Saints, blues, and translating a pattern

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Above is most of a fourteen-inch high by twenty-inch wide section of blues for a wall hanging I'm crafting with two other quilters. Blue is the bottom hue, topped by green, then orange, then yellow. Starting with my fave colour, I'll be going upward as time allows, but I'm pleased with starting this and definitely looking forward to sewing more!

In part that the fabrics are a collaboration, hehehe, a few of my Karen Nyberg Ocean prints in this piece, which I have shared with my quilting companions. Also a yellow woven, not loose-woven, though I plan to put some loosely woven fabric in my yellow section. Need to allow a wide seam allowance for that fabric, as well as any other wovens I include.

I've been reading a book about saints for a few months, not Butler's Lives of the Saints, though Alban Butler was yesterday's saint of the day. All Saints by Robert Ellsberg is a fascinating collection of canonized saints and saintly people; Fannie Lou Hamer and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Blaise Pascal and Sojourner Truth some examples. Today's saint is Joan Bosco Penido Burnier, a Jesuit priest from Brazil who was murdered in Mato Grosso, Brazil during the country's military dictatorship.

After reading about Father Burnier, I prayed for the safety of all those defending the vulnerable, poor, and fragile. I prayed that if in defending the rights of the most downtrodden these people are killed that those they are seeking to serve can see Love standing behind the fallen. Love holding all of us in his arms. Love crying over the senseless loss of life, denial of dignity, coldness of heart. Love healing where Love is welcomed and Love overcoming such depravity. Then I set my book on a nearby table, walked into my office, and began this post.

I don't have much else to say other than I'm again humbled at overflowing goodness, which lessens the abysmal terror others wish to inflict. I can't analyze that, yet I embrace those who go above and beyond the call to love one another without reserve. Without fear. With much integrity and courage and steadfast strength. Father Burnier isn't canonized, yet in my mind he's as much a saint as any of those recognized by the Catholic Church. And I feel a little more at peace, strangely enough, just for knowing of one more human being who gave their life for others. In this time of our planet's history, more saints are needed. Perhaps the rest of my sewing project will be fashioned with Father Burnier in mind, dedicating my efforts to stitching as beautiful of a section as the Spirit gives me the grace and skill to create.

Wishing you a wonderful week filled with courage and love! 

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