Free faling

I'm finding out that it's not a huge step from 'favored' to 'forgotten';

it's one tiny misstep,
a stumble, really;
and it's left me free falling
in the abyss in between.

And, yes,
I know exactly how much ego sounds tied up 

in thinking of yourself as 'favored'.

But, to be honest, it felt like I was;

in the sense that I felt connected 

to the positive realms of the universe,

the healthiest part of myself 

and, dare I say it,

the will of God
for me.

Until I decided to step out in faith -

and I've been in the abyss ever since!

Even the temptation offer of going back to work in the hospital
seems to have evaporated.

And I honestly don't know if that's the good news
or the bad news!

Within the same hour,
I saw both this reminder

and read a message about 'post holiday' blues
and a 'return to normal'.

The message reminded us that Joseph and Mary didn't stay in the glow
of an angel encrusted stable,
the interior lit
by the glowing star outside
and inside
the halos pulsating round their heads;
they returned home...
after being fawned over and lauded,
they went back to 'the ordinary'

Lest we think a divine calling means venturing 
to faraway, exotic lands 

and living among far more interesting people, 

or at least finding better jobs with loftier titles,

the story says it might mean simply going home. 

Go back to where you started, 

back to the old stories and whispers, 

back to your mundane and sometimes even boring life. 

Change might never show up in a particular place or position; 

change might only show up 
in you.  

See how the holy already threads through our mundane? 

The “same old, same old” is ever new, 
ever becoming, 

because we are. 

Everything that really matters is coming to an end. 

Everything that really matters is now beginning. 

Where will we see it? 

In us.

Come to think of it,

free falling would be better 

than being battered between these two viewpoints.

A year that seemed to start out with such focus

feels destined to end in a state of confusion -
one of my least favorite states -

and you know how much I usually love road trips!!

Q: What's better than a trip to the Art Museum?

A: A trip to the Art Museum with my favorite artist!

I always seem to see things in a new way

when I'm with him;

to notice details or themes that have eluded me before;

character studies like this one 

in which you can clearly see the depression of the artists sister (on left) 

that would lead to her hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital 

shortly after this was painted,

as well as paintings so finely detailed 

they seem to be a photograph.

Large modern works 

as well as 'Soundsuits'

by the fabulous, Nicholas Cave

also a graduate of KCAI,
like Art Boy!

What a great day to be in Forest Park!

Happy BIrthday, Tomas

once love is made 

it exists.

even without the lovers.

Other images from the weekend ...

because I just can't get enough of this face!

Her folks might climb aboard the crazy train
from time to time
but their genes look great together!

Pre Christmas retreat

I'm sure there were 

bustling malls filled with last minute shoppers,

crying children,

stressed out adults,

loud noise,

and 

traffic congestion

 somewhere in Iowa...

but, blessedly,

not where I was!

Just 5 twigs from different branches 

of the family tree

getting together,

without distractions,

to celebrate being a family.

It was a wonderful reminder

that

glimpses of the divine come to us 

in smallness,

the best gifts don't cost anything

and the coming of love into our lives 

is what we celebrate this holiday season.

NOW I'm ready for Christmas!

My favorite museum

I realized as I was going through images the other day 

that I had never posted any from my recent visit to Sheboygan, WI - 

and my favorite museum of all time, 

the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

I'm serious - 

if you've never been before, 

what are you waiting for?

It's truly worth a visit all on its own - 

although some of us are lucky enough 

to get to visit it on the way to see family!

Don't expect the usual stuffy, medievally museum portraits though...

they specialize in folk art and total art environs;

helping to preserve whole buildings that 'regular' and irregularly creative folks have created.

There's nothing about it that I don't love -

even their bathrooms!

Here are some of my favorites from this visit...

There were several pieces from a house built by a man for his dying wife -

 his version of a 'healing machine' 

which played the most oddly melodic music

the inscription reads - 

"Any kind of temporal cure for this wholly temporary world".

She died - 

but not without knowing how dearly she was loved.

Such a lovely gift 

in and of itself!

There was a terrific 'art altar'

and an installation for skateboarders!

Like I said - 

never stuffy or even expected.

Find the road that takes you there - 

and GO!