Peeling the Layers Back

Luke 6 I went looking for this: Luke 6:38 “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Finding the rest of Luke 6 and oh so beautiful, so rich, scripture for pondering in depth, for a long period of time. I went looking for comfort, and found a way to be. I went looking for confirmation, and found a keep plodding along. I went looking for direction, and found a keep doing what you do. I went whining to God – I’m not ashamed to admit that – I found a call to be there for others, to exhibit kindness, and caring no matter what. Reminders for sure, a way of life for sure, but more, so much more.

Bogged Down. That’s an apt description for the direction this post started in. Bogged down, it happens. Thinking more about this Scripture, where I am, and this time, just wow, and thank you God. It’s unsettling. And then, facepalm! This Scripture, this moment of life is peeling back the layers, taking a look at the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly getting closer, holding onto good things, dealing with others, examining. Taking the time to peel back these layers, look at them, choose what to keep, and what to let go will be a little bit of a worthy process.

Over on TerifiCreations I’ve started looking, reading, thinking, and making changes. The process is slow, however the end result will be worth it. The tag line is now, “Creating Confident Quilters one Stitch at a Time”, the class names are beginning to reflect that change. The beginning of this change took place in a conversation with Cheryl Sleboda about a year ago. I can see this moment clearly and hear parts of the conversation that surprise me. And perhaps it is those parts that owning, working with it is part of this peeling back the layers.

Quilting happens much the same way. My friend Debby Brown is sharing blocks from the early 1990’s that she has in her sewing room. Debby started quilting a few years before I did, however the book that she worked through at the time is one of the books I own, it’s a great book to teach quilters, build skill, and peel back the myth and mystery of quilting. The fabrics in her quilts are fabrics I once owned and used in my own quilt making. The quilting we all do now is different than our beginnings. Our skill has grown, we’ve tried so many techniques, deciding on what works, and doesn’t work for us.

This is a good thing. Like the way of any person of faith all of this is about the journey. I can not imagine my life over the last nearly twenty-four years without quilt making.  Quilt making is like breathing, it is the gift of the holy spirit, it is life-giving.

So like Luke 6 suggests I’m going to continue examining, peeling back the layers both personally and quilterly, keep what works, grow and go confidently forward, where ever that leads.

God bless,

Teri