MANDALAS

by Bev Mello (bevm@lordoflife.org)

Because of its focus on Lent, this Compass uses minimal color— except for these beautiful mandalas made by participants in Lord of Life’s Contemplative Community during January. They learned that throughout history, mandalas have been meaningful. Contemplative Community Spiritual Director Karen Wight Hoogheem shares, “Mandala is a contemplative practice that crosses a variety of cultures and religious traditions. For example, mandala can be found in Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American spirituality, and Celtic Christianity. Mandala coloring can create inner calm, which develops an awareness of our wider connection to other people, the world, and to God.”

With the sanctuary window in greyscale on the cover, dear reader, you are invited to create your own mandala. Even if you color outside the lines as I tend to do, ‘mistakes’ may be absorbed into heavy black areas; have fun blending color on top of greys. Grab crayons, markers, colored pencils, highlighters—whatever media is preferred. Be in the moment. Welcome the Holy Spirit to be with you. Offer your creation to God.

This process allows me to leave behind the busyness in my brain and fall into a more peaceful state that allows me to feel closer to God and open to hearing from the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t always happen, but sometimes it does and that is amazing. I decided to use colors I wouldn’t normally choose to mix things up a little. —Cheryl Myhr

The yellow in my mandala symbolizes Jesus as the light of the world. It is hard to put into words what the experience felt like—it was a quiet time reserved for God: to both talk and listen.—BarbLindberg

This mandala was done during a prayer for healing. My husband is recovering from pneumonia, I broke my left leg, two of our extended family have covid, as well as all healing needs throughout this world. After completing and reviewing the mandala, I felt the healing rays flowing from God in the center of the universe. I hope it blesses all who view it the same way. —Chris Vevea

This is not a classic mandala, but it is a drawing my granddaughter, Maren, and I drew together. For twenty minutes neither of us spoke except to say, “Pass that marker please.” Our time was peaceful, creative, fun, quiet, calm. It was just the two of us but I don’t think we were alone. —Peter Geisendorfer-Lindgren

I call my mandala “Joy to Creation.” One thing to note whenever I do a project, I always intentionally do one mistake to remind me to be humble: only God is perfect. —Laurie Schultz