Invoice For Rain

There is a dampness in the air this morning, a hopeful glimmer that You may be going to allow it to rain.  The earth hangs limp in need.  You are the only one in all of earth and heaven who can command the rain.  Please let Your command go out to the keepers of the rain storehouses that an order has been placed. 

To Be In Beauty

I have often found myself existing in beauty, to be present, to place myself there.  It is most often in nature and most frequently in the mountains.  To be in beauty is far better than to stand in the mundane while viewing beauty.  Great art can psychologically transport us to a complete state of bliss momentarily engulfing us as the art activates all the space it and the viewer occupies creating its own environment of beauty. 

Stephen DeStaebler's Man and Women
First piece that I realized created its own environment of
beauty.

The Burden Of Ideas

The act of creating beauty is as addictive as it is meaningful.  I think we find this truth lived out even by God.  He is continually creating anew, never satisfied with what has been made but always striving to make again.  It is part of us, His Image, which continually urges me to creative acts of art making.  It is a difficult thing to have a steady stream of creative ideas but I have found the key is to always focus on the elements and principles of design.  They can always carry the burden and art but also the burden of ideas. 

Benson Sculptures newest piece to be completed
at U.T. during Dec. Jan.  

Where Are We The People?

There are times when you just need to disconnect from humanity, to walk away into the wilderness, to spend time alone without the clamor.  It is increasingly difficult to cut our self off, to be alone, off the gird.  I think man has so alienated himself from himself that he now fears being with self, afraid of coming to grips with who he has become.  Many years ago I learned that it is critical to take a self-inventory, to examine oneself, to honestly look in the mirror.  I was looking out a window wondering how I got where I was and it suddenly dawned on me, “I got myself here!”  I am once again wondering, but this time I am wondering, “How did we get here?” 

A Free Little Bean-bambino

“And God said let there be, (life) and there was (life.)”  How can anyone explain how two months ago there were a specific number of humans on the planet and now there is one more, one of our tribe?  No human and then a human.  Not a tree or a bear but a brand new human man on the planet and he is ours.  Little Bean-bambino.  And he will not be scared or frightened or in any way look to his government for his identify.  His identity as is his older sister is found in Christ and is held in trust by Bensons and Carbonells.  And he, as his whole family has learned, is a human, a human made in the image of God who some will belittle and some will hurt but he will always live strong and free because we are his family and he is ours.  His government nor his presidents nor the lackeys of each will ever be, in any way, in the circle that affects him; he is free because his family is free, made free by God,  (So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed) who made him human.  We can decry our government all we want but know this, if we decry them then we have given them authority over us but Little Bean-Bambino, you are a free son and you are a Carbonell/Benson and someday you will be His, Gods own son.