This past March, my friend, Cindy Helton, arrived at Fresh (the local coffee shop where my church’s prayer shawl group meets) with yarn and needles in hand, ready to learn to knit. She caught on quickly and was soon at work on her first prayer shawl. This past Friday afternoon, a cheer went up from our prayer shawl group as she bound off the final stitch of her very first prayer shawl. Our pastor, Father Terry, blessed the completed shawl on Sunday..
The small table on which it rested remained in the center aisle, where people laid gentle, loving hands on it on their way to the communion rail. Moments after the Benediction, it was claimed as a gift for a man named Charlie, who suffers from ALS (a neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

On Monday morning, Cindy sent me the poem she wrote about her experience of creating her first prayer shawl. It so poignantly expresses the journey and the relationship between knitter, yarn, and loving purpose that I asked her if I could share it with all of you. She said yes!

The Prayer Shawl

When I first met you
I was drawn to your color,
your texture, the feel of you.

The bamboo wands were ready
to conduct us on our journey.
Neither of us could fathom
the look of its completion.

Inch by inch our dance began,
fumbling at first as we
struggled to find our rhythm;
anxious about mistakes.

There was no rush.
No demands from either of us.
Yet a longing settled in
To reach our destination.

Months passed.
Familiarity grew.
Our souls became friends.
Our pace increased.

From another shore a presence called;
At first a whisper, then an urgent plea.
Comfort was sought. Shelter required.
Our destiny was at hand.

The day we parted was bitter sweet
As the blessing was imparted
we knew we’d never see each
other again…except
in the echoes of our memory.

Your transformation will tangibly
wrap a being in warmth and love.
My own will be more sure,
more steady…more ready
to start again.

27 January 2020
Cynthia Helton.

My prayer is that this poem will encourage you wherever you are on your prayer shawl journey, not only to finish your shawl, but to let the process transform your heart as you transform yarn into a refuge for someone in need of comfort and strength.
Blessings,
Sharon