Stole #2

This is the base of the stole given to me by my mother-in-law yesterday. I am still stunned by the amount of work this must have taken, I have done some embroidery and patchwork in my time, but this is in a TOTALLY different league. Having also seen the design process I can comment on the different parts of the stole.

The stole is generally green, the colour for "Ordinary Time", a season for growth. The base shows the waters of baptism, being washed by God, and also that Jesus called us to be "fishers of men". For me, it also reminds me of the waters around Lindisfarne that permit retreat, journey and pilgrimage.

The Alpha and Omega come from Revelation 1:17, Christ as beginning and end, an image that is important to me. A year or two ago I was reflecting on this and adapted Psalm 139 as follows:

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I part the smallest attoseconds, you are there;
if I embrace the geological eons, you are there.

If I rise at leptogenesis,
if I settle as starlight dims,
even then your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.