Thought for The Day - Turn the Love Light ON

Now my "generation" will see those words and think romance and "love making"....kind of.

I've said it before and for the sake of discussion I bring it up again: I grew up listening to Soul and R&B music, it was played by my parents as we rode in the car, in the morning before I went to school, when we cleaned on Saturday mornings and when my mom and her siblings got together, records and albums were pulled out to listen to some good music! I loved it and still do. But I found jazz music to be more exciting and well worth my attention. Imagine, a 7 or 8 year old kid listening to John Coltrane or Louis Armstrong, or listening to big band music and thinking it was "swinging!" That was me, the odd kid who searched for jazz music on the radio and when he was old enough to buy his own, bought Herbie Hancock, Al Di Meola and Spyro Gyra.

I think it's time we turned on the "real" love light, the light shines from one heart to another. But rather than people copulating and "connecting" as man to woman in a need to satisfy one another, let's spread love across humanity. There are hurting people everywhere, but everyone, regardless of the degree of 'pain' or past hurt one feels, needs love. We can love one another, care for one another, and uplift one another. We can break the barriers of race, class (doesn't it seem ridiculous to hate someone because they have more or less than you?) and national boundaries and simply care and provide for one another.

Here's an amazing thought: in a global economy, whether we are doing it for selfish reasons or not, we have to provide for one another. How about we do it because we love one another?

Thought for The Day - Practice Session

I was nine or ten years old, living on the West side of Chicago. My mom and I decided it would be a good idea for me to learn to play the piano. I guess there's a musician buried beneath all of the other creative stuff I do comfortably. Initially, she would take me, wait in the entry area, while I had my lesson. But eventually, I had to walk the four or five blocks by myself. I used that time to imagine my playing the songs I learned in class. Of course, the teacher suggested that I practice at home, but we didn't have a piano and small Casio keyboards weren't available so many years ago. But we had a small organ, which, when I think about it, was a blessing. I would try to play the songs I learned in class and it seemed like I never got the sound just right. But I would practice.

I had an older cousin who was far more gifted in music than I and on the day of a recital, his mom and mine were there. My playing was simple and choppy barely getting through the song without too many errors, but my cousin, he played like a young concerto! He had the look and the confidence as he played each note. The music lessons lasted maybe a year before we moved and I never was that good at playing. I did learn to place my hands on a piano or keyboard properly and I can still pick out middle C.

A few years ago, I tried my hand at poetry and unlike the piano lessons, there wasn't anyone to guide me. It was on my shoulders, but the burden seemed light. To express myself with words, creatively, with flow, pitch and depth...it flowed easily. Now, I'm not one to appear on a stage and read it - at least not yet - and there's all this expectation that one does it with the swagger and confidence of the "spoken word" crowd...that's not me! but I continue to practice word creativity; this is one way to do so.

I guess, in essence, the painting and drawing, the writing and now reading up on guitar playing - yeah, trying that now - are my practice sessions. And it all meant to serve, inform and uplift.

Thought for The Day - Open Access

Of a Feather 18 x 24 pastels

I had a little talk with myself yesterday. I've had a good break from work and in that time, I've completed two pastels, stained a canvas and started sketching a drawing of one of my cousins. To some, that my sound like a lot of work, but I know what is required. I know where the gaps in activity occur and long before my days are 19 hours, I needed to convince myself to keep pushing through it all.

It's amazing; the contrast between the flow of creativity versus the sense of being blocked. The former is an expression of love, peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness and for those familiar, it is like the fruit of God's spirit. The latter is something else entirely; I'm capable of functioning, helping, working an 8 - 5 job and taking out the garbage. :) But it is the effort it takes and the way I think about life in the latter. I think of ways to "prevent," to "avoid" and "maintain." In my opinion, it's a sad way to live, even if everyone around me is doing the same. But in that respect, we are like patients in a hospital with no hope of getting out alive or experiencing good health. We are patients with no hope and no tomorrow.

When I keep the door open to express my thoughts and emotions, words flow like the power of God. I have no doubt that lives are being touched as I paint and draw. Years ago, I was "tasked" with teaching teenagers in Sunday School. I wanted to teach, but I had a different age group in mind; I wanted to teach young adults, my peers where it would feel more like an exchange. I knew the reputation of the youth in my church; they were difficult at best and downright disrespectful at the worst. But I decided to be "quietly obedient." One thing I was told is that teens can spot insincerity a mile away and that would make them less open to learning. Well I knew I wanted to teach and I wanted people to learn the truths of God's word. The only way this would work was through prayer and effort. I showed up in those classes as if those youth were the best pupils in the world and I did so, by studying them and praying as if their very lives depended on this class. I realized what I taught each Sunday might not make sense to them at the time, but later on, the impact would change their lives. Not only did the effect change them "in time," but in the coming months the students begin to understand what my intentions. But I had to remain open as if I were a channel of the Love of God.

That's what I strive for in my work as an artist and writer. I have to consider what I'm writing, painting, the message conveyed, who it will reach and what God wishes to share. And I have to remain open at all times. It's not easy, but it is worth it!

Thought for The Day - Shine On!

A Response (in process) 24 x 36 Oil painting

On any given day, at any given moment, we are capable of the greatest light reflecting from our hearts. Yes, the snow, cold, aching bones, long hours at work, being unappreciated while we're there, working jobs that are boring (but we need the money so we never lift our eyes to see what's in our soul) and a life that is fairly mundane...whew! Stuff weighing us down! Your every thought turns to the burdens and before you know it, everything is killing you!

But...somehow you go on. You rise, get dressed and face another day. You find humor in the morning madness of radio hosts and wish you could have "their job, they make it seem like so much fun." And though those moments of laughter don't last long, it remains in your heart. The day progresses laboriously; you make it through the day, barely it seems, but you survive it and in the evening hours, there's not much to look forward to except preparing for the next day. But every now and then, something stirs in you, prompting you to consider there's more to life than meets the eye. And you go on.

You explore another degree, perhaps take classes or just pick up a hobby. "Maybe I'll join a bowling league or join an exercise class." You call it boredom, needing excitement in your life and you move from one thrill to another. But...

The light exists in your soul and whether expressed through the mundane or gloriously in the light of celebrity status, shine on! When we allow the light to shine on us and through us, we touch, heal and elevate one another to heights unknown. We soar, we glide on wings and breathe "rare air." Come on people, SHINE ON!

Thought for The Day - Upstream

The Beginning of... 18 x 24 pastels

Johnny Hartman. For the vast majority of the world, that name doesn't "ring a bell." A male vocalist of the Jazz era, with his most 'notable' work in 1963, when John Coltrane recorded an album of ballads featuring Johnny. Absolutely beautiful, velvet voice; smooth as butter creme! And this is where the "rub" occurs: with talent like that, why isn't he world renowned?

It's a mystery; there are people around us with great intellect, great talent, a great personality and yet, many with less of the former are carried on the shoulders of the media and adoring fans. People stand in lines, Google names of their favorite poets, artists, singers and the "great minds," to catch a snippet of their lives. Why? How does it change or affect their lives?

Each one, reach one. To the one you reach, the singular person who cant wait to read your words, hear your voice, you are a star. And be true to you, what talents and contribution you bring to the world. No one person is the center of the universe; we all have our place in it and play our part.

When I heard Johnny Hartman's recording of "Lush Life" some years ago, I couldn't get enough of his voice! I searched iTunes to find more of his music, but what I had at the time was the extent of his available recordings. In that song, there's a line where he says "I'll live a lush life in some small dive,  where I'll rot with the rest of those whose lives are lonely too." I imagined him performing in small clubs in New York, leaving the clubs just before dawn, sitting in a small diner, a cigarette in hand and hovering above a cup of coffee. He does this before making it to a small apartment and crashing until 1:00 in the afternoon. I imagined his life, the typical small-time performer, considering what 'day-gig' he could take up to make ends meet. I imagined there were those who showed up in the small clubs where he performed who just wanted to hear someone as lonely as they were and whose 'success' was as menial as his. I imagined the cigarette smoke hovering above the heads of the patrons like a dark cloud. But what I didn't consider was, here I sat, listening to his voice, loving every rise and fall of it, some 40 years after that recording. What I didn't consider is Johnny did what he loved and doing so, he reached "at least one."

Peace and Blessings

Thought for The Day - Blank Surface

Fall for Francene (in progress) 11 x 17 watercolor and pastels

Starting the "new year" with blank surfaces. A canvas sits on the easel and though no paint has touched the surface, I know what is to come. I sprayed fixative onto my latest pastel pieces and placed them in the folder with all my other work. My two drawing boards sit in the corner with nothing on them. It's time to start something new.

There is never a shortage of ideas and sketches I would like to try. I probably have more ideas in my head than will ever see the light of day. But one thing is certain: I love my work! I read years ago that a person's career should consist of things you would do if money weren't the object. I'm not there yet, but the writing and drawing and painting are things I would regardless of whether I was paid or not. While I wasn't blessed with an ear and ability to play music, since I was a child, I've tried playing different instruments periodically. And when life changes for me, I will pick up those guitars, start playing the piano again. There are so many tunes in my head I would love to hear myself playing!

It is about expression; it's about sharing one's perspective and one's mind with the world around us. I start this year doing what I love and sharing it with you.

Thought for The Day - New

Prep work...

For some, this is a new day, not a new year. Because we are in a "Western society," it is acknowledged as January 1, 2014, but many are resistant to the significance of the calendar. It is, after all, based on an approximation of the number of years since the Jesus, the Christ was incarnated. That thought is abhorrent to some, but not me. This is not only a new day, but a new year, based on His appearing here on earth and accomplishing what only God can.

Each day is truly a new opportunity to do things right. We might "prefer" to wait until the masses decide to practice resolutions or their plans to diet, exercise and not use profanity and anger in traffic (smile), but by the end of January or early February the "masses" have already allowed failure to rule their lives. A smaller mass of people will fight through April, perhaps May, but by June, the lure of mass produced food, muscles that are sore just because you're getting old (as opposed to you forcing them to gain strength and flexibility through your devoted effort) will win for the remainder of the year. And swearing and near uncontrolled anger? Oh that ugly side of us came the first day we were in a hurry to get to the mall for a sale of items we already have!

New; it really doesn't have to be a "masses" decision. If you are in an abusive situation, if you are tired of being depressed and sad, the moment you decide to take action to change your life, "new" begins for you that same hour. You can declare a new year any day you decide. I'm going to make it personal: I've had many new years in my life and usually they occurred in conjunction to changing a habit or adopting new behavior. I decided to live as a Christian in April 1985, and be true to the calling on my life. I decided I would stick to exercising January, 2010 - and I have since then. I decided I would exercise my talents as a visual artist in early May 2010. There are many more commitments and behavior changes I decided to incorporate into my time here on earth and yes, I've failed, "backslid," but it's all part of my commitment to living life in service to God and man. One truth remains overall: my life is not my own; I've been given this life and these talents to be of service to man and to glorify God; I fully intend to do so.

Peace and Blessings in this coming New Year of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, 2014!