“It was when I was happiest that I longed most…The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing…to find the place where all the beauty came from.” ~C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces

There is an obsessive-compulsion within our culture that is anathema to what our creative souls truly need. At times we need to be still, reflective, spiritually quiet, and meditative. For many people, these things are foreign. Busyness can become a convenient excuse for why we aren't further along on our particular journey. ~ Candace Long, Wired for Creativity

It is a gift to ourselves when we say 'no' to those old habits that dissipate our energy, 'no' to what robs us of our inner joy, 'no' to what distracts us from our purpose. ~ John Robbins and Ann Mortifee

I must say no to people concerning the vast majority of good things they invite me to, in order to be available to say yes to God concerning that small number of things He has truly called me to. ~ Randy Alcorn

Work to be done...

"You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream." ~ C. S. Lewis

Believe that your dream is possible. You don't need to know the plan from A to Z. You only need to know that God is with you. God doesn't ask you to figure it all out. He only asks you to BELIEVE.

"To be a creature means we cannot unravel all the mysteries of the universe, but we can live and work and rest in God." ~ Thomas Shreiner

Fall Leaf Coloring Page

I took a break from my big paintings to do some stress relief drawings which I turned into coloring pages. Here is one of them. You may print and color for your own non-profit use as long as it is not publicized or distributed online. If you would like to publicize it, please get my permission first.

People can tell you how they painted 'their' landscape, but they cannot tell you how to paint 'yours.' ~ Georgia O'Keeffe

"Finding satisfaction in your work is a gift from God. Don't let the enemy steal that from you." ~ Mary Lowman

"Look at Rembrandt and van Gogh. They trusted their vocations and did not allow anyone to lead them astray. With true Dutch stubbornness, they followed their vocations from the moment they recognized them. They didn't bend over backward to please their friends or enemies. Both ended their lives in poverty, but both left humanity with gifts that could heal the minds and hearts of many generations of people. Think of these two men and trust that you too have a unique vocation that is worth claiming and living out faithfully." #HenriNouwen THE INNER VOICE OF LOVE www.henrinouwen.org

Why it matters ...