Sometimes It's the Things You Don't Know

I was struck by the simple truth of a Rainn Wilson (a.k.a. Dwight Shrute from The Office) quote I read recently about faith and not knowing what's going to happen at any given time. I remember as a child thinking "show me the proof" about religion, faith, why things happen the way they do. As an adult, it's taken a while but I enjoy living in the moment and not worrying so much about things I can't "see."

My dear childhood friend, Jennifer, posted to my Facebook page recently and mentioned some of the wild, crazy things we used to get into together. We lived in a very small town and came up with some pretty unusual things to do to stay entertained...one of which included the two of us getting in her Radio Flyer wagon and taking off down a very long, skinny, windy road down a very steep hill.

As a parent, I look back on that now and think "what were we thinkg…were we insane?" It was a really dangerous thing to do since it was the only road in and out of our little town that sat on the side of a mountain - and if we steered the wagon incorrectly, we could easily have flown over the side of the mountain (which almost happened once). I even had the torn up knee to prove it. But, I think it basically comes down to friendship, trusting Jen when she was "driving," and taking a leap of faith every time we got in that wagon. Not such a bad philosophy.

There are lots of leaps of faith during our life journey - and many times it is about what you can't see or what you don't know as cold, hard fact. I think that's probably the underlying, subliminal message in my art which I've been told by many they find nurturing, spiritual, affirmative and, of course, whimsical from time to time...okay, maybe a little more than time to time. So, all that being said, go hop in a Radio Flyer and go for a ride!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67251269/journey-note-cards

Illustration Friday – Seed

I believe that there's always a seed of growth inside of each of us - no matter how bad things get or how lost we feel.

Illustration Friday – Choose

I have a friend who has fought depression of one sort or another all her life. And who basically comes from a family full of mental issues and relationship dysfunction. When I created this piece I created it thinking of her. That the ability to choose our path lies within each of us - that what has happened before doesn't have to dictate who we are or what choices we make today. This is something my friend struggles with each day of her life, and it has not gotten easier for her over the years to be able to make healthy choices for herself. Throughout her life she has had certain "angels" who have tried to surround and protect her, encourage her, and help her see a way out - something she just will not choose, or is not able to choose for herself. So, I say again - the power to change things is still withnin each one of us if we make a choie that lets it blossom.