One Great Kind Gift

One of the great joys of teaching is learning.  I am always deeply moved by the sincere beauty of creation.   In its study to pass along to my students, I am always far higher in the heavens of wisdom learned from our Father’s creative endeavors.  It is like a great mine of sapphire where for 45 years He has allowed me deeper and deeper shafts filled with more and more splendor.  We have moved into the element of light this week and its kindness never ceases to implore me to my knees.  Just a single hint to its glory that is easily understood.  Have you ever felt the great peace of the first hint of dawn after a night of turmoil?  Just that first hint in the sky that confirms day is coming.  It is one of the greatest hopes of all humankind and it is given once a day to everyone who needs it.  There is no greater medicine created and prescribed by any human that has such a profound effect on so many; light—and it is free.

 

Transfixed

Yesterday Betty and I took my mom to Palm Sunday service at her Assisted Living facility.  It was good for anything that ails you.  25 or 30 ancients with walkers moving ever so slowly, gently, and sincerely along the earth.  Their feet barely seem to touch the floor their primeval bodies mostly present in the heavenly realm as if they are now being constantly transported there.  They are so quiet, like angels in the treetops, steady moving, golden clouds, floating in transition.  It is life as old as time, standing patiently, quietly, at the elevator, each one with their rolling partner board and stop when they come to the other end.  Steady, waiting on the door to close and maybe wondering if this is Heaven Prep, slowing down enough so the transporting angels can catch up.  When I am around I wonder if they can feel the air being pushed aside by my lightning speed and hear the thunder of my incessant hurrying’s.  They are mostly fixed now, their life a patterned dance of a few steps, food, bath, warmth.  Maybe transfixed is a better word as they stare in wonder through The Veil as it is slowly opening in welcome and hear the heavenly choir singing “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”   

   

On The Road Again

We are on the road again.  We stayed over at Allison’s parents’ home in Chattanooga on our way to Sewanee GA to install a sculpture.  It’s a grand adventure.  Aaron and his children Reese and Knox are going with us.  The piece we are installing is Mommy, made from a drawing Reese did when she was little.  Art for us is a family affair that makes for great family and good Art.    

Water Burning Bones

As I was reading in Ezekiel* this morning I was once again moved by God’s desire to give us visuals of and for Him; His creativity used to design forms (Temples) with marvelous materials and adorn them with such sincere precision, exacting angels and then allow humans the joy of making them.  His additions of flowing organics filled with life-giving beauty and living food just underscored His desire for collaboration.  He has such a desire for material witness.   

Most art is a material witness to the glory of our sense impressions.  An artist is born with a heightened awareness of our senses, what we see and hear, smell and taste, and the glories of what we feel.  Added to this is a heightened sense of knowing, our soul and hearts response to what our senses are receiving; the actual spiritual nature of the physical feelings we have inside in response to this information and we are like the Bible describes, ‘our hearts burn within us, our bones cannot contain it, it is like living water welling up inside us pouring forth’** in creative acts.  In and through our Lord, Christ Jesus, this often becomes a sincere act of worship as we experience the joy of thanksgiving to all the myriad ecstasies our senses are transmitting to us of our King’s creativity. 

  *Ezekiel 42-47,**Luke 24:32, Jeremiah 20:9, John 4:14

Love Hurts II being installed at Fair Haven

 

We Are Covered In Ecstasy Cells

In my freshman 3-D course I have introduced the next element, texture.  I lecture on the profound kindness of our bodies being covered with millions of texture receiving and texture giving cells, each one worthy of producing in us a constant state of gratefulness; warm slippers, kissing, and holding grandbabies come to mind.  Over the years I have noticed a profound paradigm shift in my students.  It goes something like this.  I remember when I was a child if a favorite teacher touched me on the shoulder for any reason I would have an internal response somewhere inside my chest that I now can only describe as ecstasy.  The same thing occurred in high school when I would rub shoulders with my girlfriend but it has reached a zenith unknowable by words with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren (the latter two especially as newborns).  These cells give and receive textural information leading to ecstasy indescribable.  Who is coming up with these ideas and then covering our bodies with them?  When you find out you will worship Him.  And there is the rub.  So many of my students no longer seem to have those textural cell experiences even though they are still covered in them.   

I first had a picture of Betty here and then

I was talking to Sarah about the issues in the blog

and she told me about this song.  This is 

what I mean and to you Baby!!!

Creatures Here Below

This past weekend we went altar repairing.   We build altars to live in close communion with God and to actively pursue holy acts designed to strengthen our personal relationship with Him.  It is creating Holy Ground, an act mountain forests or perfect for.    We finished our task, swept the forest floor clean of leaves revealing a green carpet of tiny leaves and yellow flowers, and each reclined in peace.  We laughed, picnicked, and ended holding hands to pray and Cora leading us as we sang the doxology.  We, “the creatures here below” filled with the familyhood of God.    

If You're Going to Summit, Better Have a Great Guide

It is a great joy to have aging parents who display how to grow old.  Even at 64, getting old is no cakewalk.  It is perhaps the most difficult task we will ever face and to have someone who is actively navigating the trail is truly a Godsend.  It is like climbing the most difficult mountain, filled with deadly obstacles and challenges, and having the route clearly marked; a living guidebook to learn from.  It seems to me the best climbing rope for this inevitable summit attempt (as in life, many won’t make it) is faith in God.  Nothing else gives you such, hope, encouragement, wisdom, clear sight of the summit, and a demeanor based on the reward, not the pain, that helps you become a great guide.  Thanks mom!