Seeker

Was Luke the Evangelist also an artist? The detail image shown above is from a stained glass window in Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral. It is in the Chapel of Laurence O'Toole and shows St Luke drawing or painting. It was created by Patrick Pollen in memory of his teacher Catherine O'Brien who died in 1963. Some people venerate St Luke as the patron saint of artists. This is because of a Christian tradition from the 8th century onward that Luke painted the first Icons of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. There are legends supporting this idea and paintings showing Luke painting the Madonna and Child, for example this anonymous Russian icon. Was Luke an artist? There are icons of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child whose origins are attributed to Luke. You can even find a catalogue of them here . Personally, I am highly sceptical that many or any can be traced back to Luke. The historical evidence is slim to say the least. So, I do not know if Luke created any paintin...

Yesterday after some energetic gardening I made and ate a cucumber sandwich, using a cucumber from our garden. I ate this cucumber sandwich mindlessly while scrolling through messages on my smartphone. In retrospect I can say the cucumber sandwich was delicious, but I’m ashamed to say I failed to notice and appreciate it at the time. My mind was on other things. That is not a good way to eat. That is not how to enjoy the good things of life. That is not how to engender gratitude for the simple delights of everyday. It is the antithesis of living in the present moment. I had forgotten about that cucumber sandwich (which I had hardly noticed). This morning I remembered it when I read the  'iBenedictines'  blog. There I found a timely reminder to take time to savour and be grateful for whatever is there in the present moment. It seems that 'Digitalnun' had also prepared and eaten a cucumber sandwich yesterday, but she had noticed and savoured its delight. When...

Psalm 23 is many people's favourite Psalm, especially in its various sung versions like 'The Lord's my Shepherd' . I like some of the paraphrases and other adaptions based on Psalm 23. They sometimes give a refreshing angle on familiar words.  Whoever wrote this version (below) probably did it for fun, rather than to shed light on old words. If you like using several long words where one simple one would do, then this complex version of Psalm 23 is the one for you. it isn't for me. What do you think? Psalm 23 The Lord and I are in a shepherd/sheep situation and I am in a position of negative need. He prostrates me in a greenbelt grazing area: he conducts me directionally parallel to non-torrential aqueous liquid. He switches me onto a positive behavioural format for the maximum prestige of his identity. It should be said that notwithstanding the fact that I make ambulatory progress through the inter-hill mortality slot, terror sensation...