Freedom

I recently reconnected with an old friend of mine – one who knew me quite well when I was…shall we say, a “wild child.”  We were stationed together in the Army for a period of time, and we did some pretty crazy and stupid things…not to mention some pretty embarrassing and immature ones, as well.  The great thing is we can laugh at them today.  There is a great freedom in not taking oneself too seriously!

While it’s great to be able to laugh at some of life’s foibles, there are times when my selfishness and self-centeredness is hurtful to others.  A couple of other friends I recently reconnected with and I have shared how we feel as though we are coming out from a cave, each of us having seemingly withdrawn from life for a period of time.  (One of my friends is a true spiritual mentor, and I sense his cave was more of the crystal variety, while mine was dark and dreary with a floor covered in bat dung!)  I believe that wallowing in the cave is one of the most selfish things I can do.

Fortunately, there is a way out of the cave and into the light.  When I ask God to “relieve me of the bondage of self” in my morning prayers – and sometimes throughout the day – He does.  To me, there is no greater freedom in the world.  I am, by nature, selfish and self-centered – at times to the extreme.  No matter what problems I perceive in my life, they are usually rooted in selfishness – based on decisions I’ve made when focused on what I want instead of what God wants for me.  When I turn things over to God, I can get out of myself and be available for others.   And, when I am focused on what I can to for others, I am free for that time of some of some of my bad habits, negative thinking, and other such things that stand between me and God.

As this is my pyrography site, I thought I’d share my most recently completed burning – that of an emblem of freedom throughout America.  Enjoy!

America Eagle - pattern by Lora S. Irish

 Have a wonderfully free day!

Colors of the Rainbow

A number of weeks ago, Maya taught me a new song…singing it repeatedly on the hour-long ride to Auntie Val’s.  I frequently find the little ditty running through my head…

“Maya…knows the colors of the…rainbow!

Auntie Val… knows the colors of the…rainbow!

There’s red….orange…yel-low…

Green….blue….and…pooooo-ple!”

When I hear little Maya sing about the colors of the rainbow, and we later see one appear over the house…or when I see the color in nature and the people around me...I know the Master’s hand is involved.

A rainbow Maya and I recently saw together

A few nights ago, I was in the midst of a conversation with a friend about spirituality and building a relationship with God.  She was asking me to explain how I “know” there is a God.  We were driving on a back road in Northern Virginia, and one of the most beautiful harvest moons I have ever seen was above us.   I pointed to it and said, “Look at that!  How can there NOT be a God?!”  

I believe that everyone’s relationship with God is personal.  It’s not something that can necessarily be explained in words, nor can I “prove” the existence of God in my life.  He just is; it is not something I “believe”…it is some I know.  Sometimes I feel that existence more strongly than at other times.  I cannot witness a rainbow…the fall foliage in Vermont…the little red fox who frequently crosses my path on trips to and from the house…the light in the eyes of my little buddies…a smile or kind word from a friend or family member…and not feel the presence of God.

There are some days when I seem to see nothing but gray.  Most days, however, I see the hand of God in the shades of color all around me.  My world is so colorful today!   My prayer is that God may use me as an instrument and allow me to bring some color to those whose paths I cross.  

  

In the meantime, I have added some color to the heretofore monochrome burnings I have been working on over the past couple of weeks.  In each of the plaques below, I used oil pencils, much as I have done in the past.  I recently read about various blending techniques, however, and used a light wash with a turpentine solution to smooth out the pencil marks.

Carousel for Grace - design by Lora S. Irish

Butterfly & Frog for Kaitlyn - design by Cheryl Dow

Thanks for reading!  May your day be as colorful as a rainbow!

Back to School

When the student is ready…the teacher will appear.

Apparently, I am ready. Like, Boy Scout ready. Or maybe even Eagle Scout ready. I must be, because it seems as though life has been sending an abundance of lessons my way lately. I am rarely a willing student while in the midst of a lesson – but, I am always so grateful once some learning has taken place.

I received an interesting lesson from the most unexpected teacher early this past week. I was at the dentist’s office (for the umpteenth time over the past couple of months…but that’s another story!) and sitting patiently in the waiting area with my iPad. There was a toddler who had just turned three (I overheard her mother telling someone) bouncing back and forth between her big brother and her book. The teenage daughter finished her appointment, and the family gathered to leave. As they were heading out the door, the three year old said, “Mommy, I need to get a life!” Her mother stopped and look at her incredulously, not sure she had heard her correctly. “What, sweetie?”

“I need to get a life, Mommy. Toby said I need to get a life. C’mon, let’s go get me one.”

While I sat in my chair, chuckling quietly behind my iPad, I realized that this adorable toddler had just given a name to the life lesson that I seem to be in the midst of. While my big brother hasn’t been telling me I need to get a life, I have been feeling a nudge (okay, maybe the swing of a 2x4!) from God urging me to do just that.

Over the past several years, I have spent an immense amount of time in a life valley, rarely climbing out to enjoy the beautiful view from the peaks. I have been living in isolation, coming out to play only for work, family get-togethers, and to spend time with my little buddies Maya and Nicky. Up until this time, I had always been active on a number of fronts. Somewhere along the way, I became a couch potato instead. And, for me, being a couch potato is not a good thing.  When instead I am actively involved with my fellow travelers on this journey called life, I have some protection against falling into unhealthy, self-centered thoughts and behaviors – which ultimately cut me off from the sunlight of the Spirit. Thus, I believe the "nudge" with the 2x4 is God’s way of saying, “Enough! Get out of yourself already!”

So, how does one go about “getting a life” in such a circumstance? Well, for me, it boils down to a single word: ACTION. Rather than spending the majority of my “free time” sitting in front of the TV and playing mind numbing games on my computer, I can get out to meetings with people in a fellowship I belong to, volunteer to do some service work, reach out to friends I haven’t contacted in eons, and a myriad of other healthier activities. When I do this, I find that I become a more ready student, and teachers frequently appear to help me identify exactly what it is I need to do to be of service to God and my fellow man.

I have been given so many wonderful and life-changing lessons from such an array of amazing (and often unexpected) teachers on my life journey. And, I have found that even when I put the dunce cap on myself and turned my face to stand in the corner for an extended time-out, the teachers wait patiently and greet me back into this school of life with open arms…making me one very grateful student!

Now…back to that topic of action.  Picking up the woodburner is another way for me to get into action. My creative juices have been flowing…and my list of project ideas has been expanding. I haven’t been able to spend quite as much time with the burner as I would like over the past few weeks.  (Getting back into action has led to quite a number of social commitments, and the ongoing dental saga has meant an immense amount distracting pain!)  I have, however, been making some progress. As a result, my not-so-long ago pristine work area is not so pristine!

A clean work area is a sign of an inactive pyrographer!

In addition to life lessons, I’ve been gearing up for a few pyrography lessons. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone locally – or even personally – who are pyrographers. I learn mostly through trial and error. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be experimenting with different ways to apply color to the plaques I have burned. For example, below is an almost-finished turtle and butterfly for one of my nieces. The butterfly wings just beg for some color!

Turtle and Butterfly - almost finished burning

 Have a happy day…and may your life lessons be ones of joy!

Music - So Good for the Soul!

I love music! If I could be anything I wanted to be when I grow up, I would choose to be a performing artist belting out heartfelt songs to the rhythm of the acoustic guitar in my hands. But, alas, I have not one iota of talent in the music arena. None. What. So. Ever. I accept that. But, there is nothing that is going to stop me from singing along with those that do have talent in the privacy of my home or car. It is so good for the soul!

There are three occasions in my life when I have total control over the music I listen to: 1) When I am exercising and have my iPod Shuffle earphones snuggly fitted around my earlobes; 2) when I am driving and am the sole occupant of the car; and 3) when I am down in the basement at my work table. When I am woodburning, I get a double dose of good things for the soul.

I have playlists I frequently update, and I am grateful to Steve Jobs and his team at Apple for making it so easy to access and queue up songs for any mood! While I like many genres of music, there are a number of songs that just seem to resonate within, whether it’s the lyrics, the beat – or a combination of both. Other songs just seem to take me back in time to a specific period or event, or bring to mind a special person.

Sometimes, a song will come along that I just can’t get enough of. Lately, I keep hitting “replay” on Jewel’s “Hands.” I love the lyrics. The song seems to reach inside and draw something out, as do so many songs I listen to that remind me that I am merely an instrument. I believe music can be a conduit for spiritual messages – whether the artist intends it to be or not. “Hands” reminds that we I am one of God’s servants here on earth…his hands, his eyes, his heart.

“My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own…
And I am never broken…
In the end only kindness matters…
…I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
…We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind…
…God's heart
…We are God's eyes
…We are God's hands”

My hands are small…and they are my own. And, while I didn’t receive the gift of music, God did grace me with a talent that allows me to use my little hands to create some beauty in the world. I only pray that I may be a worthy servant!

Carousel for Grace

This week, I finished burning the carousel for one of my nieces and the frog and butterfly another niece requested. (I have A LOT of nieces and nephews, so you will be seeing some of their requests fulfilled over the coming weeks and months…)

Frog & Butterfly for Kaetlyn

I haven’t applied color yet as I haven’t decided what medium I am going to use. I may experiment with oil pencils in a way I haven’t before – putting down the color with the pencils and then blending with turpentine. Then again, I may just use watercolors. I am off to Michael’s and A.C. Moore with some 50%-off coupons. The success of the trip may determine the medium…

I wish you a Happy Labor Day!