Paint by Numbers by Katie Gerke

Find Comfort Here

   Find Comfort Here

Black is not a color. As an artist it’s only a pigment of my imagination. As a person with obvious physical limitations, black signifies darkness which can overwhelm me at any time. By God’s grace, I have brilliant lights of joy, peace and hope within me that can, with all intents and purposes, extinguish it. 

Katie Gerke

My craft of choice was a 1980’s craze called “Papier Tole”. This involved cutting tiny pieces of paper out of identical printed designs and then layering these pieces on top of each other using silicone glue to create a three-dimensional effect of the original design.

In 2000, I was going to ambitiously make a picture for my new nephew, but was unable to keep a firm grip on the craft knife because my hand became too weak due to my multiple sclerosis. I was devastated beyond compare and my creativity went into purgatory for eighteen years until I settled into a long-term care facility.

 I soon discovered that an art class was being offered by recreation therapy. It was once a week, for two hours, had ten residents and an over-fraught teacher. This palette of many colors did not mix well and I removed myself from the class, purchased my own painting supplies, researched a sturdier stand for my palette, and invested in a well-made easel to hold my canvases.

I felt giddy at the insurgence of the endless amount of “blank slates” of creative possibilities afforded to me decades later. With each artistic endeavor, be it through painting, writing or advocating, I was able to refresh and clear my mind and focus on the fullness of the experience.

Transition

While immersed in such ventures, I would recognize paradoxical emotions of failure to determination and success; constraint and obsession to freedom and abundance. The emotion of the day would be translated through the wooden paintbrush, securely placed between my lips, digested by every stroke, and integrated into my happy medium of acrylic paint.

When I was painting a new project, I would either sit in the sunroom with the fireplace or outside the front doors of the facility.  Strangers take pictures, families and new clients are encouraged, and first responders take the time to reflect.

During one such occasion, the fire alarm went off, fire trucks arrived, and I was so engrossed in my painting I did not smell anything or watch the drama. When the "false alarm" was extinguished, a firefighter took the time to stop and congratulate me on my demonstration of inspiration.

In the next season, while experimenting with some techniques, I took the leftover paint on my palate and haphazardly painted a dark winter sky, a mauve Christmas tree sitting beside a snow-covered fence, and the Christmas star in the upper right-hand corner. I named the piece “Midnight Clear” and made Christmas cards.

Midnight Clear

The card's popularity prompted me to paint three more holiday-themed Christmas cards, note cards and magnets, that I sold in the subsequent years after launching my business, Oralart, into cyberspace.

As a result of my artistic endeavors, I became more well-known in the community and was presented with new opportunities to continue my advocacy with renewed vigor and optimism in the areas of accessible and affordable transportation and housing, among others.

I was commissioned to paint, “Midmorning Train” by a group who wanted to give a thank you gift to the Calgary City Council for approving the Low Income Bus Pass Program.  This picture seems to make an emotional impact on people, because it evokes fond memories, past and present, of riding the C- train when they were young or new to Calgary.

Midmorning Train

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

I can’t paint my pictures in broad strokes due to a kink in my neck, but I can keep my head still and concentrate on the smallest of details on a tree, a wheel of an old truck, a rock, or an eye of a wolf.

God never painted our lives in broad strokes, but has focused on the most finite details of our lives.  Even the very hairs of our head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30).   He is constantly arranging details to produce a bigger picture so that we may see His will, plans, and purpose for our lives.  

Beautiful Words in Troubled Times by Brenda Leyland

"In every heart there is a secret nerve that

answers to the vibrations of beauty."

CHRISTOPHER MORLEY

I have come to see, like Mr. Morley, that people everywhere, young or old, are born to recognize and appreciate beauty in the world around them. I shall never forget the day when, as a six-year-old on the school playground, I stood in mouth-gaping wonder to watch the season's first snowflakes tumble from a grey November sky. From that day, as I grew and the years passed, my love for all things beautiful only increased … whether it was found in a rainbow forming after a summer storm, watching a beloved face relax in sleep or hearing George Beverly Shea's voice singing I'd Rather Have Jesus. I also found pleasure in spoons rattling against china teacups, lace curtains billowing on summer days, robins warbling from treetops, Monet's Water Lilies painting, and reading exquisitely written books with well-turned phrases and surprise endings that satisfied every nerve ending in my body.

Then, like Vincent Van Gogh, I began yearning for ways to share the beauty I experienced with those around me, and while the artist took up his brush to express what he saw, I took up my pen. I was happiest when I could write about living a beautiful life, describing the wondrous joys I discovered in God's world around me.

A person doesn't have to live long on this planet to recognize we live in an upside-down world where beauty is often forgotten, hidden behind misery and meanness, tragedy and trauma. Some people say, well that's life, that's the reality. I used to ponder why that should carry more weight in being 'real' than beauty and kindness. Which is probably why I have never forgotten the line I read eons ago in one of the Emily novels by L.M. Montgomery. Mr. Carpenter, Emily's schoolteacher, entreated her not to heed her critics but to press forward and continue to write from that place of beauty she saw in her own mind. He told her, "Don't be led away by those howls of realism. Remember -- pine woods are just as real as pigsties and a darn sight pleasanter to be in."

The essence of these words became a guiding star for my writing. I decided then and there, since pine woods (and roses and kindness) were as real as pigpens, and much nicer, I would not let the ugly, mean stuff have the stronger voice in my own life. When I started writing, I kept Mr. Carpenter's advice in mind as I thought about what would become my themes and possible topics for exploring. I was delighted to learn that his sentiment also fit perfectly with those gracious words in Philippians: whatever is lovely and of good report, think (write) on these things.

After much soul searching, I came to recognize that, as writers, we each must find our own place from which to write. I began to see more and more that my heart pulsed with the desire to write about life's beautiful moments as a way to combat the hard, dark ones. We are told heaven is a beautiful place, and so I aspire to give readers their own glimpses of heaven's hope, joy and beauty for the times when life's issues press in and overwhelm. For goodness and kindness still prevails, and people still take joy in small moments like sharing cups of tea with friends and watching roses bloom and reading moving lines of poetry. It helps balance things.

August marks the eleventh anniversary since I published my first post on It's A Beautiful Life. When I started the blog, I knew its theme and focus would be about encouraging readers to find ways to live life more beautifully, but over the past decade our world has changed a lot. Because of changes in technology, we now have the world's woes at our fingertips. I have asked myself on many occasions, especially recently, do I need to change the way I write? Should my writing reflect more of the societal and cultural concerns many of us share; should I write to address these troubling issues instead?

Recently I received a comment from a quiet reader of my blog posts. She wrote, "Since deleting my own blog last year and trying to spend less time online, I haven't been by as much as I have in the past, but today, I was just longing for a glimpse of a beautiful blog, and yours immediately came to mind. … Truly, your little home on the internet adds beauty and joy to my days."

That, my friends, puts the thumb on the pulse of my reason for writing about beautiful things. Sometimes readers just need a moment of respite, something that feels normal in an abnormal time, something that buoys the spirits and provides a hint of beauty so that, heartened, they can return to the fray and carry on, at least for the moment.

I believe the words John O'Donohue, author of Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, wrote when he said, "To participate in beauty is to come into the presence of the Holy." Every time I search my heart and ask the Lord about it, I get the same settled peace to stay the course and continue writing beautiful life pieces. Because, in terrifying times we need beauty and beautiful words to keep us from giving up in despair. So, I keep watching for glimpses of heaven in unexpected places. I keep delighting in the simple life pleasures God gives every single day. And, I keep writing about them as little gifts for others.

A long-time InScribe member, Brenda Leyland writes from her home in Alberta, Canada. She has been a columnist and contributor in the FellowScript magazine. Inspired by beauty, Brenda takes great joy in blogging at It's A Beautiful Life and posting on Facebook. She also sees herself as a curator of memories and works away at various memoir projects.

Fall Conference OPEN SPACE!

This year's Fall Conference is fast approaching and we are SO excited about the new format that we are trying this year. OPEN SPACE is coming to Fall Conference, and yes, it is a bit scary but very exciting, too!

What is OPEN SPACE?

In this model we do not have any workshops pre-planned, but will be utilizing the ideas of those who come to conference.

It will be structured but in an 'unstructured' kind of way. There will be an initial gathering where the concept will be explained and people will have a chance to share their ideas of what they would like to focus on/learn about. Then we will break into groups based on interest.

Colleen McCubbin has hosted more than one of these events so she will be our 'lead', but based on feedback from her events (not just from her but from other people who've attended them), it actually is a very satisfying experience. People learn what they want to learn - not arbitrary topics that might not really apply to them. Also, because of the interactive nature of the whole event, there are a lot more 'aha' moments. As a teacher, let me give you an analogy from the classroom: think of it as the difference between students listening to a lecture or collaboratively working together on a project. Learning takes place in both cases, and sometimes the second option might appear to be somewhat 'chaotic', but in the end, students tend to remember the second scenario more and feel as if they actually ingested and used the info rather than just 'in one ear and out the other'.

The person responsible for the suggestion during the initial gathering may act as the facilitator, but does not necessarily have to be 'in charge'. This means if you have a topic that you are passionate about you can come prepared to talk about it, (remembering that whether the topic of discussion actual ‘flies’ is totally dependent on attendee interest.) Conversely, if there is something you really want to learn more about but have no clue where to begin, you can suggest that as well and those that are also interested or have some knowledge will gather to share what they know.

Several people, such as exec who are comfortable doing so or others that Colleen may contact, will come prepared as 'back up' facilitators in case attendees are too shy/confused/intimidated to put topics up on the board. (In other words, we may have a few ‘plants’ to make sure it runs smoothly or to make sure one person doesn’t monopolize any particular group or turn it into a lecture.)

The 'laws' of open space will be clearly set out beforehand - example: 'the law of two feet' which means people can get up and leave any session and join another at any time. This means that the previous scenario probably won't happen because only those who want to be there will stay.

It's a lot to take in and will be a huge change, but I am excited about seeing it in action. Colleen did give us some links for more information in her article in FellowScript which may also help to explain it better.

Hope this helps to de-mystify the concept somewhat. I am super stoked about the event and can hardly wait to see how it will all work.

The Words I admire - Bruce Atchison

I know that envy is a sin but there are times when I wish I could write with more exactness. When I read Holy Scripture, I marvel at the turns of phrase which each of its authors use.

The shortest verse in the Bible is, in my view, the most powerful. John 11:35 (KJV) says, "Jesus wept." The power of that statement shows just how our Lord grieved, even though he knew he'd raise Lazarus from the dead  in the next moment.

I notice that answering a question with a question can be more powerful than a straight answer. Paul convicted one congregation with a question in 1 Corinthians 6:15 (BBE). "Do you not see that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? how then may I take what is a part of the body of Christ and make it a part of the body of a loose woman? such a thing may not be."

Nathan, the prophet, sure slammed David's conscience into the dirt with four little words. He didn't dodge and weave but said in 2 Samuel 12:7 (BBE), "And Nathan said to David, 'You are that man. The Lord God of Israel says, "I made you king over Israel, putting holy oil on you, and I kept you safe from the hands of Saul;"'"

The Psalms are filled with beautiful and evocative imagery. As David wrote in Psalms 42:1 (BBE) regarding his devotion to the Lord, " Like the desire of the roe for the water-streams, so is my soul's desire for you, O God."

Jesus' words of commendation for faithful saints are beautiful enough to make us weep for joy. As he said in Matthew 25:21 (BBE),regarding the parable of the returning master whose servants received talents, "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.'"

And we all feel the yearning in the words of the second-last verse of the Bible. Revelation 22:20 (BBE) expresses all of our longings. "He who gives witness to these things says, 'Truly, I come quickly.' Even so come, Lord Jesus."

My hope is that my puny contribution to the work of our glorious Master will be greatly used by him to bring and keep people from error.