I love how in the biblical narrative, sandwiched right between the shepherds visited by angels and the prophecy of Simeon, there is this very human line, "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." It makes Mary seem more relateable somehow, more like every woman. Because in spite of the celestial visitations, the miracles, the words of prophecy swirling around her-- she was mulling over the import of her life events like we all do, watching her story unfold. There were things to ponder, interpret, and later be shaped into a narrative.
It's a task we all have, deriving meaning from the collection of experiences we acquire as we make our way, often haphazardly enough, through life. Certain things strike us as significant and are stored as memories, woven into the changing tales we will tell and retell ourselves and each other.
I filled this journal page with ponderings of my own-- "dear diary" style ramblings on some things that have been on my mind lately, which I then painted over. Some of the writing is still faintly visible but not legible. I like that effect. Then I added an image cut from a magazine and the Mary quote. Sorry about the glare obscuring the bottom right corner of the picture and the word "heart." This was the best photo I took before my camera batteries suddenly died on me. The magazine image, btw, does not represent Mary for me-- just a generic woman, tying in with the theme. Although she is probably somebody famous I'm not recognizing, because I cut her from a page advertising Nashville tourism. If someone knows, feel free to enlighten me. :)
And speaking of my heart ponderings, I want to say thank you to all of those who commented on my post yesterday. Your words-- of such warmth and feeling-- meant more than I can say.
Linking today to A Virgin A Day and Balzer Designs.
Keeping and pondering...not too many of us do such things these days...
ReplyDeleteMary in Disguise
Funny how it's good to ponder, but bad to be ponderous. Hmm........
ReplyDeleteHmm, wonder if there's a moral there. Never do so much of anything that you become an adjective? lol. :)
DeleteI like this...a good reminder to keep some things and ponder them in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteProbably my favorite line in the bible...
ReplyDeleteThe girl's hair reminds me of a halo♥
in breath out breath, meditation, poetry, day dreaming, planning, reviewing, all things we need to do in one way or another i think..
ReplyDeleteI am particularly moved by your paint over the former words; I know this is a method Orly Avineri recommends, too, but I have such a hard time doing that. I love your generic every woman--although I admittedly I never looked that good, even when I was young.
ReplyDeleteI had actually not heard of Orly Avineri until you mentioned her. I believe I picked up the idea of painting over a page of journaled words from another art journal blog, but I read so many now I've forgotten which one it was. But now I've done a little googling and am so happy to be introduced to Avineri's work! Thanks for mentioning it. :)
DeleteLife is so busy for most of us that taking the time to ponder has to be a deliberate act. I try to do that every morning.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you were happy to cover things up. I'm just starting to do that, realising that I don't always need to remember what I wrote underneath has taken a while :)
a very meaningful post - a reminder that we are all touched and called upon by our own lives to make difficult choices and decisions and once that can change the course of our world - even when we sometimes think that we are not seen
ReplyDeleteI have always loved that sentence in the gospel. Our blessed mother knows sorrow and love. I love your idea of making a "pondering" journal.
ReplyDeleteA "pondering journal" sounds like an excellent idea!
DeleteLast Night’s Tea Flowers
"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've been reading that verse since I was about five and I never noticed that line. It really is a personal moment.
Love your work. It's very engaging!