A new year.
A clean slate.
An empty canvas.
What will I make of it?
It’s a thrilling feeling, holding a new canvas in my hands. What will it be?
I have ideas, of course. I have plans… But somehow, the final painting always ends up surprising me.
Unexpected things happen. For example, my last painting was nearly ready to go out the door. Just needed one more coat of sealant, and it was done.
But a small child couldn’t resist the shiny gold. When no one was looking, three sweaty fingers reached out to swipe the smooth gilded surface on the lower half of the canvas. Three stripes of sticky fingerprints remained, dark streaks on the painting. It took me another week to re-apply another layer of gold leaf, and finally finish the job.
Life is like that. Mistakes, back-steps, mending errors… Often my days seem to be made up entirely of “I didn’t plan it that way” events. Good thing I have erasers and backup plans.
2015 is a brand new chance to find love, joy and peace. They are hidden away, treasures waiting for us to find in the unexpected and quiet places of this world.
I’m glad to share the discovery with you.