Your Trick Bag

Old leather or new; bound up and all of the goodies rolling around in it, clinking around as you move through life. The 'stuff' of some of it touches other parts and exchanges power and energy. Others aren't as giving, and wait for you to reach in your hand to pull them out, unchanged. They will release upon your verbal command, or in the way you apply their power. Some elements are deadly, but sometimes, the solution to "life's problems" is The End.

We look and observe these limited bodies and wrongly perceive that we are as limited. But a story told before it came to pass, is that God is plentiful and stores his best in "jars of clay." He places in skin and bones, what cannot be named, will not stay confined. And when it is time, he not only reclaims it, he makes it special and unique and it more than it was when it rattled around in these old skin bags!

We are more! Far more than the skin portrays. But in placing the divine in flesh, Flesh is more than we would be. We are made in God's image and placed in bodies, on the ground, next to one another. We are permitted to love and hate, to cherish and destroy. And in living this life, we experience, both light and dark; the two cross lines and exchange energies in ways that defy our short-sighted cultural biases.

My friend: Look up and Live!

Notes on slips of paper

I'm Listening 24 x 36 Oils

Expectation 24 x 36 Oils

A Reply 24 x 36 Oils

Grocery lists
Picking up food for the family
Lines for a poem I'm working on
Random thoughts
Random thoughts
Random thoughts
"I love you"
"I love you" in a beautiful poem
A scripture to lift someone's spirit

An opportunity to gather this slip of paper, that sticky note, that scented note paper...parts of a puzzle, thoughts, activities, feelings and 'what-nots'... not much, but put together and a snapshot of life is gathered. And snapshot hints of the whole.

Thought for The Day - Break

The beginning of "Linen, Remains Calm" 30 x 40 oils

Not as in a loss or dropping a precious crystal vase, but "break" as in stopping the swirl around you for a brief second. Stopping the flow of life, in all it's wonder. The madness and chaos, the joy and adventure of it all. Just to breathe and absorb it all. And it is an A-L-L. It is large and expansive. If one could imagine trying to expand one's recognition of what's happening around you.

You are connected to the internet at the moment. So are millions - no billions of people all over the world. You are in a location where access is possible, whether you are walking along the street, sitting in a car, at home or in Starbucks. You are surrounded by humanity, God's representation of himself in it's myriad expressions. And everything is connected. Each molecule, atom, brick, electrical outlet and fiber of hair. The air, the sky, water, even the sweat on your palms and the oil in yours skin bonds with every other molecule in the A-L-L.

Drink it in.

Pause for a brief moment





The wonder of it all

And yes, you will feel alone, disconnected, out of sorts and out of touch. You have moments when it seems no one wants to know you or feel your presence and yet, in the sea of humanity, in that same breath, that very second, billions of "disconnected" people feel the same way.

We are wonderfully damaged and healing and and communicating beings! We are connected in ways that defy logic and as it should be.

Break

A moment to reflect, grab your corner of the global/universal view.

Now let it go

The world and all of creation continues to spin along as it always has...

Thought for The Day - Patchwork Tapestry

Open Channel 24 x 36 Oil painting

The Turn 12 x 18 pastels

Where are You Now 8 x 11 colored pencil

After the Dance 18 x 24 mixed media

A fragment from this memory

An unused stretch of silk that would fit perfectly in 'this' spot

Your hand

My heart

This road trip...

Parts and sections brought together with your love of ice cream over rich peach cobbler. This woven pattern of life; so big I can't see where it starts and it stretches east, west, north and south out of sight. The blue of the skies, the brown clay dirt and rocky surface are a part of this beautiful patchwork fabric. And the tears you cried when your child outgrew your "kissy" good-byes are mingled in, as well.

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 - Expansion

You know, nearly every thought is an opportunity for growth. Merely allow that energy connecting heart and head to flow and you are well on your way. we have notions and intentions, dreams and plans and any given moment is the doorway to become what we desire. It's long been my thought, since we are made in the image of God, at the core of our thoughts and desire, we long to be like him, producing good, light, love and growth. But it is the "weeds" of life and our reaction to them that allow evil to make more sense.

A heart that chooses purity and love is a heart that continues to grow. One chooses to respond to difficulties, hardship and heartbreak in a way that fosters these essentials of life. It's a continuous process and one that circumstances can dwarf, but keep at it. Each day we are choosing to live more and more like God and less and less like some warped 'demigod.'

As a child, my father was the shining example. My father's hip was displaced when he was a teenager, still growing, so one leg was just a bit shorter than the other. He walked with a limp all my life, but it never prevented him from doing what he chose to do. I don't know if he felt pain from this injury, or how bad he felt when asthma developed from years of working in a chemical plant and smoking, but he wouldn't tell anyway. He always moved fast and thoughtful, always working to ensure his family had what it needed. He worked hard on his job, taking on more and more responsibility. And though he wanted "something" of his own, he continued working at what he knew. Physically, my father was worn down, having many injuries on his job, but not only did he continue working, he continued smiling. One thing I've learned from my father is to listen. Certainly I have a great deal to say, I could probably talk for hours if allowed, but its better to listen. Others need to talk; people need someone to hear their concerns and pains, their desires and needs. And if I offer a listening ear, gentle reassurance and an open door to allow the person to come back and talk again, I've lived my life, growing and expanding.

Thought for The Day - Tip of The Iceberg

Well they are almost gone; apparently the temperatures of the world have gotten to a point that the icebergs floating in climates that were cool to cold, have melted away. But the idea that a mound, or mountain of water, frozen for hundreds of years, floating around like a mobile mountain fascinated us! And the saying "it's just the tip of the iceberg" was apparently true. Though they were taller than most ships, what floated beneath the surface was far deeper and larger! Impressive, awesome and potentially deadly. Here's a thought: perhaps the world's water supply is "improved" with the melting of the glaciers. Maybe the minerals and elements stored there are released into the water and sea creatures have a fighting chance against man's greed. Just a thought.

"Tip of the Iceberg"... What lies beneath the surface is far more than meets the eye! You and I my friend! When you consider what lies beneath your surface, what comes to mind? What emotion, reasoning or attitude comes to mind? Do you imagine yourself as damaged, worthless, happy, joyous, introspective (which can be "good" or "bad") or outgoing? I recall years ago, a young lady declared in Sunday school class I taught: "I don't trust nobody!" She said it with such conviction and emotion, that immediately I felt there was far more to those four words. My fellow teacher said, "You have to trust someone; you can't live in this world without trusting people." Both were right in that moment, but here's my point: that young lady, in that moment, pulled up painful memories where an expectation wasn't met, a desire left unfulfilled by someone who should be in a position to meet. Isn't that our lives at any given time?

What is unseen defines what is seen. I quoted the song a few weeks ago and it bears repeating:

"Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream..."

My friend, we put a great deal of emphasis into what is visible and perhaps we should. But understand, what is seen springs from a world we don't perceive. Our thoughts, the very fabric of the universe is made of far more elements than our science world has yet to discover! Truthfully, it's not in the realm of science to define everything; some things have to be perceived through belief and faith. And no matter your relationship to the community of faith, one would be hard put to refute the many examples of "some thing coming out of nothing."

Be, my friend. Be.

Thought for The Day - Puzzle Pieces

Sleeping Beauty (in progress) - 8 x 11 pencils

After the Dance (in progress) 18 x 24 charcoal

The subject is a recurring 'theme' in my life, from my earliest experience with jigsaw puzzles, I have loved the very complexity of them. Putting them together, finding the pieces that fit perfectly together and the hours of looking for those pieces to fit perfectly. I certainly owe it to myself to invest in a 1000 piece puzzle or more, and do it soon!

Now mind you, every moment spent with a puzzle isn't pleasure. There are times when I want to toss the whole thing in the trash! The times where you are sure a piece fits, you place it down, only to find after trying to fit another to it's complex corners, there's the tiniest gap! And you begin again, trying to find the right piece! Or the times you sit turning and twisting pieces, and after what seems to be a long time, not one piece is put in place.

I've wanted to be an artist all my life, since I saw my mom casually drawing cubes and flowers in a pot. I learned how to do the same types of drawings pretty quickly and move to "race cars" - this little boy's fascination with power and going fast! Then I moved to drawing people, one of the most complex 'designs' to tackle. Faces, arms, the intricate twist of muscles, bones and flesh and expressions are pieces I'm constantly studying and working on! The ride on public transportation or a walk at lunch is an opportunity to study these pieces and see how they fit together.

And my life is the same; my individual pieces, with my wife, children, extended family, church family, 'work family,' and on and on and on...putting it together; new parts introduced all the time. There are times it's beyond frustrating! I want to walk away from this puzzle and disappear to a place where the pieces are few and far between! But this is the complexity of my life and 'putting us together' is my excellent work.

Thought for The Day - Eyes Wide Open

Study for Pre-Dawn Light 18 x 24 Charcoals

In a day's time, in the instance of a moment, there is so much we can absorb and take in. Actually our senses take in far more than our conscious mind will acknowledge; our reasoning filters out far more than we would acknowledge. But let's consider what we might dismiss, the stuff our 'filter' sees but refuses to acknowledge.

In traffic, on the way to work - work and our feelings about it (good, bad and ambivalent) being our primary focus - we pass others. We drive by them, beside them and see them in our rear view mirror. We see them, but we don't; we see faces and the same tell-tale indicators in their expression as in ours. Someone is struggling with a decision about a spouse or 'significant other' oblivious to their pain. There is someone who has a child that is capable of so much more, but is that child falling into the steps of me, the parent, who also could do much more? What about the story behind the eyes of a homeless man or woman, or the person pretending to be? What motivates someone to stand on street corners and beg for money when they have a place to stay, food and perhaps a car? And how different is that from you and I, living from paycheck to paycheck, the modern day equivalent of hand-to-mouth existence?

At work, 'hello, good morning' and small talk break up the work load. But how much truth are we ignoring in the words of our 'work-family?' More importantly, how much of our own soul's cry and longing for the 'abundant life' goes unanswered? 

Thought for The Day - Seen and Heard

As quiet as it's kept, the above is desired by every living being.  When you are heard, it reinforces your value, you are seen as a contributor. A "Hello" is a gift; you've made a contribution in the life of another. To be seen, acknowledged, says you are part of the fabric of existence.

It's part of our bond as humans; we are connected to one another in ways we can't imagine. It's a shame evil came into the world, otherwise, the connections would be so much clearer!

To be seen and heard...all too often, the choice is to remain unseen and unacknowledged. Walk into a room full of strangers and there is acknowledgement, but not recognition, meaning no one really knows you. Walk into a room of family and friends and you are greeted, acknowledge and based on the relationship, you are valued (loved).

We are meant to connect. Social media, and media otherwise, is a way of doing that. Flaws, shortcomings and abuse? Yes, but when we come in contact with one another, there is energy, fire and an exchange.

Thought for The Day - Human

Filtered Divinity

We do a great deal of comparisons among "people." We compare whites to blacks, men to women, children to adults, etc. By highlighting our distinctions, we emphasize our perspective, our point of view. But here's an interesting perspective: we're all human.

So often when comparing races, we emphasize habits and stereotypes that are "exclusive" to one group. Certainly, there are cultural differences, especially as we are more exposed to countries and people we're not familiar with. But here's the thing: people are always people. The same way love and hate is expressed in one culture, it is expressed in another. One race or group of people will not be better "behaved" because of past circumstances. And while NO ONE should kill anyone else, it happens among people daily! Black on black crime occurs as frequent as white on white crime and and any other group. It is the "human" condition.

But realize, while we are emphasizing the negative aspects of our existence, realize there are far more people "building" our societies, i.e. maintaining and striving to make it better. And we're doing it without realizing it. When people are working in jobs and businesses and taking pictures of children and women and men, they are emphasizing this 'humanity' in ways that highlight our strengths and courage. When people go to mundane jobs each day, doing work that "feeds the masses," guess what? The masses are fed, housed, clothed and cared for! Certainly, the processes can be done in better less "polluted" ways, but it's being done. And when we strive to take care of one another in better ways, we are being better "humans."

Hope these words help you feel better about our place in this world.