Meditations

Yoga, waves, silence and art all became a part of the days way of reaching within to find and express what was inside. My Friend Nancy beaded, I painted, other friends swam and laughed and all this turned out to be praising God. Friends are a gift that I am thankful for and time with them is also prayer. Jane

Mountain Top

I feel the climb up to the mountain top towards God often seems steep and to carry on means the stripping of the heavy weight of self: self fulfillment, self indulgence, self satisfaction. It was the desire to please God that gave me strength to carry on and to take pictures and paint a painting even when at first I didn't feel like it. A hike up Black Mountain on Cypress to this lovely lake retreat reminded me of the struggles it takes to be surprised by the peacefulness to the heart that results with perseverance. Jane

Eating Cake

Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. What I mean is sometimes successes can happen in the time it takes to bake a cake. That's what happened with this commission for "The Cake Lady" who wanted to have art for her business and who-la, the morning I was to meet her I managed to collage and paint an image that worked. Not only that but I got to eat cake!

God works in mysterious ways and I have learned just to trust in him and his providence including helping me paint from the heart. God's heart is the greatest and I am happy to know it. I like to thank Him always! Jane

Swinging in the Spirit

Watching children swinging on a lakeside rope and trying to reach the highest point of the swing before they let go reminded me of how I reach for God to inspire me. I realize it takes strength to hold on and even to try over and over again.

Perhaps then this "swinging in the spirit" becomes familiar and even fun as one reaches higher knowing the fall will come only to be followed by a refreshing splash like a new inspiration to an artist. This thought helped me to not be afraid to fall: to not be constantly inspired and to just let go; but to continue to swing and receive inspiration when it comes even if it feels a bit cold at first. Jane

Rythmic Strokes

This morning's prayer started with the rhythmic song of the receding tide as the waves circled around the jagged rocks and set the beat for the day.

The large sea kelp was being pulled back and forth like a paint brush laying the foundation of a painting. I too could do this if God was showing me that He could because today once again we were together.

This all started in the solitude on the rocks that slowly were exposed to the sun while I lay against them, in silence yet listening.
Jane in Tofino.

Singing Along

A little sparrow sang a song for me while I was sitting on the edge of piper spit waiting for some birds to come into view of my camera. I appreciated this encouragement. It reminded me of musicians that played while running in the Vancouver Sun Run which helped me along and to keep my pace. I thank God for pacing a song in my heart today. Jane