Gothic Arch Glass At Lydia's - Butte, Montana

Butte, Montana's iconic Lydia's Supper Club features a collection of 33 amazing stained glass windows, framed and backlit, as the primary wall decor. Today's sampling hangs in the bar and is described thus: "No. 20  Gothic arch stained glass with antiqued engraving in the rear. Red and green. From a church in Bath, England. 1798."

Light And Dark - Missoula, Montana

"Much of the beauty of light owes its existence to the dark." - Brene' Brown, Daring Greatly, p. 169

Brown continues this thought: "The most powerful moments of our lives happen when we string together the small flickers of light created by courage, compassion, and connection and see them shine in the darkness of our struggles."

Let your little lights shine!

Toward - St Ignatius, Montana

"....But we are all entitled to

And victims of our point of view

Until we take off shoes we wore

In miles we never walked before."

© Janet Martin

Click here to read this full poem - and more!- at Another Porch.

Temple Emanu-el, Helena, Montana

While currently home to offices of the Catholic Diocese of Helena, the cornerstone of this stalwart structure laid in 1890 anchored the first Jewish temple between St. Paul, MN, and Portland, OR.
Despite significant modifications in the 1930s, the Hebrew date 5651 still graces the cornerstone as testament to its legacy. More visible from the sidewalk, a National Register of Historic Places plaque entices the curious passerby to pause and learn.
Click here to read more history of this enduring piece of Montana’s capitol city and view the architectural changes from its original construction.

Sacred Heart, Livingston, Montana

Livingston’s Congregational Church boasts some interesting and beautifully rendered windows. Several center panels bear the signature “Charles”; his art works hand in hand with the pastor's words, provoking souls to pause and ponder.

Fortunately for me - and for you! -, the motif pictured is dear to Amanda Neufeld, the first of my lovely nieces, who graces today's post in the following guest-blog.  Enjoy.

Hearts, crosses, and anchors. Images often seen in ink faded from black to green on time-worn skin. Among pinup girls and tributes to mothers, or on the distended forearms of a spinach crazed sailor man (toot toot), these symbols so ubiquitous that one can easily forget what it is they symbolize. Seen here, however, backlit by a snowy Sunday morning, some of their sacredness seems restored. 

A Sacred Heart glows with a flame that seems gentle and inviting, a fire that burns with Holy love, that refines what it touches. Why?  "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). As a people, we are raw, unable to purify ourselves, and, thankfully, not required to. The Cross, seen so often that it can be overlooked. So simple a symbol, and yet, "the intersecting lines mark a center, from which a radiance or life itself flows outward. The cross of Christ, like the tree of life, became the center of the world." 
And the anchor. I love the anchor. The catacombs of the early church are illustrated with images of anchors that predate the use of the cross to symbolize Christianity. It can't just be a coincidence, the similarity of the Greek word for anchor, "ankura," and the Greek phrase en kurio ("in the Lord"). "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19)

I think I might need to add an anchor to my tattoos, not carrying on a nautical tradition, or in homage to everyone's favourite squinting sailor. A reminder of the generations who used secret symbols to share their faith, who spoke without speaking of the Lord they loved and in Whom they lived. Or I could spend more time admiring stained glass windows.

Soaring, Helena, Montana

The worries of a glass ceiling gain beneficial perspective during time spent beneath limitless ceilings that soar heavenward.

Of Saints And Angels, St. Francis Xavier, Missoula, Montana

A couple quotes, from favourite authors, to accompany the last in my unintentional St. Francis Xavier series:

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” -
George MacDonald

“Believers, look up - take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.” - Billy Graham

Sacred Illumination, Missoula, Montana

Okay, I was momentarily tempted to title this post “Stairway to Heaven” - but thankfully, my filter kicked in and insisted, "Ahem!...that might be a bit much.".

Stained glass windows are a multifaceted marvel - the history of telling story in picture, the intricate piecework, the survival through generations, the mesmerizing factor that saves struggling children from perceived monotony. Forget zen - contemplation of these beauties always induces calm for me. 

A big thanks to St. Francis Xavier for maintaining these circa-1903 works of art.

A Bug's Life, Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, Montana

If we open our eyes - & zoom in! - we can see beauty in the smallest creatures.
This little bug's folded wings bring to mind stained glass - windows of Lilliputian cathedrals.
(He might be a version of stonefly - check out this link & tell me what you think. Hey - that rhymes...)