A Dream Come True

Today I had the great fortune of visiting with one of the most beautiful women I know, Mattie Seale.

Mattie is the mother-in-law of one of my dearest friends, Susan. (Mattie is quick to point out that Susan is not "just" a daughter-in-law, but that she has become a true daughter over the years.)  To many of us Mattie is "Mama Seale" and just a few moments in her presence today left me with a feeling of peace and contentment.

Mama Seale has a heart of gratitude.  She is well-loved and she loves well.  She has lived a big life filled with the usual ups and downs but when she looks back on it all, she says life has been good "without interruption".  She told me that her faith is the foundation that allows her to enjoy life to the fullest and that her life today is like a "dream come true".  I felt peace and hope settle over me as I listened to what she had to share. 

It seems that every day I am bombarded with information about how to make my life "better".  I am encouraged to do more and be more.  Teachings abound on how to "create the life I want" and "live my best life now".  I believe, though, that great lives are not orchestrated or acheived.  Great lives are simply lived, facing whatever comes with courage and grace.  Mama Seale knows this and her words of experience and wisdom resonate with something deep inside of me.  They call forth a desire to simply let go and be content with what I have and what I am this very day...to realize that my life, with all its challenges and triumphs, disappointments and victories, really is a dream come true because I am loved and I love and in the end that's all that really matters.

A Story of Grace

My guess is that not a lot of people would be excited if someone dropped this off at their front door.

I actually was thrilled when a recent acquaintance asked me to see what I could do with the vintage cigar boxes she found among her father's things.  As many of us are at the beginning of a new year, she was ready to let some things go and thought these could be cleaned up and used for collage.  Visually they are so very interesting.  Beautiful, mellowed colors and bold and varied typefaces lend plenty of character and texture...a great jumping off point for a mixed media piece.

I got to know the owner of these boxes a bit the day she dropped them off and a story she told me inspired the theme of my first design.  She spoke of her mother, who relocated to a new living situation after a fall and an injury.  During the transition her mother asked to visit her former home just one more time before everything was moved out.  On the day of her visit, she walked through the space, touching a few items, remembering and honoring the time spent there, probably reliving her most precious memories.  After a short time she turned to one of her daughters and said, "I'm ready to go."  She then stepped into her new life and now thrives in her new environment, making new friends, finding joy in her new situation.  What an amazing story of grace this is.

Letting go and moving forward is such a challenge when what we had before was wonderful or, at the very least, familiar and comfortable.  So often, though, we do not have a choice.  We don't always get to choose when or how our circumstances change.  Sometimes change chooses us.

This is one of the hardest things I've had to come to terms with in my walk of faith.  It took a major health crisis in the life of a close family member to teach me that I am not in control.  Somehow before my baby sister's lengthy hospital stay years ago I believed I could make anything happen if I worked hard enough or prayed hard enough.  I learned at her bedside that this is not true.  Her life (indeed all of our lives) were changed forever and only by grace have we released the old and found joy amidst the challenges of the new.

Again and again I have learned that faith doesn't give us the ablilty to control the world.  It gives us the ability thrive when our world is out of control.

Transformations

A few weeks ago I developed a new semi-obsessive interest in silver plated spoons.  (Did you see my last post?)  Since then I've scoured second-hand shops and rummage sales for vintage utensils, the older the better.  I've got some ideas for Christmas ornaments and jewelry, but for now I am having a lot of fun hammering the spoons flat and embellishing them with stamped words and phrases.

Each piece is absolutely unique and full of character, bearing many marks and imperfections. 

I think a lot about spiritual parallels when I work in my studio.  When altering these spoons I remember that they were uncared for and discarded until I purchased them, seeing the potential each one held.  Despite their layers of tarnish and grime, I believed that each one could be transformed into something new and beautiful in its own right.  Do you see where I'm going with this?

I can't think of a better illustration of the transforming love of Christ.  Even in our lowest moments He sees our potential.  He looks far beyond our imperfections and sees something beautiful.  He values us so greatly that He gave His life as the purchase price. 

That's a big message for a little spoon to carry and it was a huge cross for one man to bear.  I hope today you know how valuable and full of potential you are.  In the capable hands of our Creator, marks left by hurt, shame and regret are not only redeemed, but transformed.  Our scars become an essential part of our character and beauty.

Anticipation

Sometimes I think I should just write my entire blog about the MT SYLVAN COFFEE HOUSE & MERCANTILE.  I spend enough time there and I love the people that frequent the place so much.  Sometimes when I walk in I hear can almost hear the theme song to the television show, Cheers,... "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came..."

I walked into such a sweet atmosphere this morning, as Denise Warren was readying the tables for a bridal luncheon.  As proprietor, Denise always takes great care in preparing a fresh and peaceful environment for her guests and today was no exception. 

There is something delicious in the anticipation of a celebration.  There is nothing more joyful than friends coming together to share a bit of life, and being asked to facilitate that is really quite an honor.  I was blessed to be able to help out today by furnishing centerpieces for the tables.  They featured some of the vintage spoons I've been altering and stamping lately.  (I'll have to post some more pictures of those later.)



So I've been thinking a lot today about that atmosphere...where preparations are made for a great celebration.  What if we lived each day with that kind of anticipation?  What if we walked around believing something joyful and wonderful was about to occur?  Would we see and interpret things differently?  Would set-backs and dissapointments become opportunities...just bumps on the road to something better?

A Tribute to the Human Spirit

There are incalculable resources in the human spirit, once it has been set free.

Hubert H. Humphrey

I think my mother can do anything when she sets her mind to it. Staying mobile is an increasing challenge for her these days, but she didn't let that stop her when we got the chance to run down to the beach yesterday. In case you ever wondered, walkers work really well on wet sand. I had a hard time keeping up with her!

I think the best part of our pretty much all-round great day was the moment when the first wave hit our feet.  It was sheer joy to hear my mom giggle with excitement.  We watched my son splash in the water and the birds fly overhead.  We soaked in the sunshine and talked about how beautiful this world is.  It was very good.
 

A View from Above

I ran across this photo of our front yard as I was organizing my photos today. 

It was taken early one morning last summer, when the day was fresh and full of possibilities.  This is the view from the desk in my studio.
Sometimes I look out and see my son chasing (or being chased) by our dog or my daughter sitting on the swing with a friend.  I can see the driveway as people come and go and I always seem to look up just when our sweet mail lady leaves something in the box by the road.
From this vantage point, I see a bigger picture than I would see on the ground.  I see things "in context", if that makes sense at all.
It reminds me how grateful I am that there is One higher than I Who watches over me.  When I can't see past my immediate situation, my Father in heaven is there, knowing all that has been and all that will be in my life and in the lives of my loved ones.  From God's perspective, every moment is fresh and full of possibilities and nothing is random or out of control.  Most importantly, just as I look on my children with such overwhelming love as they laugh and play and trust, my Heavenly Dad delights in me simply because I am His.
There's a little verse trying to make it's way out of my head today.  It's nothing fancy, but it expresses a bit of what's on my heart:

On days when I don't understand
I place my life in your strong hands
And trust that from your throne on high
You see and know the reason why
Then, safely resting in Your grace,
I sense a smile upon Your face