Story 15
Dear Samuel and all of my wonderful students,
A quote by J.R.R. Tolkien cited in One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp resonates with me today: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us”: your father gave me this book for Christmas, and I have enjoyed and benefited by reading it.
The author discovers a primary key to progressing spiritually and overcomes some haunting memories and establishes joy in her life by giving thanks. She accepts a challenge of listing one thousand things she is grateful for. In November of 2012, I accepted a similar challenge of posting on Face book, for the thirty days of the month, something I was thankful for. I also discovered how giving thanks is a way to grow spiritually.
Because we often do not see the material world for what it can be, the opportunity to know that little is much when GOD is in it, and to receive a continuous flow of things we can consider to be blessings, we can miss out on the richness of living! If instead we find fault and are not grateful, we dwell in a negative state of being. The book also cites Jesus Christ as the greatest example of a person who was always thankful for everything even his crucifixion. And Eucharist is explained in this book as the only full and real response of man to God’s creation. Through the practice of giving thanks there can be realized the gift of heaven on earth.
In the time I was reading the gift of my Christmas book I was also creating some paintings and also giving thanks for the decision I made long ago to become an artist and teacher.
My simple but multi layered 3M’s: Motivation, Materials and Method is something I continue to reflect upon as I create art and develop my teaching pedagogy. I had the time to paint what I wanted because I had completed most of the things I needed to paint as commissions and to earn money.
I had time to paint what I wanted. There was a new snow fall and nature was calling me, yet there was one old man who told me he had a very old black and white photograph of himself as a boy on his beloved mule. And a spirit moved me to receive his worn photo and bring it into living color!
My fish’n buddy “Old Paul” gave me his tattered photograph of his boyhood pet. We went fishing on Saturday, December 29 (story 14) and on Monday December 31, I began to paint for him. My 3M’s supported the creative process perfectly: 1. paint something as a special gift, 2. acrylic on wood, 3. apply color and texture in a personal and expressive way to bring to life a dim photo.
I am so thankful I took the time to do it, because “Old Paul” loves his gift and I am thankful for a fish’n buddy!
A quote by J.R.R. Tolkien cited in One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp resonates with me today: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us”: your father gave me this book for Christmas, and I have enjoyed and benefited by reading it.
The author discovers a primary key to progressing spiritually and overcomes some haunting memories and establishes joy in her life by giving thanks. She accepts a challenge of listing one thousand things she is grateful for. In November of 2012, I accepted a similar challenge of posting on Face book, for the thirty days of the month, something I was thankful for. I also discovered how giving thanks is a way to grow spiritually.
Because we often do not see the material world for what it can be, the opportunity to know that little is much when GOD is in it, and to receive a continuous flow of things we can consider to be blessings, we can miss out on the richness of living! If instead we find fault and are not grateful, we dwell in a negative state of being. The book also cites Jesus Christ as the greatest example of a person who was always thankful for everything even his crucifixion. And Eucharist is explained in this book as the only full and real response of man to God’s creation. Through the practice of giving thanks there can be realized the gift of heaven on earth.
In the time I was reading the gift of my Christmas book I was also creating some paintings and also giving thanks for the decision I made long ago to become an artist and teacher.
My simple but multi layered 3M’s: Motivation, Materials and Method is something I continue to reflect upon as I create art and develop my teaching pedagogy. I had the time to paint what I wanted because I had completed most of the things I needed to paint as commissions and to earn money.
I had time to paint what I wanted. There was a new snow fall and nature was calling me, yet there was one old man who told me he had a very old black and white photograph of himself as a boy on his beloved mule. And a spirit moved me to receive his worn photo and bring it into living color!
My fish’n buddy “Old Paul” gave me his tattered photograph of his boyhood pet. We went fishing on Saturday, December 29 (story 14) and on Monday December 31, I began to paint for him. My 3M’s supported the creative process perfectly: 1. paint something as a special gift, 2. acrylic on wood, 3. apply color and texture in a personal and expressive way to bring to life a dim photo.
I am so thankful I took the time to do it, because “Old Paul” loves his gift and I am thankful for a fish’n buddy!