Dear Samuel,
You are five months old and I loved the past week you spent with us in Jefferson City. We had a wonderful time and it was hard to say goodbye. I had to wipe a tear from my eye when I said goodbye to you this afternoon. I do not think you dad or mom noticed, my tearing up because I turned quickly and bid farewell, just saying something like: I had to get on the road and travel as far out of the city as possible before it got dark. On my way back to Jefferson City, it was very windy and patches of snow were still on the roadway. It was cold and started to get dark. My spirits were rather gloomy, but a good spirit flowed in part from you, and I was reminded of my many blessings and I felt motivation to encourage others, which encouraged me.
I tanked God for my cell phone and called the person I wrote about in story number three. After I talked to Dan, I was reminded of how little family he has, I gave thanks for mine, especially you. Next I called my friend who called in to the “Blog Talk” radio program that is embedded in story six. Things he said, that are recorded for you to hear some day helped me once again! Friend Bill encouraged me on the phone tonight as he always does and he shared a story about an old man who fell the other day; Bill described the old man’s confused state. Bill also told me how this old gentleman thought Bill was an angel when Bill hurried to his assistance. I am not so sure the old man’s perception was all that confused. Then after I talked to Bill. The last person I called was “Old Paul” who is also described in the same story number six. My conversation with old Paul was perhaps the prompt that stirred my imagination to return again to a thing I have tried to illustrate and describe. Maybe it was also prompted by superstitious beliefs in some cultures about today being the last day on an ancient Mayan Calendar, and the ridiculous doomsday scenarios of tomorrow being end of the world. Whatever the reason for me concluding my road trip with a future vision in my mind, I am not sure; but I feel my vision is worth sharing. I shared it this morning at breakfast with my friend Jim Dunn. Jim stays positive in spite of some big health challenges and I enjoy our conversations. This thing I imagined will be read by Jim very soon and one day I hope you too will read what I saw on my return home.
I anchor my soul to art in the river of life. I study the natural rhythm of seasons. By living my artist's life I float the current of time through the seasons of my life and enjoy the journey!
I hear a voice saying, “ discover, craft, refine and share”. “Share what?” I wondered. Then I remembered a story about Jesus and his friend Peter, the fisherman, and I wondered why I have this fishing orientation that is so strong? I have been painting places where sky meets water and rocks, telling stories about almost drowning in such a place. I have thought of this life as a tent. When the last camping trip is over, God will fold my tent and move my spirit though time and maybe put me in a boat again. This future voyage might be a bit scary, but I will float a beautiful waterway, and move on. Time is like a river and it flows ever more swiftly now. I was in the flow, whether by car, or boat, icy road or deep dark water, I can navigate a timeless current unless I lose touch with my spirit’s guide. During some past seasons, I have explored alone and with out Him I became lost! But I have much joy now and will in the future, united with Him as my guide!
I imagine a campfire on a distant shore. I will step out of the boat, onto the rocky shore, to see a man beside the fire. He will be a Good Samaritan and offer me food and a warm place to rest. The firelight will become a very bright light and I will see Him! I will no longer navigate difficult territory in darkness or shiver in the cold, because of the campfire that will burn bright! Such a sign like that will communicate everything, all by His design. He will be Jesus and he will offer reconciliation and assurance of forgiveness to me. Above us, from the Father of time, another sign will be present. I envision this sign as a white star shining down, signaling eternal love!
My life has been blessed with good people all around me, and I have enjoyed conversations with people who taught me many things (when I listened). But my focus has been, blurred by some wrong emotions. I must remember that even in the most precious memories should not make us focus too much on the past, so that we do not envision a glorious future. In my remaining time, I want to encourage others to believe that our feelings need not dictate a person's faith, but instead, the person's faith can direct their feelings.
You are five months old and I loved the past week you spent with us in Jefferson City. We had a wonderful time and it was hard to say goodbye. I had to wipe a tear from my eye when I said goodbye to you this afternoon. I do not think you dad or mom noticed, my tearing up because I turned quickly and bid farewell, just saying something like: I had to get on the road and travel as far out of the city as possible before it got dark. On my way back to Jefferson City, it was very windy and patches of snow were still on the roadway. It was cold and started to get dark. My spirits were rather gloomy, but a good spirit flowed in part from you, and I was reminded of my many blessings and I felt motivation to encourage others, which encouraged me.
I tanked God for my cell phone and called the person I wrote about in story number three. After I talked to Dan, I was reminded of how little family he has, I gave thanks for mine, especially you. Next I called my friend who called in to the “Blog Talk” radio program that is embedded in story six. Things he said, that are recorded for you to hear some day helped me once again! Friend Bill encouraged me on the phone tonight as he always does and he shared a story about an old man who fell the other day; Bill described the old man’s confused state. Bill also told me how this old gentleman thought Bill was an angel when Bill hurried to his assistance. I am not so sure the old man’s perception was all that confused. Then after I talked to Bill. The last person I called was “Old Paul” who is also described in the same story number six. My conversation with old Paul was perhaps the prompt that stirred my imagination to return again to a thing I have tried to illustrate and describe. Maybe it was also prompted by superstitious beliefs in some cultures about today being the last day on an ancient Mayan Calendar, and the ridiculous doomsday scenarios of tomorrow being end of the world. Whatever the reason for me concluding my road trip with a future vision in my mind, I am not sure; but I feel my vision is worth sharing. I shared it this morning at breakfast with my friend Jim Dunn. Jim stays positive in spite of some big health challenges and I enjoy our conversations. This thing I imagined will be read by Jim very soon and one day I hope you too will read what I saw on my return home.
I anchor my soul to art in the river of life. I study the natural rhythm of seasons. By living my artist's life I float the current of time through the seasons of my life and enjoy the journey!
I hear a voice saying, “ discover, craft, refine and share”. “Share what?” I wondered. Then I remembered a story about Jesus and his friend Peter, the fisherman, and I wondered why I have this fishing orientation that is so strong? I have been painting places where sky meets water and rocks, telling stories about almost drowning in such a place. I have thought of this life as a tent. When the last camping trip is over, God will fold my tent and move my spirit though time and maybe put me in a boat again. This future voyage might be a bit scary, but I will float a beautiful waterway, and move on. Time is like a river and it flows ever more swiftly now. I was in the flow, whether by car, or boat, icy road or deep dark water, I can navigate a timeless current unless I lose touch with my spirit’s guide. During some past seasons, I have explored alone and with out Him I became lost! But I have much joy now and will in the future, united with Him as my guide!
I imagine a campfire on a distant shore. I will step out of the boat, onto the rocky shore, to see a man beside the fire. He will be a Good Samaritan and offer me food and a warm place to rest. The firelight will become a very bright light and I will see Him! I will no longer navigate difficult territory in darkness or shiver in the cold, because of the campfire that will burn bright! Such a sign like that will communicate everything, all by His design. He will be Jesus and he will offer reconciliation and assurance of forgiveness to me. Above us, from the Father of time, another sign will be present. I envision this sign as a white star shining down, signaling eternal love!
My life has been blessed with good people all around me, and I have enjoyed conversations with people who taught me many things (when I listened). But my focus has been, blurred by some wrong emotions. I must remember that even in the most precious memories should not make us focus too much on the past, so that we do not envision a glorious future. In my remaining time, I want to encourage others to believe that our feelings need not dictate a person's faith, but instead, the person's faith can direct their feelings.