Devotion II

Today’s drawing of Mary Magdalene

How are our modern devotions expressed?

Our rituals are no longer the same as those of our grandmothers, although it warms our hearts when we encounter their purity. But we grew up differently, the world shaped us differently.

I have tried to make drawing Mary Magdalene a devotion this year, by drawing her every day. I failed many days last month, but as I settled into the usual routine and felt healthy again, the drawing seems to have also begun to settle. And just as Dr. Sue Morter described, I don’t feel so good when I don’t practice my modern devotions.

There is a place and a time, the is a rhythm and an order, there is a need and a willingness to surrender to the moment. It only works if the soul calls for it, and for this reason, it’s better to skip some days when the soul calls for rest. And once rested, return.

As a child, I prayed a lot. Secretly. I prayed for problem-solving. I prayed to solve my mother’s problems, mostly. As an adult artist I discovered that there’s wellbeing within the creative space, answering the call of the soul, of Spirit. It is a kind of prayer, that of drawing, painting, writing, being quiet among possibilities, creating something that didn’t exist before.

There are so many ways to be devoted. To exist within the joy of being oneself. A moment in nature, a day of fruitful work. It’s all about being present in one’s life.