I’ve been painting a lot lately. Creative expression of any kind has always been a way for me to heal, to fill my soul with good things, and to be a light to the world. It’s the way I truly get the Sabbath time I need with God.
I’m finding lately… art is something I need more and more. This world seems so crazy, doesn’t it? It’s hard to make sense of it all. I’ve been praying a lot… asking God a lot of questions and trying to figure out my place in this world. Recently I talked about being “in the middle” all the time over at Putting on the New, and I finally realize this is where God wants me. I rely on him more when I’m just doing my thing… in the middle… with people on both sides of nearly every argument and me in the center, trying to understand people but also trying to get them to the things I believe.
Being the middle means I get accused of two extremes. It means one side thinks I’m being “too soft” on certain behaviors while the other thinks I believe in a set of standards that aren’t true. It means that when people hurt me, I’m not always quick to walk away. This isn’t a good trait, necessarily. But I have to be patient with myself. I have to show love the only way I know how, and when I fail I have to learn. It’s always a slow process. It needs to be slow.
I think about the way Jesus dealt with people and how it wasn’t about being passive so much as it was about being true and good and fair. Showing love is not easy. I learn about his love more and more all the time. And as I think about my life I look back and see how he has transformed my heart and mind. I am so very different from that little girl from long ago.
But even back then, I used creativity as a way to heal. I am so thankful God has given me that as a gift to heal my soul. But here’s the secret, you’ve got that gift, too. Creativity is for everyone.
For me these days, it’s a lot of painting. Here’s some new art I’ve worked on:
I think my art style has remained pretty much the same my entire life, but each new piece shows a part of my heart and my journey. Art truly has the power to heal, and I hope that there are people who will find that healing in my art.
And I always say, if you don’t find healing or joy in my art, please keep searching for art you like! It’s like poetry… some of it will appeal and some of it won’t. Find the stuff that speaks to your soul.
