I’ve had a few ‘pandemic’ hobbies. Like others I started baking bread from my own sourdough starter: Bob. Bob lasted about 8months until my family grew bored with homemade sourdough and Bob turned red. I started doing yoga each morning (that lasted longer and I still try to do it), and I started knitting.
I started knitting to have something to do with my hands while I listened to the news to help my anxiety in those early days. I’m not a complete beginner- I’ve knitted before; I’ve made blankets and scarfs (things that are square with no pattern). But the more I did, the more I learned, the better I got. It’s an addiction… I now have a couple knitting baskets full of wool, and a closet full of scarfs, hats, baby blankets, and sweaters.
Knitting seems to have stuck, because I really do need something to do with my hands, and just like the bread got boring for my family so has my knitting- which left me with a need to find other places to give, blankets, hats, scarfs and shawls. So, lately along with the sweater I’m knitting I’m also started knitting prayer shawls.
Prayer shawls are simple patterns that you knit with intention. Before I begin, I say a prayer for the person or the situation and then I knit. I probably should pray actively throughout the knitting, but I find that instead I call the person to mind as I begin each row and its enough.
Knitting is an active prayer, a body prayer, like walking the Labyrinth or crossing yourself- it’s a form of movement that leads us into a deep relationship. But its one that gives to others, it literally wraps them in God’s love. I’m knitting prayer shawls and I’ll keep them in my offices for people who I meet who need them; maybe life is rough, maybe the feel alone. Who do you know who need to be wrapped in prayer and love?
If you are a knitter and you wish -join me- email me erceliz@vst.edu. But even if you aren’t…what are your pandemic hobbies? How do are part of your faith journey?
God Bless, Mother Liz