“Magnificent Ordinary”
I was offered a painting commission…depicting God from seven different perspectives. Wanting to bump my technique up a bit and get a steady painting routine in place, I enrolled in a summer painting class with my favorite painting professor. This would set me up to get paintings done by the end of the summer. My “professional artist” task was to make the Invisible, visible. Week 1, I painted, painted and painted more…worked steadily…took the painting to class and David, my teacher said…it is fine…which meant empty! Ugh!! I knew it was ok, but painting God should probably be more that ok! It felt plastic. God is not plastic. I must work harder!!!
The month of June I painted, sketched and painted, striving diligently…working hard…always trying very hard…thinking that this was a very professional artist admirable trait. By Week 4 of the class I had only the color palette and a plan to give each painting a one-word description that I would depict visually. Given the crunch of the task at hand, I stayed inside “working like a professional” as the rest of the class spent the lovely summer mornings outside sketching. Feeling an urgency to get things moving, something had to give…I “professionally” decided to join the class outside for sketching.
Morning outside is one of my greatest joys. I was immediately drawn to a couple of sunflowers, one of them just about to bloom. I sketched the sunflowers and decided to paint one of the "striving beauties." Not sure why, for this had nothing to do with my professional project!! The painting had passion when I finished. I liked it, but still I had not progressed on the “Commission.”
A few mornings later while walking outside, I noticed the sunflowers in my garden. So lovely against the periwinkle blue sky, peeking over the turquoise fence, they lined up as if following orders…facing the Sun…truly magnificent. Facing the sun as they were designed to, I was being shown through the plain old magnificent sunflowers a great truth! A gift waiting to be received...I had to quit trying so hard, lighten up and notice the beauty I had been overlooking as I strived. I was missing the good stuff. I sketched the sunflowers and painted one of them…God is always available…if we take time to notice. The next 6 paintings came more freely as I realized the importance of ceasing to strive, noticing and accepting opportunities for seeking Divine Light & Love are always available.
The sunflower is a heliotrope whose task each day is to face the Light…so is mine. Each day by following the sun the small sunflower seed sprouts, stretches and grows followed by gentle rest. Growth happens naturally as this process is repeated. As I trust divine Light doors to living freedom open.
Delight & Allow: Scan the painting, looking closely at each shape, color or texture that interests you. What are you drawn to? Observe until something intrigues you. Trust. Continue looking. Trust. Become curious about why you are drawn to a certain area or subject. Look more closely. Why is this drawing you in? Continue quiet, still contemplation for 3-5 minutes, before asking yourself, “What could God be showing me?” “Why?” Stay with curiosity notice your Breath without judgment, focusing on each inhale and exhale. Become curious, simply observing the breath. Begin Long Deep Breathing by inhaling through the nose, expanding the belly. Exhale fully. Inhale beautiful Light of the World. Deepen the breath to a count of 4 as you inhale and match the exhale. As you inhale imagine beautiful Light of the World entering every cell of your body. As you exhale let that Light trickle down like rain into each tiny place. How can you seek to stay a bit more connected to the Light? Continue inhaling lovely Divine Light into your body for 3-5 minutes. In what areas do you try to control outcomes when a better choice could be to be still, quiet and seek the Light?
Play Pages: Jot down any insights you received from the art, story or prayerful breath. Doodle, draw or write, but keep your pencil moving as you playfully write to fill the pages. When you can’t think of something to write, jot that down. The important piece is to keep your hand moving consistently for the entire length of time. Be playful don’t take this too seriously…simply fill the pages.
Tiny Trust: How can you face the Light today?
