Colors

My memory of art college was spending every Saturday buying what my son needed for his next week’s projects.
 “More colored pencils?” I asked; “You have at least a hundred by now.”
 “But I don’t have these,” he replied.
“Haven’t you learned to blend colors yet?” I asked… as I paid.

 Months later while we were traveling to Grand Rapids to spend a relaxing weekend, my son asked me to count the number of greens I saw. It was lovely spring day, my favorite season; and I wasn’t on-call for two whole days. So I smiled and began counting, but within a few minutes I lost track of whether that was a new green or not. The Creator of the Universe had painted the waking of nature with myriads of greens in all its shades, tints, and hues.

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts;” wrote Marcus Aurelius.

And this mother told her son, “You can have as many colored pencils as you’d like.”

Today, my son is a successful graphic designer and I am a colorist a.k.a., a color-er. I started with a set of colored pencils and an adult coloring book to pass the time and to keep from being bored.

 Soon I added gel pens…








                                                     then a cart to hold all of them.

 I never seem to have just the right shade. Sound familiar?

I love the flow of ink on the paper and seeing the combination of multiple shades of a color group form a flower. I’ve graduated from a 12 per box to 120 and still want more choices.

 The transition from threads and yarns to ink actually came first. The colors I use for my needlework add dimension and texture. My grandson called it threading (drawing with thread) when he was a toddler. 

Coloring does pass the time for this homebound woman. As a bonus, I have discovered bright colors becoming bridges to happy memories and problem-solving becomes easier while coloring. Best of all, coloring connects me to the author of all colors.

 I am thankful we earthlings were given eyes with “some of the most complex structures in all of nature. The human eye can take in a million simultaneous impressions and can tell the difference between eight million different colours.” (@http://www.eyesite.co.uk/news/humans-vs-animals-who-has-better-vision/)

 Jürgen Moltmann wrote, “Our disappointments, our loneliness and our defeats do not separate us from him (God); they draw us more deeply into communion with him.”It is when I’m coloring that I understand that the best.

 And it is through the eyes of others I see what my walls hide from me: [As I run each day] “ I learn to notice perfect strangers who go out of their way to share a smile; I pay attention to dogs grinning as they walk their owners; and my eyes are drawn, again and again, to nature waking up.” ~ Ryan J. Pemberton

Book # 10: The Pilgrim's Progress

I came across Steven James' book Quest for Celestia: A Reimagining of The Pilgrim Progress (2006). Before reading it I wanted to reread The Pilgrim's Progress.Then do a comparison.

Ichthus Publications graciously provided this book at my request and I agreed to write a review. This edition was revised in 1834 for "Sabbath schools" and pictures of 28 engravings on wood were added. It is intended for older children and teenagers, but at only 125 pages it is a quick read for adults as well. 

John Bunyon, an English preacher in his 30s, was arrested in 1660 for unauthorized preaching, It was in prison where he wrote this allegory, now considered a Christian classic, a "must read" book. And I agree.

An allegory is a "story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one." Bunyon's is a spiritual journey. Jesus taught in parables also called allegories.Usually, when you read an allegory you have two choices. You can read it as just a story or you can go deeper and try to understand the hidden meanings.

However, in The Pilgrim's Progress not much is hidden. The character's names: Mr. Honesty, Mr. Fearing, Mr. Self-Will, and Mr. Great-Heart define them and what is of concern.

Just as listening to someone with a heavy accent is difficult. At first, you can't understand them but if you continue to listening you will. So it is when reading Old British English. The sentence structure seems wrong, backward, inside out.But after a few pages, it becomes clearer. Don't stop. Don't miss journey!

Selah ~

Connie

Investing

As Thanksgiving approaches, let's do an Investment Check-Up.
Investments are opportunities for which we will be held accountable:

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life...

Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others — ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (Galations 6:4-5,7-10 The Message)

How well spent is our time? Our passions? Our interests and causes? Our money?
Are we sowing the right seeds? Will we sacrifice as needed to reap a bountiful harvest?

Christ invested His life for us- can we do less?

When we invest in Jesus Christ, it must be for a life time; and we will have a harvest overflowing with faith, hope, love and joy.

Selah -

Shalom, Connie