The Mustard Seed

I got an inquiry yesterday about stained glass windows from a church in Louisana that was devasted by Hurricane Katrina. The building was under 4 feet of water. The church they purchased the building from sold it and took out half of the windows.

Today, when I was doing my daily reading, I came across the story of the mustard seed. I know the biblical story but wanted to look it up on the internet to see what else was there. I found among many, this paragraph also: Buddha also told the story of the grieving mother and the mustard seed. When a mother loses her only son, she takes his body to the Buddha to find a cure. The Buddha asks her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a family that has never lost a child, husband, parent or friend. When the mother is unable to find such a house in her village, she realizes that death is common to all, and she cannot be selfish in her grief.[3] (This came from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed when I searched if you would like to know more.)

It helped me to realize the program I have to help churches during Art Glass Month is just a small thing that hopefully will grow with the help and involvement of other people. Each year, during Art Glass Month I will give, for as long as I am able, help to churches with their stained glass needs. This particular church in Louisana is in need of glass to finish their church. Half of the windows were taken out when the previous owners sold. The community has a lot to overcome. If you get on their web site, you will see that although they are a small church community, they are very involved helping other people... even though their own needs are great.

My reason for relaying all of this is, I am offering an opportunity for people to help out with projects like this during Art Glass Month. This is volunteer work. You will be able to work on the stained glass for the church (or churches) that are chosen, learn a wonderful art, feel good about yourself, and help a church and their members who are in need. Ideally, I would like to see volunteers get sponsored by their church (or other sponsorship is ok also). In this way, maybe, like the plants of the mustard seed, this program too will grow into something bigger than I can do alone.

More info on this later. Let me know your thoughts!

Pat