Nugget and Root

Triplicate

Searching

That _____

The umph and ahhh

The something-something that changes and unravels the mystery of one's life

Searching

Digging

Breaking up

Giving up

Surrendering

And trying again and again and again

Searching

Seeking

Getting advice

And venting one's soul

Replacing

Substituting

Hoping 'this' will be a reasonable replacement for 'that'

Looking in eyes

Examining hair and expressions

Hoping "he" or "she"

Will be the solution for the ache

Giving up

Settling

Disillusion becoming dis-ease in your mind body and soul

Holding a glimmer of hope

An ember buried in the dust of years of trying

Waiting for someone, something somewhere

To BE

Thought for The Day - Remaining Calm

Linen, Remaining Calm 30 x 40 oil (in process!)

The best laid plans of mice and men...

I can start a piece, intent on going "this way." But subtle changes crop up, appear dazzling and grand and I'm off in a different direction. The wonderful thing about it, is the entire process is a lesson in planning and trusting God to guide me along the way. A coworker had a saying up years ago: "Man plans, G__ laughs." I prefer to think of it as it's said in Proverbs 16:1: "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue."

"Remaining Calm (working title, already changed from yesterday)" is a piece about just that: Calm, and remaining that way. Personally, I'm a big of calm, of smooth of peaceful. Even now, a recording by Pat Metheny plays in the background and in Pat's style, there is often this sense of something "epic" going on. But there's always a sense of tranquility. Creativity can be chaotic; often that's exactly what it is. The process can be full of anger, frustration and a sense of loss. But the completed product, the fully laid out message defines a start, a middle and an ending. In that sense, all messages are alike, but what is said, what is communicated through music, dance, fashion and in my case word and visually, is completion.

Peace.

Thought for The Day - Not Much to Say

And on same days, I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes you need quiet, the absence of trouble and difficulty, at least for 24 hours. Like a quiet sanctuary, a haven of rest, a break from the click-clack, tick-tick-tick and clatter of our run "here and there" world. And on that note, I think I will leave you with that notion.

Peace

and Quiet...

Thought for The Day - Float

A Day in The Water 24 x 30 Oils

Slowing my pace
Easing my mind
Present in this moment alone
The world is a tranquil place
The waves of water carry me along

Nerve endings respond
On impulse
Turning over on my back
and turning my thoughts
from slight panic
To calm acceptance
I float along on my back

Submerge into the depths
Eyes open
But not seeing much more
Than sun illuminated blue
Ears, detecting murky voices
And the sound of water
Close to the eardrums

All is peaceful in this place
There is no hasty schedule to keep
No work deadlines to panic
There is only the peace of floating
In liquid tranquility

Floating upward
The need for reality
And air
Burning in my chest
And mind
Just before I breathe in
I pause
To imagine
If only life could be lived
In these depths!

Thought for The Day: "...Processing..."

The Birth of... 18 x 24 pastels

Digital age

Information technology age

Storing our facts and stories in the cloud for the world to know

Open your mind and receive the message for the day...

...Processing...

If you would slow your pace at least once a day, rise earlier than is needed to rush to work and listen, you would be surprised at the insight gained in the silence.

If you are one of those whose family "always" wakes earlier and wakes with televisions, music and fighting, a quiet walk or just a small break in the middle of the chaos...take it.

What is gained, what can be known and experienced may not be easily repeatable in conversation, but it is invaluable in the rhythms of life.

Repeat this process enough and perhaps, the days won't seem nearly as hopeless. Perhaps you'll find peace and expression of the same.

Begin the process of "...processing..." there is far more to life than is captured by social media and in our digital landscape.