There is fresh work emerging in the Kent studio. It is a time of rolling mist just now on the Island while the place tries to determine what season to be in. It rolls in low and sometimes the cloud comes down to join in the fun. It can become frustrating to loose the sun – but it always breaks through.
It has been the same for me recently. My usually happy heart has got covered in gloom. It is the time of year I think and the general weather conditions stir up memories of last year when I lost my dear sister. The pain is still raw.
As is my usual practice to ask God for a word for the year, I found the word to be ‘rejoice’. And as I worked through my gloom I remembered this word and stood on it. I lifted my head and decided to rejoice- simply as an act of will. Shortly after my spirit caught up and my heart began to sing again.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:11
As I began to paint I deliberately laid down pink as an undercoat intending for it to break through the upper layers of more subdued colours which express the atmosphere of the place just now and so lift the whole thing.
The question is – what good things are we laying down in our lives that will stand us in good stead when things get gloomy?
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:3-4
