I’ve been reading some of the poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, and they stir up something in me. There’s one in particular that I love. He describes light as something that only includes those within it’s radiance, excluding those who are left in the dark. The dark, on the other hand, is inclusive of all of us, and he imagines “a great presence” stirring beside him in the dark. I love to think of God as a great presence, always... Read more
Recently, I’ve been reading books and listening to podcast interviews with people who’ve accomplished incredible feats of creativity or athleticism that I can’t imagine ever doing. But here’s what they all have in common—with each other and with us. We and they all have suffered and failed miserably. We’ve suffered shame, humiliation, betrayal, weaknesses, addictions, abuse—and so have those who seem to tower over us. We and they need the grace of God. And Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father... Read more
When I was little, I never felt well-to-do. Dad worked hard as a computer programmer to provide for all seven of us. We had enough, were never hungry, but other families on our street had bigger homes and seemed to have more income. Then one Sunday a new girl from church came over to our house to play. She apparently didn’t have much, and she loved my jewelry, among other things. After playing for awhile, she asked for some jewelry... Read more
“I don’t buy the ‘Do what you love’ craze,” said my dear friend the other day. “Somebody has to clean the toilets!” I didn’t argue with her. On one level, she’s right, of course. But I also want to believe work can be motivated by joy and love, or at least, by the joy set before us, like what is said of Jesus in Hebrews 12:2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,... Read more
Do you feel a change of seasons coming? I do, and it’s more than the autumn breezes blowing in. With my artwork, I am a bit restless, not sure what to pursue. Maybe others are going through change as well. The pandemic turned the world upside down, and it hasn’t stopped. We’ve lost loved ones. We’ve learned how to work from home. We are reevaluating our priorities. The upheaval of the past year or two has caused many to consider changing... Read more
Stressing about decision making is probably not helpful, but I do it all the time. Well, not all the time, but too often. When I was teaching full-time, I was stressed about all the artwork and writing ideas I didn’t have time to develop or create. Now that I have time to create art and write, I stress about marketing my art, whether I should paint what sells or what I love to paint, what to write about, and I... Read more
Owl sightings are rare. They generally stay quiet and hidden, but they are always listening. Their hearing is highly developed. And when an owl speaks, it seems to be asking a question. “Who?” Owls are a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, and I wonder if that’s because they don’t need to be seen and heard. Instead, they seem to be learning and questioning. The older I get, the more I question so many things I took for granted as a... Read more
Comparison, when it brings about discouragement and envy, can be harmful. On the other hand, we can learn from it. When we view the successes of others in a positive way, comparison helps. 1. Rejoice With the Successful Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. —Romans 12:15 Though many of us are tempted to be envious, instead, let’s rejoice with those who succeed. Look at it this way. If they can do it, you can too. And... Read more
In today’s social media culture, one can get depressed quickly. Everyone seems to be having a great life on social media. Some are knocking out their fitness goals and looking amazing while many others struggle with health problems. We cherry-pick our vacation photos to make the trip look perfect and dream-like. We all share the happy moments, and that’s okay. Social media is not a great place to share our private pain—as a matter of fact, I advise against... Read more
Even when the world seems chaotic, I believe in a God of abundance. I want to live by the assumption God has plenty for all of us, and if you are blessed, that doesn’t take anything away from me. I want to avoid a scarcity mindset, which leads to jealousy and resentment. If I believe in scarcity, I act as if God does not have enough, and I need to fight and hurt others to survive. I’m not promoting a... Read more
Learning to Love God by Loving Others
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