Poetry Art by Launa

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Photos from the special signing of "The One"

on September 13, 2020

at Calvary Chapel Dayspring Church, Chino Valley, AZ

 

The One

 

When Marty and I were in Armenia during the summer of 2019, we had an opportunity to visit the village where the children who come to the summer camp in the Republic of Georgia live.  The town is called Stepanavan and it is everything you'd expect from this lovely country and people.  While there, we were privileged and honored to be involved in making a "Matagh."  This is a ceremony that is done in the local Armenian church by the priest as a symbol of mercy and gratitude to God for granting health and well being.  It is mostly a ceremony that commemorates the sacrifice that Jesus offered for us and then to bless the poor.  During this traditional rite, a male lamb is chosen and salt was placed in its mouth after a priest's blessing.  The salt symbolizes purity and that our savior was the sinless sacrifice for all mankind.  During our Matagh, the priest walked the lamb around the church seven times on its hind legs.  It overheated and gasped for breath as it did this unusual journey. As we and the lamb marched, I bawled the whole time because I knew that the lamb was destined to be killed.  I hated the idea of slaughtering it, as I am an animal lover and find that aspect of life so difficult. I know that mankind has authority over the animals and using it for food is fine, I am just squeamish about it.

Interestingly and poignantly, while we were on the walk around the building and I was agonizing about the lamb's life, I had a thought that stopped me dead in my tracks.  "Had I ever shed tears about the sacrifice that Jesus made for me on the cross?"  "At any point while reading the gospels, had I ever felt as bad for his torture and death as I was feeling for this dumb animal?"

Fortunately, this ceremonial sacrifice was done at a different locations, so I didn't have to witness the lamb's pitiful cries, bleating, bleeding and death.  Later, we met at a park, with the meat already cut up and boiled it in a huge pot with water and salt.  Part of the ceremony was to partake of the boiled meat, which I struggled to do.  I managed to swallow some.  Marty too was moved because he is a softy around animals as well, I don't think he was able to eat the lamb meat at all.  The rest of the "stew" was put in bottles and delivered to seven needy families.  We personally visited them and delivered this "sacred" food and were able to pray with them as well.  The families that we visited had at least one child that was able to come to our camp.  Seeing their living conditions, (one family lived in an old soviet-style abandoned train car,) and the gratitude that they felt for being included in the Matagh was priceless.  It is a great honor to receive the lamb stew as well as participating in the symbolic ceremony in the Armenian culture.

When I returned home, I examine the photographs that I had snapped of the lamb and although a sob still caught in my throat when I looked at it, I decided to paint of portrait of it.  This piece, entitled, 

"The One" came soon after.  I wanted the poor lamb to represent us from the parable of Jesus, which He said that he would leave the 99 sheep to find the one lost lamb. Matthew 8:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7

 

This painting is also special in another way.  The original which is 36"x36" acrylic on canvas, will hang in the new Calvary Chapel Dayspring Church when it is finished being built.  (This is the church that I attend.). 12"x12" giclee reproductions are done and given as gifts for those who donate over $500. for the new building.  You could say it is like purchasing a "brick."  I will be doing a personalization and signing for those donors on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at CCDC.  Sometime down the line, a different size will be offered for purchase as well as gift cards, but for now, I thought it would be nice to share the image and the poetry to my wider audience on this blog.

Is it just me or...

Is it just me or is anyone else having a difficult time keeping up with all the tasks at hand?
Looking at my last blog post entry, I realize that I haven't updated since last summer-sheesh!

Update:I am still alive and juggling all the things that I usually do, but am apparently not ever going to be a consistent blogger.   As a quick rundown.  2019 saw me working with kids at a local domestic violence shelter and in the public school system and loving a therapeutic art program that I started at a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) home.

My middle daughter is graduating high school in June---woot woot woot!!! One more to go and that won't be until 2025, sigh.  That's kind of it. Lately, I have been working in my poteger (garden), riding my Quarter Horse Abby...

and introduced 7 ducklings and a goose name Luce into the mix.

and since the COVID 19 quarantine, I have actually been writing as well.  It takes a nationwide shutdown for me to sit down and relax!

I am doing the follow up to Unbutton My Heart, so far the working title is, 

"He Loves What's Broken."

Also, I have done a painting called, "The One" which will be reproduced on canvas soon, so be watching for that.  It is a special piece that will benefit something near and dear to my heart.  I will talk more about it on my next blog...hopefully, sooner than 12 months from now.