Showing posts with label Longing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Longing. Show all posts

Monday 29 July 2019

Longing - Creating in Faith

Image of a mic in the distance a woman staring and the words Longing on the front.


Welcome to Creating in Faith.  I am now sharing these posts on my podcast with additional insights and you can listen to the podcast below.  There are also some great comments that were made on the original post which also adds some insight to the topic and may be able to bless you.




There are many things if we think about them carefully that we long for.  Some are to make us feel better within ourselves, some for the benefit of other people.  I have come to know and experienced the longing that stirs deep within and that feels like it cannot be remedied - found hand in hand with loss.
 Image of family man and woman running with man carrying what looks like a lifeless figure - Artist not known.
In my younger days I had many desires, I would have been convinced that some of which I could not live without, and thinking about them now see them as trivial and unimportant. My maturity makes sense of the world and understands how views, and desires change, and in my youth often with the wind.

My thoughts on longing are around the loss of a loved ones - a child, father, best friend and more recently brother.  You wonder how much your heart can take, never for one minute thinking that you will have to bear the callouses of yet another loss.  My longing is wrapped up in wanting to see them again, to say those words that never got said, to feel their presence one more time, to stop for a moment the ache, that dull ache which rests deep within.  There are momentary distractions and life feels like normal, you can breath again and sometimes laugh.  Then you remember, something missing, something you took for granted that it would always be there but you realise a hole remains.  Is it a round peg or a square, whatever shape it is it feels as if there is nothing that can fill it. 

Image of rusty pole in the sand and foot print
Time they say is a healer it gets better.  I can say that I still wonder what my son Cairo who would be turning 24 this year would be accomplishing and what adventures he would have got up to.  My dad would have been in his 80's there was still so much wisdom untapped and how he would have had so much fun with his grandchildren.  Barbara spurred me on in my journey as an artist we shared much laughter and supported each other, and now my Brother Robert.  I think of him constantly wondering how I can use my creativity to take away the ache, knowing that he would expect me to do all the things I shared with him from my hopes and dreams.  

Image of art work by Anthony Gormly of statute on a rooftop

The longing doesn't go away I guess my you find different ways to respond, and my creativity allows me to say those things I still want to say, and when I don't know what or how I should feel I just stay still and listen.

My faith helps me to put one foot in front of the other taking one day, one thought, one step at a time.  My creativity is helping me to say those things that I need to say whether it is a painting, piece of writing, poetry or something that I have created.  They go hand in hand bridging the gap between the words unsaid, mutterings and groans from the heart, laughter and tears on the opposite sides of the same coin and the understanding that has come over time.

Purple Thistle and flower image
There will always be a longing, we can't hide or pretend.  Some days it will be easier, and others not so easy.  We learn to embrace, to share the memories, to talk about our loved ones as if they are in the next room.  We remember them the good and bad times, the tests and the triumphs and we keep taking those steps reminded of the fragility and remembering to laugh....

Do some work in your art journal and see what areas you want to focus on and express either through colour, words, song, photographs and more.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Saturday 31 December 2016

Review of 2016 - It is good to see how far you have come!!

I can't quite believe that we are here already and there has been so much happening that I have hardly had time to keep up.  And now we are here again launching ourselves into the new year, new beginnings, fruit, challenges, changes and more.

This month we were visited by relatives from England and the States, and some are still here as we see the new year in.  I thought I would share some of the moments and highlights that made 2016 for me and I hope to fulfill more dreams and be more of a blessing...

Relatives visiting from abroad, great to see them and spend some time



Say 'flying fish', or Barbados



 Friday night fish fry


You can never get tired of this view!


Chilling and making the most of the time



Birthday outing for Josh in Oistins


Out and about in Bridgetown


Teacher on an online Class


Winning Awards at NIFCA Art Exhibition, Barbados



Meeting up with fellow Artist Ron Cumberbatch .... (Phil you are included!)


Trip to Montserrat - Amazing time will share soon 


Fellow conference speakers in Montserrat


The plane ride to Montserrat in a 7 Seater !


Plane ride over Antigua on the way to Montserrat 


 Barbados 50th Independence Celebrations kicked off in Independence square


 Working on New Art Work and sculptures


Made the decision to get a compost bin to really begin to grow my own


Collecting seeds - got quite a collection now!


Planting some beans - growing quite nicely, will be harvesting soon


Did a talk with Kiala Givehand


Open house - Alzheimer's Association - Arts Exhibition


Barbados Alzheimer's Association - 'Remember Me' Conference


National Union of Public Workers, Barbados talk


Spending time with my mum


Picturesque Hideaway in Norbury


There are so many more moments that were special that I haven't yet written about, but I will be sharing during the New Year.

What ever you do to see the old year out and the new year in, stay safe and remember that within you have a multitude of gifts waiting to be birthed, go be a blessing, use your gifts and see what amazing opportunities come back when you take that step!



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