Passion.

For much of my life I have had a countless number of people confirm my dream of being an artist to be a "financially insecure" one.  "Yes..you can do it, but you need another job on the side because you won't make any money."  

Cool.  So I need to do something I hate to pay the bills and do something I love on the side.  That is, hate your life 60% of the time and love your life 40% of the time, at best.  I wrote a blog about this in December and referenced Alan Watts, a British philosopher.  I just agree with him so much.  Why not do what you love now, and trust that the money will follow out of your passionate drive.

For me, it's painting.  When I paint, I feel alive.  I feel peaceful, exciting, zoned-in, focused, artistic, creative, masterful, amazed!  It's what I live for in my free time.  I've always done it off and on since I was little.

I get a little encouragement here and there, but mostly people brush off my passion as a hobby, a silly waste of time and money that has no future.  Although it is important to me, most people don't see it.

I took a couple painting classes  at my community college a few years ago and at the University I would schedule one day a month where all I did was paint.

Now that I am on my own and working and living through my heartbeat, I paint quite often and the more I paint the more I want to paint.  In fact, as of January I designated an entire room of my apartment into "Arts and Crafts City."

Over the last month or so I have slowly had more and more people offer to pay me for my paintings.  According to a 5th grade teacher I once had, that means you are a professional.  Family, friends and customers at my first job are coming out of the woodworks to compliment me on my artistic abilities and ask me to custom make a design for them!

One guy in particular blesses me more than he knows.  Every time he walks in my bar he brings up my artwork and how amazed he is.  He has ordered one painting for me and is ready to hit me with another challenge as soon as I get the time.  I know he doesn't realize he's doing it, but every praise and compliment he directs towards my art is like a boost to my soul.  Why? Because art is something rooted deep in my bones.  It's something I have always wanted to do and have always seen myself doing, but never pictured it being serious.  His encouragement to my artwork is like a cool ocean mist, refreshing my spirit.  I need this.

I want you to read this because I want you to think about what makes you feel that way.  What's your passion?

One of my best friends rides motorcycles with her husband every Sunday.  I've only been on a motorcycle once so I really don't know what it's all about, but this amazing woman sure does.  She absolutely refuses to work on Sundays because those motorcycle rides are her way of church.  It's how she feel close to God.  I asked her to explain further and she said she can't.  "It's the warmth of the sun shining on your back, the presence of the Holy Spirit riding with you, and the clarity of being outside.  I don't find that kind of worship inside a church building or at a department store.  It's on the back of that bike where I feel my soul come alive."

Another dear friend of my is extremely gifted in "framing."  What started as a small interest in her retirement years has turned into a full-blown business in her backyard.  Her husband at first was reluctant, but eventually gave in and bought her a warehouse full of framing supplies, which then lead to him building her an entire play-space of framing, cutting, matting, and whatever else she finds to do!  You know it's her passion when she can make it fun.

I went to go see her about framing a picture of mine.  It was a 12x12 print I had been given for Christmas.  I loved the print but I couldn't find a frame to fit it anywhere.  Knowing nothing and caring less about framing, i assumed I would pick between black, brown, and beige wood and she would frame it and I would give her $60.

How wrong I was.  I walked in and she was more alive than I had EVER seen her.  I show her my print and she immediately pulls cyan blue, velvet fuschia, and royal blue from her storage cabinets.  "Wow, I love the fuschia but I think it could be better!  What if we added an orange and burgundy backdrop with a gold inlet frame and crown molding on the edges?  Perhaps a violet or lavender would soften the print, or maybe..."  Wow, I was sucked in.  It was so much fun!  She taught me all about the framing lingo and initially refused my financial offering.  THAT is how I knew she was in it for the fun, not as much for the slavery of it.  She made my print twice as beautiful as I thought it already was originally and I go back to visit her every week with new paintings and prints to frame.  She makes me want to be more passionate about my own thing!

What an inspiring and creative way to worship!  Motorcycles may not be for me and painting may not be for you, but what is your thing?  Whatever it is, do it.

Live.

As I write to you today I am sitting in a condo staring at the humongous waves wash up on a Florida beach.  My mother is passionately snapping pictures while my brother and his friend run, jump and smash their bellies against the bellowing waves.  I sit here and I think.  I think a lot about life and how mine has changed over the past year.  I think of how people's perspectives of you change when your life changes.  How can that be?  If the person doesn't change then how can your perspective of them change?  I guess that is just one of our plentiful falls as worldly beings.  We all judge and fall short.

I feel that it is very important for me to say this as a leader:

Never do something because I do it.  Never do something because your sister, your mother, your brother, your friends, or your family did it.

But ALWAYS find out for yourself what your opinion is.  Seek God's opinion for this action on your life and then and only then do you do it.

Do something because you, personally, feel that it is the right choice for you.

What is it that gives you breath?  What makes your heartbeat quicken.  Where do you want to be?  What do you want to be doing?

I'm not asking you to give the "Sunday school answer", nor the "parental" or friend-amental" answer. I'm asking YOU.  From the depths of your heart, deep, deep down in your God-made soul.  What is that desire that he planted in you to increase his holiness and your well-being as a full creature?

You know, the Lord wants us to live an abundant and full life.  (John 10:10)  If we are living for other people, we are not letting him fulfill his promise for us.  If we are living too safely, constantly clenching to our security blankets instead of taking the risks set in our hearts, then again, we are not letting God fulfill his purpose for our lives.  Ephesians 2:10 explains that the Lord has big, bold and beautiful plans for us.  Plans of us soaring across the sky and sailing into an ocean of unknown wonderland.  How will we reach our destiny if we never give ourselves a chance too?

Believing in God and believing in ourselves go hand in hand.  If God believed in you enough to make the plans, then you owe it to him to believe in yourself enough to jump into those plans.

We all have passions, desires, heart-yearnings.  Mine is painting, speaking, and writing. (mostly...I tend to have more than most people.)  But  whatever your SOMETHING is...DO IT!!  

Chances are, if you're passionate about it, you were born to do it.

Stop thinking about what the world wants, what your parents want, and what your friends are doing.  Then breathe, pray and find God's design.

I have faith in you.  Go after your dreams. :)

Do what you would do if no one was watching.

Inspiration from "The Hobbit"

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."
~Helen Keller

I watched "The Hobbit" last night with two of my good friends.  While the film was amazing, especially in 3D, I left with much more than a smile.  I found myself to be inspired.

The movie begins with a view of the everyday life of "Mr. Baggins," a hobbit.  Right off the bat he has an unexpected visitor come an offer him the adventure of a lifetime.  Scared and confused, Mr. Baggins immediately declines the offer and runs inside his house to where he thought he would be safe.  However, later that night he finds the foreshadow of an adventure on his doorstep and inside his house before he can say no.  

Thirteen (maybe twelve, I don't remember exactly) dwarves rummage through Baggin's pantry, dishes and cabinets while tracking mud on the floor and having burping contests.  Baggins naturally freaks out because he is not in control and feels threatened by this unexpected company.  Next Gandoff (the leader of the pack) offers Baggins a great adventure and a seemingly unbelievable role to play in the journey.  Baggins refuses, thinks about it, and refuses again.  He says he does not want to leave "home", the comfort of his books, his maps, and his fireplace is where he belongs, and he would rather play it safe than go on an adventure that does not even promise him a safe return, much less his life. 

Fortunately, the next scene shows Baggins changing his mind, grabbing his bags and running full throttle into a   life-changing adventure.

I found this first part of the movie to be the most inspiring and relatable.  You see, there comes a time in each of our lives when God, much like Gandoff, offers us the adventure of a lifetime; one that will change our lives forever.  He never forces us, but gently explains the offer (leaving out all the details of course,) then leaves the decision up to us.  Although He has hand picked us for the journey and prepared us beyond our knowledge to thrive through it, we as humans doubt and fear the unknown, thus making for a terribly hard decision.

The safe, logical choice is to stay where you are comfortable.  Stick with what you know, safe and secure.  Yet the downfall to this is that you never grow, never change, never see the next level of the glory of God.  The fact is, we're being selfish.  We are choosing our preferred lifestyle over God's.  Who knows what kind of people you could help through your adventure if you open up to the uncertain.  (Check out Dorothy.) The second choice however, gives us a big huge box wrapped tightly with a bow.  We know it's huge and we know it's exciting, but we have no idea what to expect.  All we have is hope and faith that God will carry us through the journey and teach us to be stronger men, wiser women, and more gentle people of love.  

I've seen one friend after another come to this point.  I wrote a short book on my journey through this decision process.  But my question is--have you came to this point?  What did you do?  

Perhaps God is tugging on your heart right now, asking you to leave the familiar and jump into his arms for a journey you'll never forget.  Will you trust him?

We were all designed for a specific role to play in a huge adventure, but if we doubt ourselves we are doubting the God that created us.  Listen to your Lord and jump into the unknown with him.  He wants to give you that exciting life if you'll let him.

P.S. For more inspiration and to find out how Mr. Baggins held up, watch the rest of the movie--in theatres now.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, 
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

"The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a  lion."
Proverbs 28:1

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;
be courageous; be strong."
1 Corinthians 16:13

What is God gently tugging you to do??