Teacher at heart

In looking back at past posts, I realized that I have been remiss in telling God's plan for my teaching. It's always HIS plan and HIS timing.

Until last summer I was content to substitute now and then and have time for art and other pursuits. Knowing that Carrie was a senior in high school prompted me to look again into teaching, but not full time. I applied for a job as a tutor at a local business, and in spite of a good interview, was not hired. I didn't stress about it, knowing from experience that God was in control of our finances, my employment, and our children's education.

I took a job at a scrapbook store in Atlanta (and enjoy it--especially when I get to teach classes there.) I have also cared for a darling little girl since she was three months old (January 2007) once a week. So, I settled in to budget more and wait.

In December I received an unanticipated call from the Independent Studies "co-op" at JFBC. Their 10th and 12th grade Literature teacher would be leaving mid-year and would I be interested in interviewing? The administrator who made the call had no idea who I was or that I attended JFBC. She got my number from the tutoring service where I had interviewed months before. (Apparently they liked me, but had no place for my unique collection of skills.) The IS program meets in classes on Tuesdays and Fridays, with periodic workshops on Wednesdays. The students are home-schooled the other days of the week.

To make a longish story shorter, I took the position and LOVE it. The times are ideal and the students are a ton of fun. I've been offered a contract for four classes next year---and the amount is about what we'll need to cover Carrie's college costs after the Hope scholarship. God is good---all the time.

Always trusting---because HE is trustworthy!

Peace

Easter comes early this year (earlier than this generation has seen or will ever see). So, even though March has barely begun, it is already time to begin to ponder and meditate on what the Passover/ Easter season really means.

Separation from God is a fearful thing indeed. Yet, without some atoning work, man will always fruitlessly chase after that which is Holy. How arrogant man is to think he can find fulfillment and happiness in himself! Man was created for relationship with God. Anything less is, as Solomon wrote, "chasing after wind." (Ecclesiates 2:17) Solomon knew better than anyone that no action of man can bring fulfillment; he tried it all. He began with hard work and then acquiring knowledge and then all the pleasures of the physical world. As far as the human eye could see, Solomon had it all: wealth, wisdom, and power. But Solomon looked at everything he had and summariezed his life: "To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Eccl 2:26)

God spoke through the ancient prophets and sent signs and wonders--including the Passover lamb, but the heart of man is naturally unwilling to let go of the idea that SELF is enough for very long. Pride always has been the downfall of man. So, there is a quandry--continue to chase after the wind of self-actualization or accept the futility of continuing unhappiness. In either case, there is no peace and no fulfillment.

Still, the love of God reached out one final time. Knowing that the vast chasm between seeking man and Holy God is cannot be bridged by sinful and prideful man, He sent the final Passover Lamb: Himself in the form of His Son, Jesus. There is no fulfillment or peace without relationship with God. There is no relationship with God without sacrifice. There is no sacrifice made by man sufficient to restore that broken relationship. But Jesus, God Incarnate, could--and DID--become the final atoning sacrifice for sin, allowing those who seek after God with a broken and contrite heart to come back into relationship with Him. (1 John 2:2, Psalm 51:16-17)

The hardest part about entering fellowship with God is relinquishing self-pride. The reward is so much greater than any human accomplishment, but it can be frightening to give up control of the natural inclinations to self-actualization and self-fulfillment. Even Solomon had difficulty allowing God to direct his steps. He replaced God with women and conquest and political stategy. As a result, his children rebelled and Solomon died with his kingdom on the verge of war, his family divided, and his relationship with God broken. (recorded in both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles)

In all things, God gives peace to those who rely on Him. To those who recognize Jesus as promised Messiah and atoning sacrifice for sin, joy is complete. Life on this earth is still difficult. There are always tragedies and trials. But to rest in the everlasting arms of Jesus brings peace. It sounds trite and cliche, but it is true. Jesus keeps His promises, and He promised that no matter what the world brings, He gives peace. (John 14: 27, John 16:33)

Peace---that elusive thing all men chase after---is possible, but only in Jesus, the Christ.

In God's Hands

I learned a lot about the Romani people while working on this project. The images are pictures I took in Romania last June. I knew that gypsies were really discriminated against in Europe and had been for centuries. I didn't know the history but, I saw first hand how even Christians looked suspiciously at anyone who bore the mark of the Romani.

The discrimination goes back well over a thousand years ago when a Persian Shah imported 10,000 Indian musicians, beginning a half century of enslavement and conquest of this ethnic group. Romani people spread throughout Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. They were a nomadic people whose culture included many customs from their Hindu pasts and their mobile economy. In the 16th century state approved discrimination took over much of "Christian" Europe. The Romani people were branded as thieves, witches, kidnappers, and worse. Anti-gypsy laws allowed states to brand, enslave, and excute any gypsy--man, woman, or child. Interestingly, while most Roma were banished, enslaved, or murdered by the state, musicians often escaped by providing entertainment to royalty, thereby perserving the Romani culture and language. It wasn't until the 19th century that Romani emancipation began in Europe.

While the Roma were finally recognized as an ethnic group rather than a criminal element, persecution continued well into the 20th century. Gyspies were among those murdered by Hitler, along with Jews and Blacks because they were considered to have "alien blood". In Sweden, the Romani were subject to forced sterilization. Education was denied until the late 1960s to any Roma unless the family settled into one location and worked a conventional (and socially acceptable) job. It wasn't until 1981 that the Romani were given equal status as all other minorities in Europe.

Even today the Roma are despised by many Europeans. Although many laws now grant equality, society often does not.

This repression and persecution is evident in the Romani proverbs, which is where this journey began for me. I thought it would be a nice addition to the digital art to include a traditional gyspy proverb, so I began an on-line search for something about divine protections or something to that effect. What I found instead were proverbs like, "He who wants to enslave you will never tell you the truth about your forefathers" and "Bury me standing, I've been on my knees my whole life." "One mad man makes many madmen: many madmen make madness" is a proverb that came up time after time in on-line searches.

I finally chose to use a Romanian proverb: "I am in God's hands" as my text in this particular piece of artwork.

The Romani are a romantic people whose love of music is evident in the proverb: "Stay where there are songs." The best summary of this ethnic and cultural people, however, is simply this: "We are all wanderers on this earth. Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams."

Works referenced:

http://www.geocities.com/~Patrin/timeline.htm

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gypsy_%28Romani%29_proverbs

http://romove.radio.cz/en/article/18283

http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Norway-to-Russia/Roma.html

http://www.proverbatim.com/gypsy/gypsy-stay-where-there-are-songs.html

http://www.larsonsworld.com/quotes/quote_proverbs.htm

Day of wine and rose....

Need I say more?

Lori Roberts made me do it--with help from Suze

I have a love/hate relationship with my melting pot.
I try things with it periodically with usually mediocre results. However, I have two of them and I refuse to give up. So, this week when Lori Roberts talked about SuzeWeinberg's new photo show (http://www.photoshow.com/watch/hu7EP7rc) I decided to give faux dichroic a try.

While my results aren't nearly as lovely as either Suze's or Lori's, I have to say, I am fairly happy with my own results.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

Aloha!

On a dreary February day, I think it's time for some sunshine!

Stamps by The Stamping Studio, text cut with my Quickutz Silhouette, flowers from Target

Twenty One Years

Twenty one years married today. Three times the national average. I have been married half my life. WOW. How blessed am I???

SNOW!!!

It is surreal to hear the local weather (in Atlanta) report "32 degrees and snowing." But there it is outside the door. I love to watch it fall---so peacefully. I am grateful I don't have to drive in it or shovel it...just enjoy to special moments when it happens.

A little playtime....

I love IKEA for alterables...and this mousepad turned out to be so much fun I want to get more!

Learning by doing

In my quest to refine myself as an artist, I decided to take some on-line courses. Not official, accredited courses, mind you, but challenges and instruction from successful mixed media artists armed with books by some of the best. One course actually began in late fall, while two officially began January 1.

The first project included a variety of distressing techniques applied to shipping tags. The twelve tags recieved a variety of treatments: coffee staining, marbling, watercolor...

...and then embellishments. My little tag book took on a music and art theme.

I was able to include stamping, embossing, packing tape transfers, brads, miniature game pieces, sewing, fibers, handmade paper, silk flowers, and a dozen other things. It was tremendous fun and I learned the art of dry brushing, new ways to watercolor, and fearless experimentation.

It was a good way to transition from 2007 to 2008. There are so many things to learn about art--and in the process I suspect I will learn a great deal about myself as well.