Fall, Poetry, and the Horizon
It's finally starting to feel a bit more like fall around here. Pumpkin spice is in the air, the weather is (mostly) cooperating, and apparently I've been feeling a bit more artsy.
First, a painting, featured alongside these in an art show at Lakeland Community Church (which will be hosting its first ever United Adoration retreat November 20-21! Register here). Here's what I wrote about it:
I didn’t set out to paint a city.
Without any image in mind, I pulled out a 3ft square canvas, loads of acrylic, and a palette knife.
Eventually, I noticed some sailboats emerging. That is, until my son, from the other side of the kitchen table, asked, “Is that a city on the water?” Only then did I realize I'd painted the entire piece upside down!
To me, the sailboats represent setting out toward an unknown horizon; the city represents putting down roots and creating the structures necessary to build something that lasts.
“Reflected Realities” is about those seemingly opposing forces:
adventure and establishment,
restless and rooted,
belonging and becoming.
3ft x 3ft, acrylic on canvas, for anyone interested ;)
Next, a brief poem:
Sling
Am I so busy
wearing Saul's armor
I've forgotten
God
placed a sling
in my hand?
This poem was borne out of a sermon I had the honor of delivering at Heart of Life a couple weeks back, standing in for my friend Jeff Funderburk (be praying for him as he continues recovering from his heart attack, and join me in praising God for sparing his life)! You can watch it below, or stream the audio here.
Along with the Lakeland multi-arts retreat and another songwriting one, I've got a few trips on the horizon, including Chicago (coaching artists, seeing family, and eating pizzaaaa!), Tucson (where I'll be connecting with the folks at City Psalms!), and there's a possibility that's been particularly exciting to dream about: a joint trip between the UK and Lebanon.
Though it's still in the dreaming-and-planning stage, the thought of connecting with artists overseas, building relationships, and exploring what all God might be doing through creativity and the Church there?! Well, how can you expect me NOT to be excited?! More on this as it develops.
A Quick Thank You (And an Invitation)
As I look at everything happening right now, I'm reminded how this work only happens because many like you have chosen to come alongside me in it. Some of you pray for us regularly. Some of you have been following this journey for years. Others have supported this work financially, making it possible for me to say yes to opportunities like the UK+Lebanon that would otherwise be impossible to pursue.
Thank you. Truly.
If you've been following along and you've wondered about how to get more involved, I'd love to invite you to consider becoming a financial supporter. Monthly giving is helpful because it provides a more stable foundation for planning retreats, investing in artists, and saying yes to opportunities as they arise. One-time giving is helpful because it can be directly applied to $1k-2k plane tickets overseas and other big expenses that come up. Every bit helps, so thank you for joining the work!
Here's to a season of poetry, songs, new connections, and whatever God has around the corner. Whether you're able to give financially, pray regularly, share a post, or simply keep following along, I'm grateful you're here. Drop a comment or send a message letting me know what's happening in your world.
Grace and peace!
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