On Your Mark. Get set...

 40 years ago, I made a decision that seem minor, I changed my college major from geology to art.  My only reason, I had drawn all my life and loved it and a young secretary in the art office continued to encourage me to do so.  At the time I had no ideas about life except to try to have enough pot to get high a few times a day.  I was married with two children, and working at a deaf school which I thought I would do for the rest of my life.  Art would be a hobby.  On July 5th, 1986, I had a violent and physically, life-altering accident, and on November 10, of the same year, had a whole life-altering spiritual experience.  It was a literal coming home.  I was raised by a pastor and his wife, both of whom modeled Christ better than anyone I have ever known.  In the spring of 1991, I landed my first art professorship and have continued for 32 years.  I am retiring in May and am currently dismantling and packing up 40 years of art, art-making materials, tools, art images, art books, and volumes of art writing.  It is also life-altering.  An ending.  Even my muscle memory is set to the tune of 32 years of working.  This is a changing season for me, life-altering.  I feel as if I have been walking in one direction for 32 years and now God says, pick up and leave for a land I will show you.  That’s about all I know for now.  I am almost packed.  I have set myself to pick up.  On Your mark, get set…