Hello From STL

Hello from StL

Almost every time I type the word Hello I type a w at the end then erase it.

I'll try to be a better blogger.

Good byew

All that we can't leave behind

What does that phrase mean?
Take what you can - leave what you can - take what you can't leave behind.
If there was a fire what would you take with you?
What if there is something that you want to leave behind but you can't?

Challenge to faith and art

This is a very short talk I gave at a recent workshop I co-facilitated. The workshop was given by Fallen Clouds a theatre collective with a faith based vision. They're on facebook, they are pretty great. Look them up to read about their vision.
Anyway this is just a drop in the ocean as to what I could say given the opportunity about being an artist with a faith. Some of it points back to Jeff and Karen Barker at Northwestern, but, I hope, most of it comes from my own ponderings.

Just wanted to take a moment to encourage you as creative individuals who believe in Jesus. Actually I wanted to encourage and challenge you.
You see as Christians we carry an immense potential to help the Lord effect change in people. But also as artists we have an increased potential to effect change in people.
James Baldwin, a famous American author and playwright wrote, "The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers." Now Mr. Baldwin was not a believer in Jesus (as far as I have read) but his quote is very true of art and so important for us to remember as redeemed individuals.
One of the major questions that has been hidden by the answers is Where is the Love? All of us I'm sure can think of moments in art that we have experienced this question. There are several classic examples in the work of Shakespeare. And I'm also sure that all of us can look at everyday life and see how people have answered this question for better or for worse.
As Christians we know the answer to this question is of course Christ. But how do we as artists ask the question of where love is?
Many times in Christian art we see depictions of Jesus on a cross or holding a lamb. And those pieces have their merit, but they are depictions of the answer, and ours is to ask the question.
I have a constant picture of trying to walk a tedious tightrope. On one side of the rope I am an artist asking questions of people. On the other side I am a Child of God who longs for people to experience love that drives out all fear. I long to share my answer with people. But back again as an artist I am aware that many are not interested in receiving an answer - let alone the christian one. As a Christian artist I need to ask the questions that Jesus came to answer in a way that will have my audience thirsty for Life giving water.

So here I am standing on this tightrope and I challenge you to join in and walk with me.

_________

That's it. I do want to point out that I am not saying that art and Christianity are in opposition. If you thought that talk to me because -I'm not.

Cheers.

times they be a changing

So for about 8 months Mark and I were out of work or only minimally employed. Since the 6th of January Mark has been working 3.5 days a week at his old job at the University, and about the sum total of 2 days work at our church. Those 2 days at the church are all scattered and so more exhausting. And Mark got into seminary so we're planning a big move.
So we went from spending the majority of the day in idleness, to being so busy there are some days we don't see each other from sunrise to set. I realize this rapid pace is more normal for most people but for the past 2.5 years of our marriage we have not experienced it. We knew that it was immanent and we knew for sure seminary would be this busy - I just wish that we could have pushed off the pace change till then and had just a little more time to relish in enjoying each other.
Anyway it's come and we need to learn how to prioritize our time together and pick up the pace in our relationship.

today

Sometimes I get bored of coming up with titles for posts.

Today I am working from 12-8 so I don't have any major goals.
I am going to have a shower then call the gas company to ask why they aren't doing it right.

Hurray!

I thought I moved away from the cold

It is so cold outside for the past 2 weeks! And it is icy! The thing that I said I always loved about Ireland was that it never gets too cold here and there is no hibernating because of winter weather.
Boo.

So yesterday I went and bought the mold remover, then came home and vacuumed, then got on scrubby clothes and washed the mold then sprayed the mold remover on the areas. It is called mold remover but you actually spray it on after removing the mold to prevent it growing back.
Last night my nose was the best it has been in months! woot!

I'm not sure what I am going to do today. The Christmas tree needs taking down but that makes me sad. The kitchen needs cleaned, but I feel that is Mark's area.

There is nothing that I actually want to do... hopefully inspiration will strike.

New Year

Until 2009 I had never been much into making a new years resolution. But 2009 being the year I turned 30, I decided to make one.

Last year my new years resolution was to workout and hopefully loose weight. I joined a gym, learned how to eat healthier, lost a good amount of weight, got injured, stopped working out, became unemployed, healed, went back to gym, got hired by said gym. All in all my net lost for the year was 1 pound. I can say that I feel alot healthier than I did a year ago. I attribute or blame the lack of weight loss on 1)being out of work and not walking as much, and 2) building up some muscle mass from working out. (not that I'm ripped or anything)

So this year I set the bar really low. To thoroughly clean my bathroom, bedroom, and living room. By thoroughly I mean walls, floors - the whole thing. Yesterday I tackled our bathroom. This bathroom has no window ( a choice I will never again opt for) and gets this nasty layer of mildew on the tiles (which are on all the walls). Being married to the hairiest man alive the floor becomes a carpet of hair. So I gave it my all yesterday with quite a lovely result. Now if only it stayed that way. I was thinking of inventing a vacuum attachment that made it possible to comb my husband's bodie and suck up his spare hairs.

Today my goal is to go by fungal wash for the mildew/mold growing in our bedroom.
And to buy some chicken.

Like I said I am setting the bar really low this year.