the blind receive their sight . . . (Matthew 11:5 ESV)

Imagination is real. It is a way of seeing. It can be lacked or it can be labeled overly active. I need it to see inside my head. Imagination leads me to worlds, ideas and solutions that I would not have thought of logically. I am not saying logic and imagination are enemies. I am saying they need each other. They aid us in navigating the world around us and help us to perceive our inner sanctum. Imagination is dangerous–it can lead to new perspectives.

A definition often gives me greater insight.

Imagination (n): the ability to think of new things, something that only exists or happens in the mind, creative ability, the ability to confront or deal with a problem, the thinking or active mind (from http://www.m-w.com)

To me to not have access to imagination might be like being blind. But even blindness does not need to be an obstacle to creative practice. I heard about Sargy Mann through a mixed-media artist that I enjoy on YouTube, Carolyn Dube. So today, I am linking you to two short documentaries about his journey with creativity and blindness. After that, I have linked to Carolyn’s experiment with painting with a blindfold.

Sargy Mann

BBC Version of Sargy Mann

Painting Blind

Here’s your prompt for today:

I can’t imagine . . .

Now try it this way:

I can imagine . . .

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 NLT)

Have you ever played hide-n-seek with yourself? Probably not. But I was thinking that the journey of growing up and becoming who we want to be, or hope to be, or think we’re supposed to be can often feel like a game of hide-n-seek.

When I was child, my imagination led me to many possible things I could become: a nurse, a mother, a journalist, a farmer, or even an astronaut. In my youth, I wanted to be an author like Jo in Little Women or a social worker like my pastor’s wife, and my options still seemed untapped. And after I got married and had our boys, I still dreamed of all the things I could be one day. A inspirational speaker traveling from town to town sharing my faith. An award winning author traveling from city to city promoting her book.

But I never imagined, I would be a suburban mother with grown children, who worked to get her English degree before she was fifty, and would self-publish a little book of devotions that barely get promoted (because I am lazy) or that I would be teaching fun art classes. Or that I would be turning empty rooms in our home into an art studio and classroom space for other suburban women searching for their hidden, created self. Or that I would be part of a community in the blogosphere.

One of the first random people I met via the interspace was Dawn. She and Susie were hosting a Random Journal Day link-up, where brave souls shared random excerpts from their journals. Recently, Dawn announced that it was time to discontinue the monthly link-up. I was sad, but knew that there was a season for everything. I am thankful because I have new friends that love to write and to journal, and I know we will have other wonderful opportunities to connect and link-up in NEW ways!

See Dawn’s announcement and gratitude below:

After much consideration and discussion with my Co-Hostess Susie and regular participants, it has come time to share some news. Random Journal Day will be discontinued, a least in the form we have been participating in since the first RJD in 2012. It has been such a wonderful season shared with wonderful friends- Some faithful and some who drop in occasionally. All have blessed and I hope been blessed in participating within our close knit community.

I am still happy for fellow Journal Keepers who would like to guest post on the blog (I will be creating a page for this possibility soon) but NEXT Friday – February 5, 2016 will be our last official “RJD” link up. BUT- STAY TUNED for the alternative journaling opportunities ahead.

 

My not-so random contribution to today’s final link-up comes from a past blog post, where I discovered that I own a magic wand. Click here to read.

Here’s your prompt for today:

I wish . . .

Come back tomorrow! The daily series 29 Days of Seeing NEW: A Perspective Journey continues!

 

 

 

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? (Mark 8:18 KJV)

Sometimes I lose sight of who I am and how much I matter. How about you?

Keeping a journal, snapping photos with my phone and playing with art keeps my eyes open for beauty, my ears alert for messages and my heart keen on remembering, recording and rehearsing the good things to be witnessed in this life.

Take some time to see, to listen and to remember. Here’s your prompt for today:

I see myself as . . .

Sometimes we need a little something to inspire/motivate/kick us into gear with our creative practice. Recently, I learned a little technique that really helped. In the Creative+Practice workshop by Lisa Sonora, she mentions: Pairing.

The idea is to pair your intended practice with something you already do on a daily basis. Like that cup of coffee in the morning or your afternoon tea or maybe it’s a walk around the block and then you get started. Right now I’m pairing my canvas challenge with a photo a day to post on Instagram. I can’t explain how it works but it does. Here’s another simple connection. Do you breathe daily? Aha…that may just be the pairing we’re looking for! We breathe, therefore we practice.

Here are some photos that capture a snippet of how I see myself these days. I see myself as collecting, capturing and creating inspiration. I see myself as . . .

 

 

 

 

. . . work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts . . . (Haggai 2:4 KJV)

What is your perspective about work? About your work? Can you define your work?

Here’s some thoughts I gleaned from the online dictionary:

work means effective operation, i.e. “wait for time to do its healing work“

work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force

work may apply to a purposeful activity whether remunerative or not

A few years ago, I came across the phrase “Do the work” or put another way, serve the work. But before I could do the work or serve it, I had to know what “the work” meant for me. My kids were growing up, and my identity was fairly wrapped up in being their mother and the chief home-keeper.  I knew I wanted to be a writer, but wasn’t aware of a latent desire to be an artist. Creativity was always a part of my make-up, from playing make-believe as a little girl to sewing for 4-H to scrap-booking my family photos, I wanted to make stuff.

Trying the latest crafty craze kept my created self fed, but as I developed as a writer, and began to expand my craft love to mixed-media art journals, I started thinking of myself as an artist. I wanted to make art in various ways, whether collage or painting or making journals out of old books. Call it craft; call it art; call it what you will, but it is my work. This particular work gives me joy and purpose, and results!

I know not everyone wants to be a writer or an artist, but I believe writing and art making can be accessed by all with varying degrees of satisfaction. That’s why I am offering this 29 Day series, and create time and space locally for others to engage in the creative process through souldare. I would love to hear about your work in the comments, or if you want to share with a wider audience use twitter or Instagram and #29daysofnew. To follow me at either of those places, click here and here.

So back to work. Here’s your “assignment” for today, complete the following phrase.

My work is . . .

(Write as little or much as you want. Try making a collage with magazine pictures to help define your work. Have fun, and whistle while you work!)

For further inspiration, I recommend Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary about a man who loves his work. (You can watch it on Netflix, and our local library has a DVD of it.)

Also if you want more context about the quote from Haggai, read the whole book. I read it today, not to understand Israel’s history with God, or as a prophecy to apply to current events, but from a personal perspective. I asked myself, “How does this reading apply to me as I seek to “serve the work”?” I found the phrase: “Consider your ways” not so much as a rebuke, but as an invitation.

I see my journal keeping practice, as a means of accepting the invitation to “consider my ways.” Come back tomorrow for some more discussion about how we each perceive our created self.

 

Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
    and find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16 ESV)

Before we get to today’s prompt, let me say a little bit about quotes and context. I love quotes. They inspire me. They give me an anchor for my thoughts. They are usually taken out of context, which I can live with because when using a quote I’m not necessarily trying to comprehend the whole text.

There is wisdom in the small turn of a phrase, as well as a whole chapter or book. When I use a quote on the blog or in my journal, I’m using it as a point of reference or a as springboard to dive into contemplation.

With a complete text, we are often warned to make sure we keep it in context. And I agree that neglecting context can lead us to a limited view, or even misunderstanding.

For the purposes of this series, I am not as concerned about the whole picture. Yet sometimes, we have a favorite quote or Scripture that we rehearse to comfort ourselves and we miss something, if we don’t read a little further. When we read a little further, we become aware of a whole different perspective.

For instance, if we read the complete thought of the Jeremiah 6:16 quote, we find this sentence at the conclusion of the beautiful invitation: But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Reading past the initial quote can take us down a totally different route. And lead us deeper into the inspiration of the initial thought.

In our practice of exploring thoughts and perspective through keeping a journal or making art, I am not asking that we delve into every context, but just be aware of it.

Use these quotes for your own reflection. See where they lead you.

 

Prompt for TODAY: I am aware of . . .

As we continue to think about perspective, I thought you might enjoy a video about how to use one point perspective in drawing. I find studying related topics, often opens up a perspective that I was unaware of.