Everyman's Journal 2011, #11
© 2011 Rev. David Seacord
January 12
'Beginners Mind'
It is so always true that 'nothing is ever what it seems to be' (on the surface).... and the clearer this becomes, the more miraculous my experience of life also becomes.
Today I watched another artist give a demo/lesson to the monthly meeting of the local amateur artist's association. She was a 'well-established senior', but with plenty of sparky-spunky emissions, and I found myself being delighted to watch her blow the minds of those gathered. I instantly related, as I personally paint in similar ways.... throwing on color everywhere and then turning the canvas to different orientations as I look for hints of composition to follow. She did the same, and the group was attentive and inthralled. Then just when her painting was capturing us all, she took a big brush and wiped it out and away, then turned the canvas to another orientation and began looking for other hints of composition.
Destroying something that was starting to look like it had sweet potential was a bit shocking, but it was a great lesson in the practice of not getting too serious about things. After all, most of the painters in this group are hobbyists, happy to sell at prices that simply pay for the materials. But even so, being human, the propensity to invest just as much significance to their efforts and its results as pedigreed professionals do was evident. Only the relative size of the fish in the mudpuddle differs... at least that is what I keep seeing over and over. Ego is ego is ego, all pretty much the same, whether rich or poor, famous or homeless, powerful or clueless.
What Mary did reminded me of the way God is free.... free like a child in a sandbox, highly experimental and impulsive, not even slightly suppressed nor rigid. Why? What makes sense to me is 'to let the joy of self-expression become the brilliance of creativity'. Just like with DNA, where our species survival assurance is maximized by the greatest number of possible combinations, so it is likewise with all creative expressions. For basically, my view is that all creative expressions are really our spiritual expressions, somewhat renamed to stay politically correct. (Yes, that's an opinion....)
I had vacillated as to whether to become involved with this group, knowing the prejudiced professional artist's view would be to maintain more noteworthy associations. In other words, from a pedigree and career building point of view, perhaps this wouldn't look so good on my resume (and it therefore may not appear...:-). But spiritually, it's simply the truth that I am here, and these are my artistically enthusiastic neighbors, whatever the level of their artwork. I could feel my heart's guidance was to get humble and join, that there was something, some miracle waiting for me there.... Today, I was so glad I did, for watching Mary's simple demo helped me remember that The Path is always a 'Beginner's Mind' journey. To remember that there is no moment or situation that is truly more special or significant than any other.... that all moments are available to deliver to us the brilliance of Joy, and the fulfillment of Love. And especially, that our greatest teachers are often our simple goodhearted friends and neighbors, and especially, our child-like ones.
My prayer therefore, is simply "God, keep me humble, and help me be willing to learn".
Namaste,
David
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My partnership request.... Please consider yourself an important gateway this message is passing through on its way to others. Please do 'send it on'. Thank you.
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Rev. David Seacord
Fine Art Painter / Sufi Cherag
(my fine art website)
www.davidseacord-everymansjournal.blogspot.com
(archived writings and poetry, circa 2002 to 2004)
www.davidseacord-acimcommentaries.blogspot.com
(archived 2010 writings on the 365 lessons of A Course in Miracles)
www.everymansjournal2011.blogspot.com
(archived entries of this years Everyman's Journal)
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