Creative Output So Far

Assessing this spring’s output compared to my [creative] output this time three years ago, I am lagging.  

Spring 2023’s output

2020

 Maybe because this spring I have a wee bit more of a life — 

Two and half years of uncertain times seem to be in the rear view mirror . . . so, my creative output has declined as invitations have increased, from one to two paintings a day to three of four a month. 

Reading

While I haven’t been “reading” as widely, books, audio or written are a refuge.  And watching murder mysteries, of course. 

Incidentally, we’ve branched out, and are watching savvy FRENCH detectives go through the paces to catch the murderers. Surely one way to see France, eh . . . without the hassle travel is nowadays. 

Serendipitously, as I struggled with painting daffodils, I finished listening to Mere Christianity — a book I read as a new Christian.   

The only thing that made sense then was Christ was either a liar, a lunatic or who He claimed to be: LORD. Honestly, I understood little else.  I was new to everything: faith, recovery, motherhood, and being part of a sandwich generation. 

Back then, I wanted assurance I wasn’t drinking Kool-Aid. Now, listening to after the past few years of craziness, Lewis’ talks are more deeply reassuring that Christ is trustworthy . . . 

“Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

With so much collapsing around us —- and with me losing a wee bit of my competitive edge —  I liked being able to hear Lewis’ encouragement to hope and do; to do and hope. It’s especially heartening to hear in a British accent. 

 What’s more, listening to Mere Christianity I realized its practicality. 

I need “practical.” 

“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” ― C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

But that’s not just faking — he is showing me how to do what I hope to be. 

“You must ask for God’s help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity 

Moi

And then there is the gardening output . . . talk about lagging!

The trouble with age is that it comes on so slowly you hardly notice it— Nurse Crane, Call the Midwife, Season 12, ep, 4