Dealing with a Creative Personality

Sometimes, to keep a marriage on an even keel, you just have to accept your spouse for who he/she is. I put my husband to the test recently....and happy to say, he passed. He sighed, rolled his eyes at me, but he passed.

We were heading to San Diego to escape the heat. I casually mentioned I had to make a side trip to LaJolla. Not that he didn't enjoy La Jolla, but he wondered what was drawing me there.

"Well....I have to take a picture" was all he got from me.

"A picture of what?"

"A tree."

"What tree?"

"I'm not sure which one...but when I see it, I'll know it."

"Where is it?"

"Well...I think I know the street, but I don't know for sure until we get there."

"What's so special about the tree?"

"The bark."

"Whaaat?"

"The bark. I need to get a picture of the bark."

By this time I think he was ready to give up on the conversation and go into his silent mode. Let me explain....he knows me well....we've been married for 42 years. But, I proceeded to tell him I needed the picture of the bark so I could try creating an abstract painting. I once photographed the bark on another trip but lost the photos.

This is when he rolled his eyes.


I've never painted abstract before. I enjoy some abstract paintings, but my paintings always turn out to be representational. I assumed that painting tree bark would help me produce an abstract.

Well, I've completed the painting but couldn't break free of my representational slant. I call it "Risen Life". There is a figure hidden in it, one that is experiencing a resurrection not visible to the human eye.

Resurrection God, you bring life to that which was dead. You bring joy to our sorrow, comfort for our pain. You call us out of the graves of greed, isolation, depression, distrust, fear, and indifference to come alive with your Risen Life.

~Child, you have nothing to fear. Sin, too, is conquered and forgiven, as you live and move and work with Me. All that depresses you, all that you fear, are powerless to harm you. They are but phantoms. Let nothing hinder your Risen Life. Rise from your fears and go out into the sunlight to meet Me, your Risen Lord.~

P.S. My husband likes it.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." ~Isaiah 60:1

Remember Me

Zero in.

That's what I told myself in my August 31 post.

A restlessness has taken up residence in my being.
Too many interests are competing for my attention.

Remember me

Zero in ~~focus, organize, eliminate.
Find which path to follow, where to concentrate my efforts.

Remember me

What?

Remember me

Oh.

Yes.
Thank you for reminding me Lord. Zero in on you and everything will fall into place.

I'm waiting.

Excuse me now while I curl up in my Abba Father's lap and spend some long-overdue quality time.

"Ultimate worship takes place when we, like children, find ourselves climbing into the lap of our heavenly Father with the desire just to be with him. At that moment there is no agenda other than to sit in his presence, to love him, to whisper in his ear our gratitude, to feel his face, to hear his heart, to rest in his embrace, to enjoy the moment, and to understand more fully the God who yearns to enjoy us." ~George Skramstad, quoted in Renovare Perspective, Vol 7, No. 4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. ~Proverbs 3:5,6

Picture courtesy of www.sgeier.net