St. Andrews By the Sea Episcopal Church - DONATED

20" x 20" on gallery wrapped canvas

Every morning Max and I head out for our walk on the road by the ocean.  Even though it has been very cold, I bundle up in my heavy coat and he seems completely fine with his long, curly hair blowing in the wind.  I listen to a lot of podcasts and today I listened to a interview of Jack Canfield, the author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.  He stated that he believes that what makes us come alive is the fulfillment of our soul's purpose.  He said, "We all have an inborn purpose we were born to fulfill and when we fulfill that, we achieve happiness and we serve the world."  When asked how he thought we could do that he stated, "Your passions are your purpose."  He quoted Howard Thurman, "Don't look to do what the world needs but see what makes you come alive because what the world needs is more people who have come alive."  I like that.  For me personally, when I paint I find happiness and when someone tells me a particular painting means something to them or if I paint a painting and just "feel" that is for someone in particular, then I am happy.  I am very thankful that my art sells but I think I am at the point where I really just paint for the pleasure of painting but it is nice to be able to buy more paint :).

The second podcast I listened to (it is a long walk) was the pastor Keon Henderson.  This guy is good!  He said that God introduces you to people who look like you will eventually look. The premise is that God can use people to shape our lives and he believes that every time you are in the presence of a great person that you look up to, God is giving you a snapshot of what your are going to look like.  He said if you have a dream that is nothing more than a thought asking for permission to live.  A dream is something God put into your head asking to live.  

So I guess I took away an idea from both of these podcasts....our passions are our purpose and we can make our dreams come alive.  That is what I am going to focus on in 2018.

Each one of us is given his own gift I believe that and I like the way it is described in 
Ephesians 4 in the Message:

"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.  You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who rules over all works through all, and is present in all.  Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.  But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same.  Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift....."