(originally blogged on my other site)
I've mentioned a number of times on this blog that I am a working church organist. I have served in this capacity off and on since I was around 11 or 12 years old and was asked to play the piano for Sunday School in the church my family attended. As my bio notes, I have traveled many spiritual paths and music has played a role in all of those paths.
Today I was sitting at the organ where I am currently engaged as the regular Organist - one of the local Christian Science churches in this area. If you are familiar with the Christian Science tradition, you know that in their service, there are readings from the Bible, followed by readings from their textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", by Mary Baker Eddy.
In today's lesson, as it is called, the 2nd Reader read a selection from the 6th chapter of Matthew in the Christian New Testament.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [j]cubit to his [k]stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [l]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
I often knit or crochet during these readings as I sit at the organ, and have always felt as if I was infusing each item with a prayer, of sorts. I especially like taking items I am making for someone special to work on at the organ, as I intentionally stitch during the readings and prayers, and envision that I am tucking in between the stitches, a spoken word for Good, a prayer for healing, or an expression of gratitude and joy.
Today I was working on a poncho I had decided to make for myself with yarn I had in my stash. I've been intentionally doing LESS shopping and more STASH-busting for my crafting projects, and I happened to have enough yarn to make a poncho. As I worked each stitch, I have to admit I was mindful of a nagging concern at the back of my mind. My full-time role is with the federal government, and I will simply say that right now, that's a very uncertain place to be employed.
I have intermittently pivoted between abject panic and a calm acceptance that whatever will be, will be. This morning was more of a panic day. In "normal" times, as a Veteran with a couple decades of federal service; I would be at the very end of any lay-off list. But we are NOT living in normal times, and I have to admit that I have had some sleepless nights, and some restless days when the worry ramps up.
As I worked the rhythmic stitches in the poncho, the words from Matthew 6 caught my attention. It was as if I was being reminded that I need not worry, and that all would be well. It was especially calming as my phone began to vibrate with text messages sharing what new menacing was coming for us via email the next day.
There's upset aplenty across the federal workforce right now, and uncertainty is the word of the day for most of us. Still, in my little corner of the world, I was given a gift this morning: a thread of peace, a sliver of hope that reminded me I will be OK.
I have long believed that my grandmother, also an organist and an avid crocheter and who passed from this earthly plane right before the 21st century came, “speaks” to me in the context of church music. I don’t hear her voice, but I have experienced unexplainable “nudges” and insights, as well as timely and well-placed passages in that setting that make absolutely no sense unless you knew her and understood my childhood and our relationship around music and church.
Whatever it was and wherever it came from, I am grateful for today’s message of assurance. I am ESPECIALLY pleased that it came while I was working on a crocheted garment that I will wear. Each time that I put it on, I will be reminded of the words from that biblical verse, and I will sense the knowing smile of my grandmother while I embrace the comfort of knowing that whatever comes my way, I am not alone, and will be just fine.
(C) 2025 Practitioner's Path
As I ponder the bankruptcy of Joann Fabrics & Crafts, and the closure of my favorite local yarn shop, I have been thinking a lot about the MEANING of the time I spend crafting - especially crocheting, knitting and sewing. For me these activities have always been something that I put my heart and soul into - whether making something for myself, or for someone else.
I think that's why we feel it so DEEPLY when one of our go-to places for crafting goods and supplies goes out of business. It's so much MORE than just a hobby. I'll be writing more about our deeper connections to our creative endeavors in future blog posts.
(C) 2025 Stitch 'n Dish
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