This was going to be a different Friday as I had decided not to write. Ha ha. Me? not write?
So I am taking the required 5 minutes to write on the word “different” for Five Minute Friday. If you are a writer and just want to write for fun and link with others to encourage them, join us.
If you need help or encouragement just ask me. I’m right here to help you. Email Janis.
5 Minutes: GO
I thought of many ways I could approach the word different – how changed I am from the way I was last year, to how I was 16 years ago- to today. I thought of how life is better and different when I am with God than when I am not.
But I decided to take a look at my journey in art. When I first took a watercolour painting course in 1996, I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know.
Not about art – but about seeing.
Yes my eyes were closed to the world around me. Through my subsequent art lessons I learned to see.
I remember when we were taught to look at a distance and see the atmospheric conditions – how there were grays, and not blues, how the trees where not green but they could actually look blue.
And then to look at trees on the side of the road – to really look at the different greens. There are deep greens, lime greens, all interspersed. Can you see the difference?
I started to look. And as I started to look closer I really saw the difference.
I had to be careful when driving on the country roads that in my desire to see, I didn’t take my eyes off the road.
Now to look how this affected my life.
I really hadn’t seen how different God made his creatures, his plants, his flowers. When I saw a flower up close it looked incredible.
I started to take pictures. I bought a good camera and for a long time I took many pictures.
My thought: When you take time and look, things can be different. (click to tweet)
The same is true with my faith. I didn’t really think about my faith before. It was there. It didn’t mean anything to me.
But then I started to look – to ask, to question, and eventually to pray.
I now know I am different than I was in 1996. I have seen into the spiritual and as I study, pray, and listen to God I see it more and more.
Now I also do Bible Art so I can see what God is speaking to me. Here are 2 versions of 2 Corinthians 3:17.
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Thank you so much for your beautiful pictures. God speaks so clearly through them
Thank you. Blessings,
Janis
“Through my subsequent art lessons I learned to see.”
-So true. I have shown many people how they “think” they know what colour a cloud is, or snow but when you really look, you soon see that in fact it can be purple or yellow or what have you, an infinite variety of colours. It is the exact same way with graphic design too. People think they can do or know designbut once tehy truly get edcuated they can see how horrible most print is and how poorly fonts are used. Wrong fonts for wrong apps, etc.
It seems so weird to me that ppl can have a faith and yet mean nothing to them or never think about it. Dead religion for sure. Even when a kid with a childlike faith to me it was utterly central to my view of the world, etc. I am reminded of my former boher in law who prided himself on knowing all the responsive readings and prayers at his church even while yet being an athiest but calling himself a good Catholic (insert Methodist, Lutheran, Presbytatian, Anglican, etc). Some people bemoan the fact that these church’s attendance are rapidly declining but I think it’s a good thing–people are leaving the outward religious trappings of going to church where that alone is enough and are starting to embrace all it means in their own lives, taking responsibility then leaving it hopefully to some poor pastor to do it all.
I agree Michael,
In a way many who attend churches are like the Pharisees – they do it to be seen. And they want to follow the “rules”.
However, there are many who go to worship in a community of love and caring. They do care for each other and I am happy to be part of that type of congregation.
It’s not black and white. It is full of the colour that you and I love. And there is undercolour as well.
Blessings
Janis
So lovely to discover you at FMF. I adore your expressions through art — I’ve also found this to be a great way to connect with God. Hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas season!
TC, Thanks for dropping by. Great to discover you too. I love seeing God through art. Merry Christmas to you too.
Blessings,
Janis