And yet, those warm fuzzy feelings are usually fleeting. I must admit, come early December, not only am I up to my elbows in icy water, I am knee-deep in bad attitude. Pandora’s Christmas tunes and my favorite tea only go so far....
Enter Victoria. In recent weeks, I have been privileged to have this peaceful painter alongside me in the studio; sharing stories, laughter & tears over some tea and a bag of clay. With faith enough to move mountains; abundant joy in the days’ smallest of treasures; the courage of a thousand warriors, and ample hope when even the bleakest of news is on her horizon, she is not just a friend. She is one of my favorite people. Were it not for her salt & pepper chemo ‘do’, you would never know the future she faces. Born just three years before me, she is who I want to be when I grow up.Alone in the studio, I plop down in front of my wheel to throw the day’s 50-some wine glasses, and notice my phone’s message alert. It is a customer, offering a touching account of her grieving friend who will soon receive my creation. It marks only one of many sacred stories. Tears stream from my tired eyes; shame for my selfish, ungrateful attitude. I whisper a prayer of contrition and Victoria’s wise words bubble to the surface, settling on my muddied soul, “This is not just a job, Daina. This is your ministry.”
I return to my work and begin a soft hum to Sara Groves on Pandora, “God is for us, God is with us, God is in us: Emmanuel.”
