What are your life questions and symbols?

What are your central life quest-ions? Mine have been about what is authentic spirituality; and how to integrate our creative symbolic dimension into our true identity. Both are solved in Christ. Since I met God first in art dreams and vision as a kid, I’ve wondered about how to bring together creativity and true identity.

I wondered what it meant to lose your life to find your real name. When Jesus told Peter his name, it was after Peter had seen who Jesus was. We find identity, by seeing and entering Jesus’ identity. But there was more to it.
Our new names get conformed by and into His, so that we find ourselves, hidden in Him. But this does more than progressively reveal who we are to ourselves; it also brings together parts of our selves which were before broken apart or dormant.

It engages our creativity and every other aspect of who we are. Since, Jesus is Lord over the whole person, we are free to create, and let that be part of our relationship with Christ.

Identity and integration have been my two major life topics. And I continue both to become more myself in Him, and to express from that deep core relational center with Christ. The two work in tandem and inform one another.
God loves the whole of me; God is One; His Son is Lord over my whole self. There is not a part of me where He is not meant to be Lord, including my creativity. These were lessons I got from my quest.

I often ask people:what are your central recurring life questions? And where are you at on your journey to answer them. This lets me see a bit of their map, and help offer what I might have to help them in this current season.

Knowing your central motivating questions over seasons helps you navigate, and know where you are in your story. So helps you think what you might need next.
For instance, I’m drawn to those who were further along in authentic spirituality, and integration of their creativity. People like Merton, Nouwen and others. Mainly for their example in living, as much as their particular teachings, though in their cases, i like their unique teachings.

They had integrated more than me in Christ by the end of their lives, and both had their creativity intact as well. So I learn from such men and women.
Most of my mentors knew what God was trying to highlight through their own lives as well!

For me identity and authenticity and His creative freedom are spotlighted. For other friends, other aspects of who God is. When i meet people, i try to see what part of God they are meant to highlight, and help that shine.
I’ve always been drawn to very singular or unique people. Like many of my uncles who were very eccentric and one of a kind. That’s partly because of my own identity and calling!

Often artist are used to highlight God’s enjoyment of unique identity!
It’s just one aspect of who God is: identity and creativity; but a very important one to have around to keep things interesting!

Regardless of what you highlight about who God is, it’s important to know your life’s quest-ions! As it is to know your most basic symbols. The most basic symbols of your life. Name, say, your three recurring life symbols. If you were a book, what is the theme? That’s one way into identity! If you can’t say, then ask Jesus to reveal them to you! He will.

And then show you where they are blocked in expression, and what needs to be cleared (usually through forgiveness and grieving and planting new life in that place!)

That’s the healing or being made whole process in the area of personal identity. It’s worth the work to be formed in Him.

My New Year’s meditation this year is around Unity. In such divisive times, real unity becomes our heart’s labor and focus!

Been swimming in I Corinthians and looking at some how to’s in unity, as I think this coming year is one to work towards unity in many areas! Paul suggest two things for more unity: Love and spiritual gifts working in tandem! Love and offering our gifts to one another! Nice advice!

So, in the spirit of unity this year, actively thinking of ways to love you all better, and to share my gifts more actively. With such divisive times, St Paul asked us to Love more, and share our spiritual gifts with one another actively. I think I will this year! Unity is the theme word, i’m working towards in myself and all that is around me.

Paul’s methodology for unity was again: proactive Love, and spiritual gifts working in ordered tandem. Ok. I get that much from Corinthians. Time to Love and share friends. Looking forward to a unification year! Let’s be active reconcilers this year, using whatever gifts we have to bless, and receiving new gifts from others. That was Paul’s method for unity. I think Love still works! Let’s pursue it this year, and pursue one another actively with Love sharing freely what we’ve been given to encourage and edify one another! Let’s help one another shine this year friends! Shine on, and a blessed new year’s to you all!!!

I’m specifically working on unity between generations and cultures this year. But each of us have our fields to tend. Bless the fruitfulness of yours as we labor towards wholeness this new year, and usher in a few new songs of joy as we labor (Psalm 126, which is also about restoration and apropos for this year!)

I like to list thanks at New Years!

Bird Songs in Winter (one of the things I’m thankful for this year!)
Birds always indicate things to me. I’m always listening and watched them to sense the atmosphere. I notice them daily and nightly-always have. As they dwell between sky and earth, hovering on limbs; and each of their longing songs become more apparent in the long context of the Silence of Winter!

Saw two hawks today, and heard our owls-a mother and three- in the backyard talking and practicing, last night. They, in the long rehearsal, as we all are.

I notice creatures even more in Winter, as you can hear, distinguish, and appreciate each singular song in the context of Silence, each thing becomes distinctly its own.

I love that about Winter—it aids listening well. Silence contextualizes everything, even us in still being, in still frames, snap shots of the overall songs we are.

Each Winter and New Year is a collective pause to be, and appreciate each creature and person’s unique song-our I in We.

Thanks Winter, you teach in your cold austere silent way, like an old monk, how to pray, and to love things even more each day, knowing that later, when in full obvious bloom song, among the cacophony of becoming that Spring is, we will more easily share ourselves and fall in love again!

When things are grey, each color becomes more important and specific, and somehow needed!

We can thank things, individually with specific gratitude. That, at least, is, one of the gifts of Winter. Thankful today for that particular Silence which winter reflects and holds for us all.

I like to list thanks at New Years!

Bird Songs in Winter (one of the things I’m thankful for this year!)

Birds always indicate things to me. I’m always listening and watched them to sense the atmosphere. I notice them daily and nightly-always have. As they dwell between sky and earth, hovering on limbs; and each of their longing songs become more apparent in the long context of the Silence of Winter!
Saw two hawks today, and heard our owls-a mother and three- in the backyard talking and practicing, last night. They, in the long rehearsal, as we all are.
I notice creatures even more in Winter, as you can hear, distinguish, and appreciate each singular song in the context of Silence, each thing becomes distinctly its own.
I love that about Winter—it aids listening well. Silence contextualizes everything, even us in still being, in still frames, snap shots of the overall songs we are.
Each Winter and New Year is a collective pause to be, and appreciate each creature and person’s unique song-our I in We.
Thanks Winter, you teach in your cold austere silent way, like an old monk, how to pray, and to love things even more each day, knowing that later, when in full obvious bloom song, among the cacophony of becoming that Spring is, we will more easily share ourselves and fall in love again!
When things are grey, each color becomes more important and specific, and somehow needed!
We can thank things, individually with specific gratitude. That, at least, is, one of the gifts of Winter. Thankful today for that particular Silence which winter reflects and holds for us all.

Tending shoes…

My dad had the same shoes and leather kit (in a cedar wooden box with a shoe horn for polishing!) all my life. Dad knows how to tend things over time!

I’ve tried to keep my grandfather’s pocket knife sharp and useful over the years, as a result! Not to mention his two fedora hats I inherited.

Tending things well is a practice of appreciation and thanks. Seems especially important in a disposable culture, in which we must replace our cars and computers every few years.

If we did that with our relationships, we’d really be in trouble!

A gift which keeps giving in every field for at least three generations—like an apple tree (like my distant cousin Johnny Appleseed tended) or anything else we get to tend across time-has memory and worth. We are temporary caretakers down here.

As they say in Texas, “If a person can tend one pair of boots for a generation or lIfe time, he might be able to manage a ranch, eventually.” Nice local parable. Anyway, enjoying trying to tend a few things well this season.

It’s never about the things, it’s about teaching us to care for what is given to us freely in life, as they say. Tend well, so you have more to give at the end.

Or, as my Cherokee ancestors said: “Tend the fire until it’s about to go out, and then teach carefully the next generation how to keep it burning. So everyone stays warm.”

I learned that much from watching my dad take care of his shoes.

My New Year’s practice:

Studying the crossing of the Jordan part of the big story this week, reminded me to recall our own stories in times of thresholds or crossings in life, as a practice each year.

In this story, the waters roll back to the city of Adam (origin city-great symbol! Look all the way back to your origins when crossing into new chapters! For, He knit you in the womb and knows the whole story–ask Him to reveal your own story to you, especially in threshold moments!), and echo of the other side of the journey at the Red Sea. Made me think how at New Years it’s good to recall the story, looking for these, motifs and central symbols in our lives-the seams of our narratives.

I like to pick three symbols from my past year which felt true and came into better relief; and then consider how I can edit and refine them in collaboration with Him, this coming year! Helps me see the narrative thread in my life, and whom I’m given to love around me.

In this little moment of the Joshua story—love that the priest cross first and that there are symbolic rituals before the general body crosses over. Symbol precedes fuller incarnation. In the book at least, God seems to always symbolize Himself first, before fuller incarnation. What, is He an artist or something!

He saw and sees art in everything, including us! I like working on the symbols of life around New Years.

There is always this pattern of recalling, remembering the long story, before a new chapter is opened. List His wonders, as David is alway telling us. Remember all the grand instances of His faithfulness, and then half the Psalms go on to endlessly list them! Good reminder around New Years, to pause, selah, actively recall the wonders from your past year, and walk into the new in the hope which is stirred from that hindsight-view of faithfulness.

Find the narrative, be thankful for the editing, and see where the story leads next. Love doing that just around New Years each year. Honor the story which is being told through your life! And of course, The Story Teller, who is pronouncing His Poetry through us! Ephesians 2:10—that path prepared beforehand to be our way! We are His master stories! Love that truth. Life is a meaningful creative narrative! Good to recall the story around New Years in thanks!

Looking back isn’t nostalgia for the past, it’s being thankful and assured by the long story, it’s motifs symbols and themes.

This new years, I’m making art about the past two years, especially the parts where Light overtly broke through, and made me and those around me more themselves, better humans, and disco ball reflectors of His Love, in my case. Thankful to see so many glistenings and glimmers, flecks of obvious Presence which I’ve been graced with this past few years. God must like not just love me, the story tells me.

I’ll paint and write them out for my holiday! Bless your musings over your years and stories as well friends! And whatever rituals make you thankful for your life’s stories. Let’s keep being written, and recalling the lines between the lines in the tone of thanks. Joyous reflective New Years to you all friends!

So, here is my short New Year’s blessing on your stories friends–the stories we are, and are becoming! Thankful to be in the grand narrative with you all!

My New Year’s practice:

Studying the crossing of the Jordan part of the big story this week, reminded me to recall our own stories in times of thresholds or crossings in life, as a practice each year. In this story, the waters roll back to the city of Adam (great symbol!), and echo of the other side of the journey at the Red Sea. Made me think how at New Years it’s good to recall the story, looking for these, motifs and central symbols in our lives-the seams of our narratives.

I like to pick three symbols from my past year which felt true and came into better relief; and then consider how I can edit and refine them in collaboration with Him, this coming year! Helps me see the narrative thread in my life, and whom I’m given to love around me.

In this little moment of the Joshua story—love that the priest cross first and that there are symbolic rituals before the general body crosses over. Symbol precedes fuller incarnation. In the book at least, God seems to always symbolize Himself first, before fuller incarnation. What, is He an artist or something! He saw art in everything. I like working on the symbols of life around New Years.

There is always this pattern of recalling, remembering the long story, before a new chapter is opened. List His wonders, as David is alway telling us. Remember all the grand instances of His faithfulness, and then half the Psalms go on to endlessly list them! Good reminder around New Years, to pause, selah, actively recall the wonders from your past year, and walk into the new in the hope which is stirred from that hindsight-view of faithfulness.

Find the narrative, be thankful for the editing, and see where the story leads next. Love doing that just around New Years each year. Honor the story which is being told through your life! And of course, The Story Teller, who is pronouncing His Poetry through us! Ephesians 2:10—that path prepared beforehand to be our way! We are His master stories! Love that truth. Life is a meaningful creative narrative! Good to recall the story around New Years in thanks!

Looking back isn’t nostalgia for the past, it’s being thankful and assured by the long story, it’s motifs symbols and themes.

This new years, I’m making art about the past two years, especially the parts where Light overtly broke through, and made me and those around me more themselves, better humans, and disco ball reflectors of His Love, in my case. Thankful to see so many glistenings and glimmers, flecks of obvious Presence which I’ve been graced with this past few years. God must like not just love me, the story tells me.

I’ll paint and write them out for my holiday! Bless your musings over your years and stories as well friends! And whatever rituals make your thankful for your life’s stories. Let’s keep being written, and recalling the lines between the lines in the tone of thanks. Joyous reflective New Years to you all friends!

In school, we used to have a little workbook called “word-ly wise”. Here’s a little word wisdom, i’ve been considering..

Letting words form first…this, from someone who talks constantly, even in their sleep (ask my wife)…words requires time in the womb of the heart in order to be birthed well-that is from the deeper well. Holding things in our hearts, let’s the birth come at the right time.

Don’t speak, until you have something to say, my mentor used to say. Simple good advice, which I’m still trying to practice.

Let the words form in your heart before they roll out of your mouth, into the world. It’s ok to say, i don’t have that fully formed yet, i’ll get back to you when i do. It will be a bigger blessings then for us both, and more simple and articulate.

Not an easy practice in a very now oriented, and at time, word poor world. The pressure to pronounce things before they are fully formed is dangerous, but also ubiquitous in our days. “Let silence, find her words.” as one monk put it.

The cuff is never a good place to speak from. The heart is better. Get centered in Love and then speak. Be the voice of Love, as Henri Nouwen would put it.

From my musicologist friend tonight: to be a learner over and over again!

“The real masters are humble, not in competition. In any medium. And you can learn rather than be in competition with them.” My older musician friend tonight. “By the time you are a master in your medium, you have nothing to lose, and everything to share. And yet, you are slightly isolated in your mastery.”

Nice thought from my musical genius friend tonight, who taught for many years, and is a master teacher on several instruments, but is still a learner from those who have gone farther and further into what music is.

“Handel couldn’t learn from Beethoven, or Bach, because of his own insecurities. Who knows what would have happen if Handel would have moved from master to student at the end!” Great quote, i will remember.

Can we, regardless of our skill level, in whatever our fields of interest and calling, still find those further out in the Forest of knowing than us! And be children or students again!

Let’s learn from one another’s areas of mastery friends! Let’s be humble enough to come under, and be inspired by those in front of us, in whatever our fields of becoming are ours!

“Pick a few things-people, places or things; creatures, cities, or even, nations- to love well until you know Love for all things-that is until you have embodied, Love’s orientation towards life, including yourself!” Love comes into and engages through particulars.