Inspiration for your journey to God!

Category: Journaling (Page 1 of 68)

Nativity Hut – Hal Frenck (1982?)

Nativity Hut – Hal Frenck

Today I chose a simpler more contemporary piece. While this one doesn’t have so many characters in the scene I felt it had a lot to “say” about the role we play in our family, community and world.

Conduit of faith

Joseph stands close by Mary’s side and he is looking to her. This scene reminded me of the statues of Joseph in a few of the crèches I saw in area parishes. As I pondered Joseph’s gaze, it occurred to me that Mary was a conduit of faith for Joseph.

Spotlight on Mary

Mary is the protagonist in this painting. All eyes, even Jesus’, are on her. The more I think about it, the more I get the sense that Mary is the conduit of faith, hope and love for everyone in the scene – her husband, her son, her neighbor.

Gatekeeper

I look at the shepherd in the doorway and he looks to me like a gatekeeper, like he’s keeping watch at the entrance of the hut. The hut and who’s within it are symbols of faith, hope and love.

God speaks

My interpretation of this painting is we all are called to be conduits of faith, hope and love in the world. At the same time, we’re called to be gatekeepers. We keep watch in our families, communities and world and we offer our prayers where we feel they’re needed most and we encourage others in faith by our example.

Don’t be discouraged

It’s easy to get discouraged or feel like we’ve failed in some way because our family and world are not Christ centered. But we should remember that God is in control and His ways are not our ways. Never underestimate the power of prayer! Keep praying – pray without ceasing!

Your best is good enough

When I was a teacher, I remember telling my students that doing their best is all they needed to concern themselves with. Some of them would get so discouraged when they got a 75 on their test. But sometimes, no matter how hard they tried, 75 was all they could muster. I’d try to make them understand that if they studied as they should have and did the best they could then they shouldn’t beat themselves up for achieving that 75.

Keeping the faith

The same holds true for us. We shouldn’t be discouraged at life’s unfolding in a way we didn’t expect. Instead, we should ask ourselves: are we focused on being the gatekeeper of the faith? How are we doing at being a conduit and example?

One can only hope

No matter our circumstance at any given moment, we must remain steadfast and dedicated to keeping faith, hope and love alive in our families, communities and world while acknowledging our limitations. Everything else is up to God!

What do you see in this painting? How does it speak to you? Share your thoughts. Merry Christmas! God bless you.

The Mystic Nativity, Sandro Botticelli (1500-1501)

The Mystic Nativity, Sandro Botticelli (1500-1501)

The Mystic Nativity by Botticelli caught my attention because it was chock full of subjects and color. Click here to read the painter’s intention. I don’t think my interpretation comes close to what’s described but it’s interesting to see how God speaks regardless.

It’s a sign

First I notice Christ in the center – naked, smack dab in the middle of all the bustle. My first reaction to his nakedness was – he came into the world stripped and left the world the same way. The manner in which he entered the world was a prefigurement to how he would exit.

Oh come let us adore him!

Then there’s Mary, kneeling in adoration. She’s taking the opportunity to receive all the graces she is going to need to fulfill her role as mother of our Savior with all its joys and sufferings. With that, I’m reminded of a book I’m reading called Discernment of Spirits by Fr. Tim Gallagher. In it he discusses spiritual consolations (when we feel God’s presence and spiritually inspired) and spiritual desolation (when we feel God is afar off and maybe we lack the desire to pray or participate in any form of spiritual routine).

We all experience both consolation and desolation at various times in our lives. Fr. Tim, through his interpretation of St. Ignatius’ rules, suggests that in times of spiritual consolation we should build up reserves for those times we experience desolation. I’m paraphrasing of course. For me, adoration is a perfect way to build up those reserves and receive all the graces Christ has for us.

Back to Mary. Doesn’t it make sense that she would be building up reserves from the very first moment of Jesus’ birth in order to have the strength to endure his death. The best part of this scene is Jesus with his hand raised toward Mary as if to give her the blessing she seeks in adoration! Picture him doing that for you and me!

Angels we have heard on high


Joseph sits behind Jesus. It’s almost as if he knows his “place” and role. He also seems tired or worried. While sitting alone he’s probably pondering, as any father would, what this baby has in store for him and how his life is going to change because of him. Off to the left, there’s the hand of the Angel reaching out to him. Just as in his dream, the Angel is here now to comfort, encourage, guide and protect. Yet again, Joseph is in the process of gaining understanding from heaven.

Isn’t that scene a source of encouragement for us? Although we can’t see them, there are forces at work all around us, encouraging, comforting, protecting and guiding. We can get a sense of it all if we are still like Joseph in this painting. When life gets messy, let’s keep our peace and follow Joseph’s lead – pray for guidance and understanding.

Finally, the angels and humans in the painting reminded me not only of the joy Jesus brings but also of the importance of community and the connection between heaven and Earth.

I hope you take some time to ponder this scene and share your thoughts! Merry Christmas. God bless you!


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