Living in the Present Moment

This piece of artwork was inspired by reading the book, “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle. The text in the artwork (Living in the present moment helps us to be who we are…part of the Body of Christ.) is partly from the book. The first part is put together from the book; the second part is the rest of the truth, which is of course, if you are part of the Body of Christ. And with great joy (Yeah!), I confidently say I belong to Christ; He lives in me, and I in Him.

The book itself, I thought to be quite helpful in seeing when a person holds onto the past, how it can affect how we see ourselves and those around us…keeping us from actually being free to live in the present moment.

The author shares quite deep glimpses of spiritual awareness, of believing in a Higher Power, God’s Presence…but sadly, he didn’t promote the unity of the Body of Christ. Tolle wrote of reincarnation, which contradicts the need of a Savior…of God’s Word.

Even though within the book he spoke of Jesus’ spiritual teachings, he did not write of His crucifixion, or resurrection (although, he did imply that some Christians identify themselves with Christ)…meaning he believes (at least at the time of his writing the book) that there is no need for us to be redeemed, or the process of our sanctification through Christ. For reincarnation is the total opposite of that. Believing in reincarnation is thinking that it is all up to us to get it all right in a lifetime (and by whose standards is that based on anyways?)…and if we don’t (and it’s a given we wouldn’t), well…would one be rejected by the Spiritual Perfection Scanner, and be spat back out into the mainstream of recycled souls just waiting to be “born again”, and again, and again? Really? Didn’t Jesus specifically say: there is only ONE way to the Father, and that was through Him. We are to be born again (of water and in Spirit) in this life; through Him, (accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives) becoming sons and daughters of God. Yes….God is our Heavenly Father! Yeah!…I joyfully accept my purpose in life…as a child of God to glorify Him! His saving grace has made that possible.

Tolle’s message in the book would then be that there would be no need for God’s saving grace through His Son Jesus…subtly implying Jesus’ death was for naught...that Jesus was merely “just a pointer” to God’s presence within us all. I find it so ironic that Tolle couldn’t see the danger of people not having Jesus as their Savior; of letting ourselves become our own gods….or should I say, us remaining as our own gods; no wonder believing in such a way would lead one to believe in the need for reincarnation…thinking that way would make me think I needed  to be born again and again also..because that would be mentally avoiding the truth about Hell...but avoiding the truth doesn't make it not the truth.

Over all though…Tolle’s book did do me some good (God will make all things work together for good to all those who love Him ~ Romans 8:28). It’s just like any other garden in life…you just have to pluck out the weeds.

The book helped inspire in me the need to let go of the past, along with the residual clinging on for life ego left in me….helping me to be able to live more in the present moment in His Spirit, which is my true self…being connected with God through Christ; part of the Body of Christ. Without my ego being the helm of my vessel, but God Himself.

So…back to the artwork…I had gone to pick up my granddog’s at Jack’s place (they were going to come and spend the night with Grandma…Oh how I miss my fenced in back yard), to find they were not home yet, and I had forgotten my key, so I couldn’t just go in and make myself useful. So, while I waited, I thought of the “present moment”….to make something memorable about it, other than just waiting around…so I picked a lily by the house and set it on my steering wheel, and fortunately, I had an acrylic paint set kit, complete with a small canvas and drawing pencils in my car that I just purchased. I took a picture of the flower setting, knowing I wouldn't be able to finish the whole project before the flower or I began to wilt, and started drawing. Before I knew it, my son and granddog’s arrived.

The painting represented “patience” to me. Instead of getting antsy and impatient about waiting, I lived in the present moment, seeing something beautiful, and made something to remember the moment by. I already had a picture I had taken of Jack and his dogs, Hemi (the big puppy), and Thor, so I used that photo for part of the artwork…since they were part of the moment….and adding the text from Tolle’s inspiration. The crate I found to put it all in represents how we at times try to put God in a box…limiting who we are by limiting His character, His Truth…and as you can see…I have a crate now….an open top…slats all around, showing me the need for healthy boundaries….to be careful what I let into my mind, my heart, and my soul….lining it up with the Word of God. God designed us to live in Him and along with others….in a godly way….His way.

Since this project, Hemi has come up missing…it’s been a year now, and he is still sadly missed…he was a great dog and was dearly loved. If he is still alive, I hope who has him is taking good care of him, and if he is no longer alive, I pray he went quickly.

None of us knows how long we will live this life on Earth as it is now…that’s why we should make our purpose count…moment by moment, giving God glory in His strength and grace.

Anger...don't lose it!

Sure wished I would have read this book before I had my son's...could have saved us all from a bit of anguish from time to time. Actually...I just started reading this book, but from what little I've read so far, I'm sure it will help put some perspective on my harboring resentment and self-loathing when my mind ponders all my blunders of motherhood.

Even though my sons are in their mid 20's now, and I'm past the roller coaster years of PMS, and fortunately had an easy transition into menopause (at least emotionally I felt my roller coaster take its last plummet downward towards an even keel ride, resembling more like those peaceful gliding water rides)....I still have struggles dealing with the regrets of how I handled my anger when my sons were younger, yelling and ranting and raving way too much; any was too much for me, not to mention all the other regrets from my past. But then, I didn't handle my anger very well when I was a child myself...didn't understand it all, I guess. My anger seemed to point out an imperfection in me, and that scared me, and made me even angrier with myself, to the point where I would be mad because I was mad.

Learning about God's grace and mercy, His unconditional love for His children, has been the most transforming for me...a lifelong process. Thank you God, Amen!

Fortunately, for all, I went through an early natural, albeit weird, menopause at the age of 41. I would still get angry after that, but I began to choose my battles a bit more wisely, not letting the small stuff get to me as much and being able to recognize the triggers that used to put me in an instant rage...and maybe that is just a normal process of getting older...learning what's really important in life.

And even after all those years of trying to rid myself of anger, I now realize what an important healthy part of our lives anger can be. Anger is a warning sign that something is not right in our lives (I must have read that somewhere, I'm not that profound), and we should take the time to deal with our anger when it arises. It's the ways in which we deal with our anger that may not be so good, for ourselves or others.

Learning to set up healthy boundaries in my life (thank you Joyce Meyer for sharing all of your books; that's probably where that profound thinking was processed from) has also helped with dealing with anger in a healthy way. But to be fair, I didn't discover having healthy boundaries till after menopause, and hopefully, applying the knowledge of healthy boundaries would of helped some in taming the hormonal beast within if that shift in hormones wouldn't have happened sooner in my life.

Another thing that does help, even in my PMS era, is exercise...doing so releases endorphin's, giving one a better sense of well-being...and when Mom's happy...everybody is happy!

Learning to understand my anger, and the anger of being angry, maybe could have saved my marriage from its death. Maybe, maybe not....it does take two to make a good one, well two plus God...not two plus three gods. Even though God will always be God, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow...when we tend to live our lives as if we are our own gods, in our mind's eye God can kind of then become just another god...and that is not good, for anyone.

Concretely Happy

 

Concretely Happy!

 

 

 

"Gosh, it's so GREAT to be clean!"

 

At the end of the day's work, it's so nice to see all the work is appreciated!







Witch Corner?

 

 

Witch Corner?

 

 

 

 

 

 

This street corner always looks ready for Halloween...or...maybe she's always just waiting for YOU!

 

BOO!

 



 



 

 



 

 

 



Golden Pond

Golden Pond

Took in 2008 of the pond in my yard (have moved since then). I edited the photo in Kodak fun effects. I would like to try and paint this someday. I love this pic, makes the pond look glorious...but I also know the work that goes along with maintaining a pond, and I am thankful to just have the memories and pictures of the pond now : )

South Haven Pier

South Haven Pier



Taken in 2007 at Lake Michigan; South Haven.

Duck

Duck Under Glass

 

 

Took at Tyden Park in Hastings, then edited in Kodak.