What does freedom mean to you?
As someone who struggles with being a perfectionistic people - pleaser, I'm learning there's freedom in boundaries, there's freedom in discipline and there's freedom in Christ!
The Lord has been teaching me freedom through the discipline of a steady art practice this May. He ignited in my heart to move pain across the page like a dance and to let go of any expectation. Then to layer collage elements on top with prompts fromt he daily proverb without overthinking it. My goal is to get thie done in aboout an hour and a half. The more in tune my heart is to the spirit, the quicker I can respond to the spirits promptings and the composition unfolds naturally. I've titled this practice: A Proverb a day in May over on socials.
Proverb 4: 25-27
"Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (tap on the photo to view more closely in my webshop)
I saw a man with aged eyes, a navy touque atop his ears. He was looking out over the farmer's field. Sitting on a bright red park bench, he was next to the gravel path I was walking. I glalnced over to see him restfully taking in the day. The white fluffy clouds floated through the pale blue sky on this particular Thursday. The birds flitted from tree to tree as we paced the trail. He sat, I pondered, this picture. Ir reminded me of how the Lord delights when we come and sit in His presence. When we choose to spend some time with Him, He id glorified. He truly loves when we seek Him and take delight in His presence.
Practice moving freely in me, is waht I hear Him say to my heart. This has been the goal or calling if you will, for May. This is what my anxiety prone, overthinking mind needed this month. The Lord knows me best and knew what I needed to focus on. He is such a good Father and when we seek to hear, we will find that He has the est ways for us to learn. Whether I'm driving my daughter to school, guidking my son with his online learning, pusszling the next collage together, swtiching the laindry for the umpteenth time, sitting in the garden eating my lunch, listening to the birds chit chat, walking with a friend, dancing in the living room or making my famiyl dinner, I'm learning to move freely through this life. There are ebbs and flows and the Lord is opening my eyes to see the beauty in it all. To take in stride the unplanned sickness, the unscheduled pop out to say hi to a neighbour, to linger a little longer over a coffee date, to not be reactionary in this lide, but let the spirit lead and trust the outcome, this takes the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish. I'm so thankful He's teaching me this and to be able to share with you a front row seat to His power alive within me.
(Lilacs in my garden have me grinning from ear to ear)
My husband and I were talking about how different things get different weight in our lives, through diffferent seasons. With a fresh move under our belts, figuring out new rhythms in a new house, there are a few things that need to be adjusted. He said to me that the Lord is asking me to steward this specific talent at this specific time. This is where things are right now, I'm stewarding the taletns of 'moving freely in Him', in obedience right now. With imte, this will shift to something else, but right now this is what is getting attention. He's creating in me something even closer to His own heart and for that I'm ever so grateful.
I was reflecting on how when things come to someone too quickly, they may not be ready to use it or steward it wisely. We can rejoice and revel in the Lord's goodness in training us up, to receive future blessings. We can celebrate each step accomplished, including being halfway through the art discipline of creating something daily. Just like my family and I celebrated seeing my niece take her first literal steps in life! She couldn't have taken those first steps straight away, her body had to take the time to get stronger, learn balance and grow cognitively. So, here I am learning, growing and celebrating each step of the way towards whatever creative endeavours lie ahead, including the H I D D E N Collection.
(click on the photo above to view/collect the first several practice compositions)
"There's a way things work." - John Eldridge from his book Moving Mountains.