Now, a new star shines that will take away all evil!

As gentle as a dove, Saint Barbara lived in her tower, high above all earthly concerns. Her prayers were a beacon of light, straight to God, the Mother. Barbara's many followers would come and sit for hours on the grass and listen to her teachings of love and forgiveness.

When the Burning Bush heard of these teachings, he sent a thunderhead to strike her tower with deadly lightning. The Saint was trapped and killed inside the tower but she died filled with peace while kneeling at her round window praying to God.

Her good deeds and kind words had fallen like fertile seeds upon the fields around her tower. Upon her death, they sprouted and became fields of red poppies surrounding the hills where her tower now stands in ruin. The children come and play in the fields and pick vases of the poppies. These poppies are stained red with the blood of the Saint and serve as a reminder of her kindness.

She is our inspiration, our hope!

Watercolor and gold on paper. Copyright 2010 by Kelley Vandiver