Do you know the story of Captain Charlie Plumb?

A U.S. Naval Academy grad, Charlie was a jet pilot in Vietnam and completed 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam. On his next mission, just days before the end of his tour, his plane was shot down over Hanoi. He parachuted into enemy hands and spent the next 2,103 days as a Prisoner of War.

Some years later by chance, Charlie met the man who had packed his parachute. At first speechless at the meeting, Charlie became full of gratitude and explained that he had said many prayers of thanks and didn’t expect to ever be able to express his gratitude in person. Charlie asked the parachute packer if he kept track of all the parachutes he packed. The man responded, “No, it’s enough gratification for me to just know I served.”

Today Charlie travels around the country lecturing and asking, “Who packs your parachute?”

Read more…

Reap as You Sew: Spirit at Work in Quiltmaking
Chris Boersma Smith
West Bow Press; $27.95

I am not sure why we seem to see more books, articles or news reports on spirituality these days, I am just glad we do. For most of us quilt or art makers, we know that something often drives our work or speaks to us about our work that is outside of ourselves. That is what Chris Boersma Smith explores in her book Reap as You Sew. Chris’ book on the connection between creativity and spirituality offers a look at individual stories of a group of quiltmakers and how quiltmaking is a spiritual path for each. Each story is accompanied by what Chris calls “Steps along a spiritual quiltmaking path.” I think of them as tools in your toolbox, e.g, keeping a journal; starting with an image and imagining how it evolves; inviting your higher power to guide you as you freely create; taking small actions. If you want to explore the connection in your own work or understand more of the “why you quilt,” Reap as You Sew will help you on that path.