Room of Energy

The Prayer Shawl ministry is alive and well at St Columba’s. While Donna was away caring for an ailing friend in Florida, I thought I would drop in on our knitters. Well, I found out quickly just how naïve this warden is. When I opened the door, hoping to bring some energy to these ladies, I was broadsided with energy and smiles. Love and strong intent radiated from every direction. Every eye did turn my way with a smile and I was enthusiastically welcomed, but I stood a bit unbalanced knowing I was the only non-knitter in the room. Eight or nine ladies (I was too fazed to count) around a circular table all greeted me, but not one knitting needle ever slowed down. Not for one second, while I pawed the ground in that room, did any knitting stop. The colorful shawls were moved around and repositioned, but each move was graceful and lovingly done.
The room’s energy is focused on the recipients of the shawls, whether known or unknown. It’s not a room of gossip; it’s a room of healing. It’s a room full of intentional prayers and repetitive 3-stitch patterns that fill each shawl with comfort and hope. The 3-stich pattern, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, seems to be the means to fill these gifts with God’s Love.
To quote Janet Bristow, who in 1998 established a formal Shawl Ministry, “Shawls…made for centuries, universal and embracing symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles...”
We, the congregation, see the shawls on Sundays, all beautiful, each wrapped and bundled for presentation, or we hear from those presented with a shawl how life changing receiving one can actually be. My friends, I’ve witnessed where thy come from and let me tell you, it’s a wonderful place.
Please let me thank you, each knitter, from all of us at St Columba’s, for your caring gifts. You inspire us to be better and stronger in our own individual ministries. JB