Thought for The Day - Fall, Saturdays

A day off, the "to-do" list extensive, the "if-I-had-time-for" list much longer and buried beneath necessity. Saturdays in the fall: haircuts, grocery shopping, raking leaves, clipping branches and cleaning gutters. Taking the car to a repair shop for winterizing, or the latest round of repairs.

Saturday afternoons are now spent with a palette in one hand, a brush in the other, standing or sitting in front of a canvas.  A ride in the car is filled with adventure, absorbing the many colors of leaves changing before falling to the ground. Maybe I'll open the sunroof to get a bit of fresh air. Maybe I'll treat myself to walk along a stream somewhere. Or maybe I'll catch a quick nap and dream...

Saturday night is relaxing and tranquil. As I get older, I miss the Saturday nights when I went to a jazz club to hear a group perform. Nothing fancy, some local talent playing through their usual set. It was an opportunity to see what the rest of the world was doing and hear good music. In this period of transition - isn't every "period" a time of transition - there is a reflection of the past, measuring the present and hoping for ______ in the future.

It's Saturday, it's Fall and the season is changing...

Thought for The Day - Disillusionment and Cocoons

Fall for Francene (in progress) - 12 x 18 water color and pastel

Fall, then Winter. In the Midwest, in Chicago I have long felt like this is a period where I could curl up in a ball and disappear. Oh, I'll get out, go to work and church, run errands and work around the yard, preparing for the eventual Spring, but mentally, feels like I'm shriveling up like a leaf. Not so much depression, but as the Brazilians call it Saudade (pronounced Sa-da-gee) or "happy sadness." There is a joy in this season of bowls of homemade chili and football watched from the comfort of my kitchen television (13 inch older than my children!). When the snow fall gets to "shovel depth" - about three inches - yeah, I will dread getting out clearing my driveway and walk, my parents and the church, but it's physical labor and "in moderation," it's enjoyable. Trouble is, you can't control the weather so I might get more physical labor than I want!

There are moments, from day to day, when I could easily imagine myself in warmer climates. I'm no spring chicken and the work of getting up leaves and shoveling snow wears on you. But as I learned the other day, cutting limbs from the "junk trees" growing from my neighbors yard, take your time; the work will be completed, just not as quickly as you like. Yeah, age instructs, you don't have much time, but use it wisely.

Thought for The Day - Rise

Rise 18 x 24 Pastel

Pain is reality

Hurt is the emotional response to it.

I'm sure I'm not stating this as succinctly as it's been stated elsewhere, but hopefully, you get the gist. There is a proverb in the Bible that says "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." (Proverbs 24:16) It is not a reference to a specific number but more however many number a person falls or it is defeated - i.e. someone with malicious intent leads the person to do so - they will "continue" to rise; again and again!

Got to tell you, I've had some "dark days." I mean "woe-is-me-why-is-everything-I-want-or-try-to-do-fails" kind of days! If I am a "walled city" my enemy isn't attacking me at the main gate; he is falling from the sky, coming up through the ground, the main and side gates! Many of my dreams - or is it just one big one - seem like they're on a 50 year hiatus. They are stalled at the gate where spirit meets reality and I don't seem to have the tools to bring them forward.

I'm not a selfish person, though I know I have selfish tendencies. I give of my "time, talent and treasure" on a regular basis and beyond the four walls of the church. But I am overwhelmed by the load of it all. My back feels like an overworked mule!

But I rise...not sure how. Some days, I have enough strength to lift my head and that feels like a great deal. But I rise...either I'm shaking off some things, or I'm gaining strength to carry it...BUT.I.RISE!!!

And lastly, I know I'm not doing this with my strength. God's will and spirit live in me and it's by his strength that things are made possible.