Eclectic Waters

each moment

movement

if my body were dipped in paint

i would swirl pictures of color and tell the thousand stories

behind my hesitant lips

for me

art

is more than a picture

more than a sentence of well crafted words

it is in

laughter

conversations

strangers on the street

i still don’t have the words to describe it - but for me, it is everywhere - and can be found in each person, story and even in the mundane things we do…

art is a way of life. a way of moving. a way of being and seeing.

the art i see and experience inspires me to create

words, stories, paintings, sketches -

and to create

deep friendships

safe places for the hearts of those i love

i also seek

places of stillness

places of beauty

safe places for my heart and stumbling words to rest and run

too oft

i am too easily scared and my skittish heart retreats into silence

i find the lie hanging like a dropped hula hoop around my ankles “what you have to say is not important”

and i struggle to put into the words the beauty i see

and the texture of the story i feel beating inside my heart each moment…

i saw it for the first time

the mountain directly before me as i turn onto the road my office is on

shrouded in light purple

the color of the morning

each rock and bush clear and strong

i turned my eyes

caressing it from top to bottom

wishing i could sit and stare

instead of coming inside

to work

When I was on the Logos II, I must have been around 12 or 13 years old, I would write a proverb on the flap of each envelope I would send out.  I averaged two to three letters a week as I tried to keep up with my friends back in Mosbach, Germany, and with the handful of people I had met during my time on board.

Even now, the images evoked in my mind on reading Proverbs 8 remain.

A woman.  Tall.  Regal.

She meets the glance of every person she passes, but many of them look away.  Her eyes seem to travel into their eyes and sear a path directly into and through their soul.  Each feels exposed and vulnerable.   The few that do not turn away, find themselves simultaneously wounded and healed as her words drip truth to the very marrow of the bones.   Her words hold life.  The people who follow her are easily distinguishable by their confidence, understanding and strength.  They do not get caught up in the appearance of things or in what the crowd is saying.  They do not rely on the scope of their own experience because they have come to value her counsel.   Some of them are poor, having chosen her instead of lofty positions or friendships that would have lured them away.   Others are rich as her counsel has guided them through a maze of corruptness and because others now trust them.

It amazes me.

She cries on the streetcorners.  She walks to the high places that she may shout her words upon all below who would listen.

And this is what amazes me.

People do not listen.

They lower their eyes.

They turn away.

Why do some people not want to learn? to grow? to heal? to wait? to pray?

She’s standing right here, if only we would listen and ask for our eyes and hearts to be opened.

God has promised that if we ask for wisdom, He will pour it out on us.

She is still speaking.

It is not too late.

Whatever you are going through, whatever place you find yourself in -

it is not the end of your story and she has much she can teach you

about the way of life.

Ultimately, she points to Jesus.

I recently stopped biting my nails.  I can’t remember a time when I have grown my nails out for more than a week.  It’s now been over three.  To my surprise I have very nice nails.  My brother calls them claws because they are strong and not susceptible to breaking.  Now my mentality is, “why would I bite my nails when they are so gorgeous and healthy - it would be a waste of a gift, most people wish they had nails like mine.”

Similarly, I’ve picked up the pace on my work out schedule over the last month, and it’s been a gift to reconnect with my body.  Sitting at a desk all day, staring at the computer, I tend to forget about my body unless it tells me its hungry or needs to go to the bathroom.  But when I walk and run, I find my muscles stretched and I’m aware of the different sensations as well as the gift of being able to move and the gift of health.

Again, “why would I not make time for my body to move, when this is what it was made to do.”  We were not made to sit stagnate all day.

When new years rolled around, I was at a loss for what I wanted my focus for this next year to be.

In 2008 it was simple - I wanted to:   1) be more present in the moment       2) learn how to salsa dance      3) run consistently

In 2009 it was simple - I wanted to:    1) write more    2) continue running       3) and then something I can’t remember (lol)

This year I was having a hard time coming up with anything.   Then this last week I got a burst of ideas… and now my brain feels a little crammed.  BUT I am excited about the new energy these ideas have brought…

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