As the rains came and the buds
appeared on the branches of the local trees, the couple rejoiced that they too
had come through a winter of harshness. Their relationship had grown through
the sun of forgiveness and forbearance and their joy came from a beautiful bouquet
of learning lessons.
The She Artist had pictures
that were proofs of inspiration. She had had a deep desire to capture the
sunsets of that winter in its passing glory. The He Artist’s work had been
accepted by an art show jury, their first for the year. They had much to do and
a lot to be grateful for as the early spring showed its Divine design. Their
work became not only forms of beauty caught by their cameras. But the photos
were placed behind unique mat board and lovely frames to become full blown pieces
of finished artwork. Day by day they worked steadily and carefully on each piece
until the deadline came. When it was time for them to leave, they packed their
gorgeous finished product, a craft tent, two chairs, several grid wall display
stands, as well as almost all of their personal possessions into their truck
and the 17’ trailer. They were on the road towards Pass Christian, Mississippi.
They didn’t know that this trip was leading them from the comfort of solid
stationariness into the liquidity of a life without mortal life jackets, into
the Divine waters of a more spiritual life.
Several weeks prior, they had been
led to make reservations at a lovely RV park just a few miles from the sugar
white sandy beaches between Biloxi and New Orleans. The Gulf of Mexico brought
the hugeness of their endeavors into perspective. As the powerful waters rushed
the shores, they could see that their work wasn’t just about two artists’ and
their personal desires. But a Divine direction, a purposeful Soulful expression
of two witnesses who captured moments of God’s beauty, grace, and presence; and
brought it into tangible form for the spectator and customer alike.
They had so much to learn about the ‘why’,
‘Who’, ‘when’, ‘where’, and ‘what’ of their work. They didn’t realize their
endeavors were not personal, but under the Hand of the Divine. They didn’t
understand that the work was bigger than their personal perceptions. They didn’t
see the Big Picture, the reason, the Help, the Direction which consistently was
ever-present in their day to day activity as they should have. It might have
helped serve them better than their dread and fears concerning the future. Had
they taken in the vastness of the ocean’s power as a symbol of God’s power and
control over their lives, perhaps it would have helped them gain a deeper sense
of trust and peace.
The trip had been set for only six
days. But through necessity it was extended to almost two weeks. The extra time
gave them moments of clarity and inspiration which they needed for future courage.
It was a springboard view of the possibilities and opportunities of their life
on the road with Him, God, a bird’s eye view of what their new life would
include. The beauty and grandeur of the place, the freshness of the full blown
spring, the time they had been given in this paradise fed them as artists and their
budding friendship.
When they came back to their stationary
RV home they were not the same people. The struggle between the known and the unknown,
between the comfort zones of a stagnating RV park and the refreshing daily
renewal through His direction on the road, had changed the artists from the
ordinary to the extraordinary. It guided them into the realization they were to
move into a 17’ RV and go on the road. Permanent seekers and followers,
witnesses to the Grand Director of Life on the road.
