I want to tell a story for those of you who haven’t been with us for long. I’ll post pieces over the next few days to let you know why we do what we do in the way we do it. Here is a work of art by Chere Labbe Doiron that she has called Mary. Mary has significance in different ways for different people, but for now let’s look at the childlike characteristics of this Mary. See that her expression has not been decided for us – we have to imagine what she is thinking. Because all children love to play dress-up, she has beautiful flowers in her hair and on her dress. Her dress is white because, well – children are pure. Her head is tilted to the side and that is known to be a signal of submission because it exposes the throat and neck and makes her look smaller and less threatening. We have to wonder what is going on around her to feel the need to be submissive.

Little girls have dreams. Wonder what her dreams are? What were your dreams when you were an adolescent? When I was a little girl, we dreamed of the prince coming to take us to the palace. We dreamed of being a mommy. I dreamed of being a cowgirl. I dreamed of being a preacher. Dreams change and evolve. I wonder what Mary’s dreams were?