Bless the Work of our Hands – a review
In my previous blog post I was moaning about the proliferation of AI generated slop. Today’s inspiration comes from the complete other end of the spectrum as I review Bless the Work of our Hands, written and illustrated by Jane Walters.
What an exquisite book this is. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Jane said she would send me a review copy. All I knew it was a book of prayers and reflections for creatives.
My first impression was it is chunkier than I imagined and the perfect size to fit in my hands. Smaller than the average novel, more like the size of a solid a bar of delicious chocolate – the good quality stuff. Only this is so much better as it is calorie free.
If I am already waxing lyrical, it gets better. The rich, dark green cover is adorned with gold leaves, olive leaves perhaps?
But they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover so let’s dive in…
The leaf pattern is repeated inside on every page adding to the overall splendour. This is a book to be savoured. Jane has added her own hand drawn images and there is plenty of space around the text so the words breathe.
And the words are just beautiful, written as prayers and poems, interspersed with some prose.
There are prayers for inspiration and encouragement.
I am not delusional.
nor ‘away with the fairies’!
Prayers for facing failure,
Every instinct tells me to run and hide;
to pretend it has not happened
or dealing with success.
Don’t let this go to my head
or let pride spoil this moment
As well as prayers for the beginning and end of a project there are the all-important prayers for the messy middle. That bit when you wonder should I carry on?
Procrastination and time-wasting
have turned this hoped-for sprint
into a marathon
The prayers read very much like the Psalms, a mix of praising God, questioning Him and seeking His wisdom. Instead of being numbered they are categorised so you can use the contents page to find the perfect one to suit the stage of your project, including times of rest. There is also a comprehensive index in the back.
Advice offered is very practical, coming from a place of someone who is incredibly creative. As well as writing and drawing, Jane is a musician and qualified interior designer.
Bible passages ground her words to scripture. Studies of creative Bible characters add another dimension. I can’t wait to have a more thorough read, with proper pauses to consider the work of my own hands.
There are specific prayers for particulars crafts, such as sculptors, restorers, metalworkers and musicians. If nothing else this book makes you think of the tremendous range of skills there are.
How marvellous that we can share in God’s creativity. As Jane writes in the very first prayer in the book
God, I want to thank you for creativity,
for the grace-filled gift it is
to partake in your nature!
You could have reserved this privilege and pleasure for yourself
but instead you shared it freely
among all of humankind
The privilege and pleasure, the joy of creating with our own hands in all forms. From a small child daubing their first splodge of paint on a page to a jeweller crafting a priceless necklace it is all magnificent gift we share with the ultimate creator.
This book is perfect for anyone who it creative and wants to explore how their talents relate to God’s generous gift of creativity. For anyone who wants God to bless the work of their hands and then hand the glory back to God.
“Bless the Work of our Hands”
written and illustrated by Jane Walters
ISBN 9781800394186
Published by BRF Resources (£12.99)