The Inner Life of Hibernation, 4

In discussing her coming to understand that God loves her no matter what, no matter what, no matter what, Shauna Niequist, author of Present Over Perfect, writes these words that jump off the page at me, feeling up close and personal:

I can't imagine anything more life-changing for an earner like me.

detail from work in progress
36 x 36", acrylic

The Inner Life of Hibernation, 3

In Present Over Perfect, Niequist adds:

[God's] love is secure
no matter what,
no matter what,
no matter what.
No matter what I do
or don't do.

detail from work in progress
36 x 36", acrylic

The Inner Life of Hibernation, 2

Speaking about God's love, Shauna Niequist continues in Present Over Perfect:

And also that there's nothing

I can do in this new day

to ruin or break that love—

nothing.

detail from work in progress
36 x 36"; acrylic on canvas

The Inner Life of Hibernation

Shauna Niequist writes in Present Over Perfect:

Before the day begins—

I remind myself what is true:

that God loves me,

and that there is nothing I can do 

in this new day 

to earn more love—

nothing.

detail from work in progress
36 x 36", acrylic on canvas

Sure Enough

A poem from Ted Kooser's collection, Winter Morning Walks—

December 17

Clear and twenty-four at sunrise.

A cold wind out of the west all night.
Where our row of Norwegian pines
lines the road, there were lots of joined pairs
of needles this morning, blown over the grass
and onto the shoulder, every pair
an elongated V, coated with frost,
and each pointing east-southeast,
where, sure enough, the sun was waiting.

I wish to be still enough to notice joined pairs of Norwegian pine needles blown over grass, present enough to notice that each pair points to where the sun is waiting.

And so I am setting an intention to slow way down. My unfinished paintings and I plan to hibernate for a bit, to step back and see what unfolds.

Then, in the new year, sure enough, we'll stretch our limbs, shake our sleepy heads, and take stock.

naptime