitting by Julie Cicora https://bookshop.org/a/13969/9781640652620 for my daily devotional & tooting my #SpiritualReflections here. Each chapter will have its own thread & I’ll hashtag the book & the chapter. It’s possible there will be multiple reflections per chapter & each will be tooted as a reply to the first toot of the chapter. Feel free to join the conversation or add your own reflection(s) to the thread.

The Introduction asks how important doing things the “right” way is. I’d like to say it isn’t, but the truth is I was brought up preoccupied with doing things “right” & understanding that until I understand how the rules work, I can’t break them. As a result, I’m a bit of a perfectionist who often abandons things when I can’t do them “right” or get bored trying. That’s why I’m purposely keeping this practice vague & taught myself to #knit around age 12 or 13. I’m not the rebel I’d like to be 1/?

During the liturgical season of Easter, I’m using the book CONTEMPLATIVE KNITTING as my daily devotional & discipline. My reasoning behind this is two-fold. First, my #prayer life could be better, or at least more robust. I don’t pray without ceasing, however, I almost knit that way. Maybe the habit will rub off. And second, as I have alluded to, I am starting a #FiberArts business, specifically #Knitting & #crochet One of the things I am determined to do is only do business with individuals & organizations who share my values. This discipline will help me identify & explore them.

#ContemplativeKnitting is not your typical devotional although the author, #JulieCicora is an #Episcopal priest. To get through to the chapter on #Evangelism by #Pentecost I’ll need to read a couple chapters a week. Each chapter contains questions for further reflection, so I will be tooting my #SpiritualReflections as I encounter them. If you want to join my journey, the #book is: https://bookshop.org/a/13969/9781640652620