Your own personal Mary

I must be feeling better, because I feel like writing a little bit.

Since we are pulling out of the Easter season, I thought I would put down a few semi-religious thoughts. I have had a hard time focusing lately on any kind of contemplative spiritual or prayer life. I consider myself a Christian, although the word has been co-opted to such a degree by a certain group of unsavory people I almost prefer to call myself a Jesusist. I like the teachings of Jesus, I think they are wise, profound, good words to live by. My favorites are to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, because when we do these things to the most in need we do them to Jesus. I also like the other rebel side of Jesus, like throwing the money changers out of the temple or telling the Pharisees what massive jerks they are. (Actually, if you consult a Bible, Jesus never says, "Pharisees, you guys are a bunch of massive jerks"- he's a little more hardcore in his criticism- he calls them "sons of hell" and a "brood of vipers") Why Jesus, who kind of has a rep as a blissed out hippie in some circles would call the Pharisees these names? Well, there are a few hints- the Pharisees love their status, the best seats in the temple, their garments, and they make a show of tithing (giving) what in biblical times were valuable commodities, 10% of mint and other valuable items. And Jesus basically says, "Yes, I see you tithe these things when you really should be dispensing the really valuable things, like justice, mercy and compassion"

So, I like that. I also like Jesus' mom, Mary. I'm reading Sue Monk Kidd's book "The Secret Life of Bees" and the heroine ends of staying with a bee keeper who has a kind of an odd little cult devoted to Mary.

Mary and I go way back. When I was very little, my Grandma insisted on the afternoon nap, covered with a mountain of blankets....in August....I had to lay down for about 45 minutes whether I was sleeping or not. On the bedside table was a statue of Mary about the size of a Barbie. She was wearing a light aqua robe and her eyes are partially closed and her arms are outstretched in kind of a loving, welcoming way. Laying there sweating my way through nap time, I had a lot of time to look at Mary until I fell asleep. I liked having her there. Sometimes I would talk to her, and in my little kid mind I always thought it was nice that Jesus had a mom, after all he had so much to do, and moms are quite helpful. Grandma and I always had nighttime prayer with the Hail Mary, I like the part "full of grace." It sounded nice.

The other statue of Mary in my memory was the statue of Mary in the "Pietas" (sp?) Its a sad statue, of Mary cradling her son after he is taken down from the cross. She again looks contemplative but sad. This statue was in my elementary school library. I used to look at it and think "poor Mary" the statue is famous and I remember seeing it again after I had my daughter and it actually kind of filled me with horror to think of a mother witnessing this brutality done to their child.

I have two statues of Mary in the Madonna and child mode. One is a regular white small statue and when I went in to labor with Allie, I accidentially knocked it over and baby Jesus head broke off. Its glued on now. My other statue of Mary is kind of modern art in a Southwestern style.

My husband merely tolerates the Marys. But I like them. Something about her makes me feel peaceful.

P.S. Here is a link to the Pietas statue via "faux mable classics" (!) http://www.marbleclassics.com/michelangelo-pieta-virgin-mary-statue.htm