Art giving!
   My dear friend sent this sketch of me this week of my lamenting cowboy self, as an art response to my little video.  Nice to have someone observe you in this medium. And to respond by making art, and share it as a gift.
 Something happens when responding to one another through art. Can’t recall having someone sketch me before, other than when I worked at the art school in San  Fran. Thanks friend! That blessed my day. Kindness and art exchanged between friends is like oil on one’s cowboy hat.
 Art given between friends may be my love language. Give da gift of art to one another! Takes it out of da market and into da Love!
  If we all just started making art, or giving our gifts (gifts of beholding and creating in response to one another’s lives), things might get better.
  I have so many artist friends globally. I would love to do a whole show of art gifts others have given me over the years. And art responses from me. I love how art as gift giving, just keeps giving deep to deep, symbol to symbol, heart to heart and helps heal us in unseen ways. Art in dialogue has a unique power.
 That was the essence of my art therapy training at Lesley college years back in Cambridge, Mass. Art–responding to one another’s lives through art, is mutually healing, on a level that sometimes even words can’t touch. The gift of beholding one another through art, and then giving it as a gift of sight, can’t be underestimated in the healing journey.
 Thinking lots recently about ways to bring unity in many types of communities—making art in encounter with one another, would be a simple way.
 Make up a song for someone today (or your city or nation), or whatever way you choose to play, whatever medium catches your fancy today, and giving it to them as a gift. I guarantee it will bless them! This one, did me.
 The other thing it does, if you are an artist, or one who highlights the creative process, is redirect your gift from just self success or expression, and marketing your own gifts (whether in ministry, counseling or art, for that matter) to actually blessing others.
 Something to be said about the humility factor involved—how it turns navel gazing and the pressures of success towards loving one another.
 Just some art thoughts today, having received this little treasure. And how to give from the gifts we are given!
 Anyway, this little sketch made me think of that today. And blessed me. Thanks friend for reminding me of things that matter in this short creative, and still beautiful life!