Thought for The Day - Open and Discretion

"The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace..." I Corinthians 14: 32, 33

A prophet, by definition is a messenger of God's, not usually subject or under obedience of man. He serves man by serving God, telling man what God would have them know. But he isn't a puppet dancing on a string, neither is he prone to moments of being "overwhelmed." He or she is to be a person who remains "open."

I have often wondered if "everyone" has this sense of "openness;" for me, it's a sense that the world is larger than my neighborhood, nation or planet. I have felt this sense I was small, that there is a world more intricate than the veins of my body and that there are details of life that only God will reveal...in time. I'm fortunate, I'm blessed; I see things in people - the height of God's creation - that others don't. I see emotions and thoughts, patterns of behavior that speak of the glory of God. I have observed people in moments that speak of his power to love, and typically observed when the person is at their worst. I have also been inclined to talk with people, take time with "this" person, but not "that" one. Some people would find it hard to believe I hear some of the things shared with me. But in the grand scheme, we are woven together to form a great tapestry...

Discretion...there are times when I'm listening to someone's story. when I want to interject, I want to stop them, but choose not to. And in similar times, but other circumstance, I interrupt and provide insight that I know has to come from beyond my ability to reason. Listening...above and to my peers...observing...responding and speaking...

Thought for The Day - Talking

Saying something

Communicating

Words

Expression

RECEPTIVITY

A dialogue is communicated 24/7; your response to it as instant, whether you know it or not. We filter and catalogue more than we process acknowledge at one time.





And even when there is very little visually to process, we are

Hearing

Reading

And

Seeing





Don't worry...later on it will make sense.

Thought for The Day - Murky Waters

One doesn't have to go too deep in the water to find the blend of thoughts, feelings, hopes and doubts. ALL OF THAT STUFF is blended, mixed in there and available for use! We are a blend of both good and bad; helpful actions and raging hatred. But life is about choosing: will you live a life of honor or dishonor? Will you live a life of love (and if so, indiscriminately) or will you harbor hatred in your heart?

Thought for The Day - Give Me a Little Time

Just a few minutes more
Just a few more
To savor this moment
To hang on to this sunset
And the gentle breeze
Whistling through the trees
Just a few seconds longer
To hold on to my beloved
To hold her closer and feel the warmth of her breath
Near my face
Before running off to work
And a life without her presence
Allow me an hour or two
Standing before this canvas,
"Work" isn't laborious or grueling
Pleasure is found in each brush stroke
The one to come as significant as the many before
One more day of life
Comes and goes quickly
Time passes faster than the whisper of your name
But each moment
Each day
And each hour
Caught
Savored
Lingering
Leaves an indelible mark on my heart
Marking both me and history
Declaring I was here
You were there
And we loved each breath taken

Thought for The Day - Keeping it Together

Step, step, step, step, sli-i-i-i-i-de! That's me yesterday at noon. Out for a walk before getting lunch, the ground still wet from rain the previous day. My shoes are probably best designed for people who would be standing stationary most of the day, not for walking a mile or so each day. The soles are rubber, padded, but the combination of my size and gait, makes me slide from time to time. This is a very dangerous undertaking, considering I have herniated discs in my back and of late, the muscles are extremely sensitive! So many reasons to keep my steps lined up and conscious of every surface I encounter along the way! And a good reason to buy a pair of walking shoes for this latest form of exercise!

Though this back condition is alarming, my assurance comes from doing what I can to keep things together. Daily exercise not only helps to minimize back pain, the types of exercises I do help to keep me strong. A variety of stretches focus on all muscles to ensure the cardio and strength training doesn't leave the muscles sore and stiff. Well, actually they are, but that is to be expected, considering the types of weight I lift.

I keep myself moving, twisting and lifting because I hope to be able to move well from now until I am called home. I have no guarantees on that future, but I do have the capability of ensuring what I'm doing makes me a healthier man. What are you in relation to your goals?

Thought for The Day - Bus Stop

Standing at the corner, underneath the sign, the bus doesn't come sooner because you look down the street. Neither does it come when you look away or at your watch. It doesn't come when you think about being late or what your boss, spouse or 'significant other' will say. It comes when it is time, after it has stopped at the previous stop and crossed the intersection before your stop. And when it comes, simply get on, take a seat and relax. You're on your way.

So much of life is waiting and worrying. We stand or sit in the right place. But we get up or walk away, pacing, trying to figure out if our "desired" outcome isn't manifest because of a shortcoming in us. We arrange our lives, move stuff around, talk "it "up or insult it down, all the while our hearts crying out for results. Sometimes, we give up and walk away; we wrongly conclude "it aint happening," and turn our backs on our dreams...

Some grow tired of waiting for the bus and wave down a cab. The cost of a bus is much cheaper than a cab, even if the cab puts you exactly in front of your ultimate destination. It cost you far more than you planned to pay! Or worse, accepting rides from strangers - nothing worse or more dangerous!

...stay the course. Don't give up on your dreams or the efforts you've put in place to receive your blessing! IT. IS. COMING! Wait a little longer...almost there...

Thought for The Day - The Space

For many years, the basement went through multiple arrangements. We moved into our home 25 years ago and the basement was unfinished and wide open. No previous owners' trash in a leftover box somewhere. There was a water heater, the furnace and one electrical outlet for a washer and dryer near the sink. But soon a daughter came and with that, the notion of my wife staying home to take care of her and provide daycare for a few children. Electrical outlets, huge carpet remnants and drywall brought in to make the space warm and inviting. The basement became the play area and stayed that way for years! The age differences in our three children ensured whatever television we had down here, was always tuned to Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, PBS or otherwise. I didn't mind because I didn't need space.

Most of my children are adults and my youngest spends most of his time in his room. We put up more drywall and now I have my own space. It isn't much and is mostly used as storage. But the 4' x 4' space I have feels like a huge loft space! This time of the morning, there is me, my computer and music. From time to time, I'll burn incense just because it seems to change the space a bit. My canvases, completed, in process and yet to be touched are all around; a table filled with art supplies sits behind me.

In the winter, this space gets C-O-L-D! So cold the space heater barely keeps me warm, not to mention the room! And after I have bundled up in a couple layers, complained and rubbed my hands together, the space becomes a cozy hideaway, with room for my ideas, my images and enough room to birth those ideas.

Thought for The Day - Blended

In the best of us, there's a "dark side." And in the most evil people, kindness can be found...

We are a mix of good and bad, strength and weakness. You ever notice some of the most outgoing, well adjusted folks can be found in private moments looking sad? We both give and need encouragement and strength. We need one another and the force of God's love to alter our lives for the better.

Thought for The Day - Your Part

...what is it? Your part? What part do you play in the world's growth, expansion, the love quotient that makes the globe a better place? Now before you minimize your part - the self-accusing type - or overemphasize your role - the "superstars" - realize we operate on so many levels.

I remember asking myself many times, growing up and as an adult, what I wanted to be when I grew up. I remember three distinct careers that came to mind: scientist, artist and businessman. Scientist, because I love experimenting with things, trying to make 'stuff' and the idea that there are undiscovered concepts, compounds and cures. Artist, because I love to create - seemingly, something out of nothing. And I wanted a business because I like the idea of earning money! But there were so many roles and parts that I thought about, and yet I've done them all!

• I wanted to be a husband and father - doing that
• I knew there was a calling for ministry on my life - done that
• I wanted to help people work through their problems - doing that
• I wanted to help people return to a higher calling for their lives - doing that

Some are born to be parents. Maybe not stellar, soccer mom and dads, but parents that teach lasting values to their children and their children in turn, teach those values to their children. Some are born to be politicians; they navigate the "peopled waters" where opinions and agendas determine policies for the nation. Some are born to help and fall into roles as doctors, dentists, nurses, etc. And there are so many more parts to play in this life! 

Here's an interesting notion and one that allowed me to pick up my brushes again: when you feel restless and as if the life you're living is missing something, SEARCH! You see, there's a strong possibility that you have yet to reach your potential! Now when I say "potential" I'm not talking celebrity status or notoriety. I'm talking about tasks and parts you have not tried yet. And while you may die, never having done them (we get stuck on the idea of "destiny"), understand, there's far more to your life when you're doing these things.

Thought for The Day - Underwater

In my teen years, I looked forward to having a family and a home of my own. Every dream - an unnerving thought - has a unpredictable, sometimes dark side.

I'm dropping this quick line before I get back to cleaning up the water in my basement. This has happened many times over the last few years. And though the city, state and I have worked hard to minimize the damage, one can't minimize the effects of a simple rain storm. It's getting to a point when it rains and comes down hard, I get a bit nervous, especially when I'm not home. Last night, I slept through whatever storm blew over the area! I've told my wife I've done some crazy stuff that tells me I'm much more tired than I realize. Sleeping through this storm is an indicator I'm exhausted.

I'll spend the better part of the day cleaning floors and airing out area rugs. And hopefully, the storm is passing and I'm regaining my sanity!

Thought for The Day - Variety

Music

Food

Culture

Reading

Friends

Social Circles

It really is "the spice of life." And personally I LOVE well seasoned foods! It's part of my upbringing. Music has been part of my life as long as I can remember and though my parents' style of music is similar, I picked up jazz at an early age. I listen to classical music and rock and hip hop. Though I've never been, I love the Brazilian culture. I would love to visit Japan and parts of Africa. I would love to visit many European countries as well.

Reading; I could read for hours! Especially a well written novel. I've always had a stack of books around, even now, in electronic format. Different subject matter, historical, Christian, artists, biographies. Reading is a way of learning about the world.

People are at the center of my love for life! My people, people who are of different backgrounds and cultures. People who are living in places I may never see. We are what makes variety have meaning!

Thought for The Day - Identity

What makes you, you? What distinct features and blend of character traits mark you place on earth? What would your spouse, children, parents, friends and coworkers say makes you unique? Have you changed over the years, beyond physical? Are you prone to outburst or are you always quiet or laid back?

Personality; you are born with it and you always have it. It is your unique mark on this world. While this seems obvious, it's equally amazing that we like to classify and categorize people! And no matter how we hate to be put in a box, we do it to one another often. We are blends of family dynamics, neighborhoods, regional areas, peer influence and values. We may love similar foods and music as siblings, but there will always be a food that others love and we hate! There are distinctions between every person.

Appreciate our differences, celebrate one another's unique brand! Though we are all made in God's image, our distinctions indicate our God cannot be narrowed to our view!

Thought for The Day - In No Particular Order

I am here

Now there

Holding down this job

Running this Bible study

In front of the canvas

Behind the camera

In front of this computer screen

And then this congregation

It all seems so random, so out of order and scattered-brain. But it is my life and somewhere beneath the surface, roots intertwine and connect, forming the nucleus of my soul.

There are times I want to understand the "why's" and "wherefore's" of my life, but for now I will allow the mystery to amaze me.

Thought for The Day - Today's Special

"...is seared Ahi tuna, with asparagus and wild rice and coconut."

Good meals, flavorful delights, served hot and freshly prepared; got to love it! Mind you, that wasn't one of my meals this weekend or any other time, but it sounds great! But good company, great conversation is the same as well; it's welcome, it stirs the senses and leaves one satisfied. Sitting down with family and friends, talking about the state of the world, our nation, sharing the many ways God moves in our lives - it's exciting and worth the investment of time and energy.

Recently, I've gotten in the habit of reading multiple books in a given day. Of course, there is the main fare: the Holy Word. But lately I've picked up several good books and found myself "highlighting" inspiring passages. The practice of reading keeps me motivated to stay on track for positive changes in my life. And since we are ever changing and the world around us changes as well, you and I may as well change for the better.

I've also begin to walk at lunch. At times, it's challenging with the many aches and sore spots on this aging body, but once I get to moving, I'm forcing muscles to "power through" the aches.

Okay, a brief glimpse into my life. What about yours? What's new and exciting or simply noteworthy?

Thought for The Day - Small

That little boy, skinny - ridiculously so - who, in his head was a little muscleman! LOL! A yellow No. 2 pencil in his hand, trying to draw a flower growing out of pot, the underbelly of a car, the "Mach 5," and on and on. Trying to master this drawing thing; trying to learn how to color within the lines as his older cousins did so well. And thinking about how to get his hands on a paint set and when he does, being disappointed that it didn't look like the picture on the box! That little boy, wanting to fit in, but so sure he didn't, he stayed to himself and created a world of his own...

Fifty-two at my last birthday; two young adult children of my own and a fifteen year old who is taller than me. I'm far from 'skinny,' now, but a great deal of my mass is muscle! Years of "on again, off again," weight training and big meals and I'm consistently over 200 pounds - way over! I wouldn't say I've "mastered" pencil or painting tools; what I like to believe is it is a life long process of developing skills and more importantly, speaking images into form. At the moment, I'm not nervous about the lack of work created because when my hands aren't busy, my mind is so active, I would need to concurrently work five canvases to get all this stuff out! And I don't 'sweat' that I'm not in a studio for eight hours a day because, this is another step in the growth process. Baby steps...

Last night I spent some time working on "Linen - A Storm's Coming," and realized that techniques I either learned in college or just "figured out" on my own were the finishing touches to bring this piece to completion. The image is more than I would have thought possible and had to "grow" organically. And like me, it's "end" is far larger than it's beginning...

"Who dares despise the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10 NIV

Thought for The Day - Open

Each sound

Each shade of light

Perceived silence

Declares your glory

I am Open

I hear your voice

Your Spirit communing with mine

I am the essence of you

As you care for every being

And every blade of grass

I am Open

because all that I am

Belongs to you.

Thought for The Day - Grateful

June 4th (thereabouts), 1984, that's 30 years ago, I graduated from college. I remember well over a year before that, an underlying tremor set into my spirit; the prospects of making a living as an artist seemed dim. My mother's idea of a "plan b" would have to wait until I finished school because I was at the end of my run and didn't plan to take more classes. But graduation was bittersweet; I was glad for the accomplishment, I had a degree in fine arts, something I really wanted. And yet, artists "starve..."

I'm sitting in my "space" as I write. Thirty years from graduation; while as an artist, income is scarce, I am surrounded by more of my work than I could have imagined doing at the time of graduation! I have paintings hanging in my home and in the homes of family and friends! And I am grateful that God will not allow my dream to shrivel on the vine. I would like to believe as long as I live and my body and mind function, far more work is coming!

Thought for The Day - Rearranging the Space

Clearing out space

Moving around stuff

Making room for more

Getting rid of old energy

A constant process... we aren't as wise and clever as we would like to think. But we've got to do something! After all, as much as we deny it, we crave change! It's in our DNA, our soul is this bundle of energy and constant growth. So, from one minute to the next, from day to day, we move about, we settle down, we shift and we stretch. Always moving people in and out of our lives.

Yes, people and things, coming and going; seeing this person and that one; wanting to "settle down" with someone but when we do, we aren't really settled are we? We want to grow together and somehow we don't. We make this life as difficult as it needs to be.

My words aren't cryptic, friend. You understand what I'm saying...

Thought for The Day - What's in There?

A big pot, the lid rattling steam rises from a corner, the contents boil and rumble...

Every now and then, something boils up to the surface...

I write

I paint

And within those two, there is no limit to what can be said! I absorb stories from the expression of people I may never meet, there body language as we pass one another on the street, part of the epic saga. Each passing cloud and the designs on a woman's dress or a man's tie, part of a huge tapestry that covers and surrounds us all.

Each day, with each moment of the day, we are living out the dream. Know your role, play it well...

Thought for The Day - Are You Smiling?

Do you have reason to smile? Is there laughter in your life on a regular basis? Questions, responses...

Waking up this morning, the question came to mind. Thinking about the readers, the question came to mind. Now I know life is full of drama and I'm no exception. Sometimes I have to use an "inside joke" to bring a smile to my face. Something I'm reading while riding in to work does the trick. And the practice, the recalling and the planning for a reason to smile, changes my mood. Work in progress, a natural inclination to wear a scowl, but full realization that the best life lived, is lived purposely.

So again, the question: are you smiling?

Thought for The Day - Giving the Matter Careful Consideration

Thinking it through

Mulling 'it' over in my mind

Considering 'it' from all angles

Using logical and careful analysis doesn't always yield the best results. Too often, we consider the "facts" only, meaning, we only examine our lives using the "measurable" and "quantifiable." But there is far more to life than what can be weighed or checked against a tape measure. Have you ever weighed  an unexpected phone call or a friend taking you to lunch? Is there a cost attached to a passionate kiss? What about the loss of compassion and friendship, is that measurable?

The sun rises and sets each day and while we can predict those times with a high degree of certainty the immeasurable value of looking in the eastern sky as the sun rises will not fit into an equation! Life, real life, is more than dollars and cents!

Thought for The Day - As it is in Heaven

...so it is on earth.

We are concerned with the measurable, the obtainable, the glitter and the satisfying. And yet there is far more to our world and the world that cannot be seen. About a month ago, I bought a male, blue betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish. Alone in a gallon or more tank, his blue fins are tranquil and calming as he swims around. But my son has a male betta as well and it only takes putting them 'near' one another to see how violent they can be. There is a flaring of an area below their gills as the first acknowledgement of the other male. Then the tails get to waving around like giant flags and they beat against the glass as a threat to the other male in the other tank. We would never put them together because with these males, it is always a fight to the finish! But a typical day, they are beautiful creatures, swimming around in their own world. From the videos I've seen, they are excellent fathers as well, taking care of the eggs of their offspring and then caring for the hatchlings.

We come into this world and leave with the same desire: sustenance and connection. And somewhere along the way, we find ways to fill our lives with dull substitutes for the same. We are beings of such beauty and when soft words, movements and acts of passion and love are displayed, it is pure poetry in motion. And yet, behind that nature lies a part of us that "bristles up" when someone like us - perhaps we believe another like us is a rival - comes around. Oh, we have learned to calm ourselves, but let us spend too much time together, and we look for ways to outshine one another. This is true of both the "male" and "female" of our kind. And yet we are capable of an unlimited creative expressions and acts of love! If our news media ever gets a clue, there are as many stories of kindness occurring each day, perhaps we could balance out our fears, if we heard those stories as well! Have you ever watched a family with a new baby? Have you seen how the mother brings them into a room full of relatives? Even men soften at the presence of a baby and love to hold and coo with them!

There is so much going on in the world, seen and unseen. There are energies and forces happening in the visible, tangible world as well the world we don't see. While there is conflict and destruction, there is a birth, life and constant rebuilding. Search your heart and inventory your life: haven't you seen the evidence that you are capable of both beauty and destruction? Have you not seen that you are capable of tender care as well as rage? Final thought: with so much at stake and so much life-affirming possibility, what is the wisest expression you can make? Consider...

Thought for The Day - Look before

You leap
You dance
You cross the street

Caution, attentiveness, aware, measuring your surroundings. Certainly, you may change your mind when you consider the risk. But isn't it better to be "safe than sorry?"

Life is full of risks and and chances. I couldn't tell you how many times I've watched people walking the street, face in their phone, heading toward a crossing! And the number of drivers I observe looking down at a phone makes driving a riskier venture. People jump into relationships without any thought for their feelings or without knowing who the other person is. And in our society, we always put money before nearly everything else! We will take a job - or try to get in a field - based on the expected income.

As opposed to concentrating on what's going on around you, to be cautious, spend an equal amount of time examining your motives, desires and expectations. What trends do you blindly follow because "everyone else is doing it?" Every person has an "inner compass," a self-identified gauge that will point them in the right direction; ignoring it is what puts most of us in harm's way. Open your eyes and look at your real motives and desires; that's where you will find your path and your peace!

Thought for The Day - Painted Sky, Transitions

There's a great deal of thought and planning behind the scenes. But what happens during execution can be very organic!

Many evenings, riding home on the train, the sky is full of huge clouds that seem as if you could touch them! Full and rolling, they seem to be just above the buildings and to go up forever! It is very exciting to watch and photograph, when possible. But the skies I've caught either early morning or just before sunset, are the most dramatic! Some of the most colorful are days where there is a blend of clouds, sunlight and plenty of movement. And that's what I'm aiming for in this latest painting.

Thought for The Day - Finish it!

Linen with a swirl (in process, still)

A coworker asked yesterday, what my goals are in painting. Without hesitation, I said it's to complete the painting I'm working on. I know by the look on her face, she was looking for something like "to be featured in ______ gallery" or "appear in _____ show," but I realize where my life sits for the moment. Aspirations, goals and dreams are important, but additionally, an honest assessment of your current situation is critical as well.

Completing the painting, being certain that it is where I want it to be, is critical. There have been times when I didn't know what else could be added to a painting. There have been times I said at some point, "it's finished," with that lingering sense that something else remained. Not this time; there is a strong sense of what needs to be done and a stronger sense of the completed image I'm looking for. But it is a slow process and worth each time I look over my shoulder as I write.

There's more at stake than completing a picture or saying "I did it!" No, I have intangibles to rise above; there is a sense of accomplishment and another "brick" to add to my identity. Eddie Hudson needs to go through this process and see it through to the end because he has walked away from too many things. Completing this painting is seeing a project through to the very end!

Thought for The Day - Dream Dust

Fine and light, like talcum powder, there's enough for everyone! Funny thing: a little bit is all you need! We are fooled into thinking there's only room at "the top" for a few, but maybe the top isn't where you should be aiming. Maybe you just need to live your life to the fullest, to the furthest point of your imagination!

Take a little of this dust and sprinkle it on the one thing you've always wanted to do or be. Now turn the object around in your hand (your mind) over and over. Pick it up and consider each day, until it is glowing and glossy, like well polished mahogany furniture. Over and over again until your reflection greets you as you approach it each day. At some point, that "one thing" will be realized; the dream becomes reality!

Another great quality about this dust is it can be applied everywhere! Because it isn't your dreams only that need to see the light of day. There are ideas, plans hopes and wishes that you have yet to put into practice. Of course, it may be advisable to place a parameter or two around these goals. Someone else's property or spouse or significant other, should be considered off-limits. And when it comes to relationships, don't limit yourself on the ones that are taken; there is more than enough available people to go around! Just don't give up your hopes of being connected with someone!

Okay, you have a handful of this stuff: go, sprinkle and dream!

Thought for The Day - Red

Inspiration can be found everywhere, when your eyes are open to receive!

Passion
Fire
Warmth
Life
War
Violence

I use red most of the time in my paintings; it's one of those necessary colors. And I use it, because of each word above. Mostly because in our bodies, it represents life and for me, life is spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! Freedom of expression and to love!

Thought for The Day - Like a Child

You don't have to teach children how to play and pretend. And when you spend time with them, you can teach them to be responsible. Children can play all day and when they pretend to be like us adults, they are better at being adults than we are.

I have found in my life that I turned my back on a great deal of innocence and as a result obedience to my God given talent. I have heard it said, being an artist is more about being a warrior than anything else. You have to fight against everything you know to take responsibility for exercising your creativity. The world, via parents and authority figures, teach us to be responsible and "stop playing." We are told nothing good can come from "spending all your time, playing." I learned the lesson well; too well. It's easy to wash dishes, load the washer, dryer, fold clothes, run errands and such. But when I hear that small voice saying "let's play" (translation, "let's paint") I can think of something else that needs to be done. Or worse, being an adult, I'm always tired. And how does an adult, who has worked all day, spend their time? They sit in front of the television, allowing fun to "happen."

I would like to believe all is not lost; their is a reassurance from God's word that, in this moment, gives me hope. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom." While it sounds like I'm doing the opposite of what he suggests, there is a hidden nugget here. "Become like..." admittedly, I'm living diametrically opposed to the command. But the reassurance is what is "impossible with man is possible with God." So, in this moment, I ask God to "make me" like a little child, when it comes to exercising this gift He has placed in me. This is an admission of my weakness and a request for help. Amen!

Thought for The Day - Snag It

Every now and then, a notion comes along and you should reach out and grab it! Don't let it pass by so many other thoughts and feelings. You know the one's: I should go out for a walk; wonder what it would be like to wake up in Paris; I should take a pottery class. There are endless lists of things and places to go and people to meet and yet we settle for life we feel is mundane.

I don't believe it's in our DNA and Divinity, to live life unexplored. Granted, not every moment of every day is meant to be an adventure or spent pursuing elusive whims. We need stability and quiet and a certain sameness for living. But life is more than grocery lists and paying bills and church socials. It is long drives to visit relatives you haven't seen in years. It's an ice cream cone shared while sitting in the park. It's walks on the beach and reading a challenging book. It's a fishing trip with little or no goal, other than getting away from the noise of your life.

...you're watching television, a show where you know the plot, the characters and the end, like you know the back of your hand. Your mind wanders from the tube and suddenly, a thought comes to mind: "I should _______!" Snag it!

Thought for The Day - A Long and Full Journey

A Thousand Miles in a day...

No color, no sound; then a rush of subdued grays, a muted light filtering through the window. A long power driven whoosh of a motorcycle riding by. The warm feeling of the bed under the left side of my body from shoulder to feet and pulling back the bed spread to rise...

Mid day, bright sunlight, music from my headphones mixing with the sound of cars driving by. Each step taken, leaving the building for a rejuvenating walk, faces are met, perhaps a nod, a slight smile. Faces I've never seen before and may never see again. In groups of twos or threes, others out for a walk to lunch, more about the conversation than filling the stomach, but a blend of both. The pavement is uneven in spots and my feet slowly adjust to the unevenness. Slowly, I increase my step to force muscles, tendon and bones to work out a morning of sitting too much. Body begins to warm and before long the water runs from the right side of my forehead...

...It's another day's journey and in it, I've observed, words, thoughts, impressions and suppositions.

...A Thousand Miles is only a fraction of the journey...

Thought for The Day - Perspectives

Standing at the canvas, a small brush in hand, a world opens, horizons expand and I see life from a completely different perspective. It is good to be kind, a life lived in obedience to God's word is a vital life. But being obedient to the gift of expression He has placed in me, there is nothing more fulfilling and glorifying!