Here we are in the second month of 2021! The painting for this month is titled, “Settling into the Quiet” and is a smaller piece at 5″x7″, painted with acrylics on watercolour paper. It was a thank you gift for our Airbnb host.
Last summer, our family decided to take a week vacation and venture inland instead of finding some place on a nearby island, where we usually try to go. With the threat of the pandemic, we thought it would be safer to drive somewhere without needing to take a ferry. We found a place in Kamloops, BC that was up on the side of a mountain, with sweeping views of the North Thompson river and the surrounding mountains. The suite we rented was the lower level of a house and the owners lived on the upper level.
Over the course of the week, I had several opportunities to chat with the owner who was incredibly warm and welcoming, showing our kids how to make figures out of the rocks in her garden, and inviting them to come harvest vegetables with her. I had been painting some skies inspired by our stay there (one of which is the painting for March) and decided on a whim to text her a photo of it. She loved it and in return, shared with me some photos she’d taken of the sky from her place.
On the last day of our stay, I knew I wanted to leave her a painting to thank her and her husband for their hospitality. I looked through her photos for inspiration and found one to use as a reference.
I titled it, “Settling into the Quiet,” because the image itself was of a rosy dusk sky and it felt like the city was nestling in for the night. A deeper meaning, however, was that our host was in a time of transition; along with having to stay home for pandemic reasons, she had recently retired and was adjusting to the new, slower pace of life. I wanted to extend a blessing to her – that she would be able to embrace this new season and receive its gifts. I know that entering quietness is not always easy.
Since February is most often associated with love and Valentine’s Day, I thought the warm colours and pinks of this painting were appropriate for this month. The verse I chose, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) reminds us of the greater Love that holds us. It’s about more than romantic love.
Personally, in the last few years, I have been exploring the idea of God not only as our Father, but also as our Mother. [Side note: It feels vulnerable sharing this because I know for some people, thinking about God as a mother may be a stretch. The narrative we are most familiar with doesn’t leave much room for it, even though there are plenty of references in Scripture, but that’s a whole conversation for elsewhere. Maybe thinking about God as mother is not for you, but I offer the idea here in case it helps someone understand God’s love in new and fuller ways.] When I read this verse, I mentally insert “Mother” in to see how it changes my perspective of God. What I come away with is a richer sense of God’s love, because a mother loves differently than a father does.
Here’s the truth: You are loved. Immensely. I hope this painting invites you into that quiet place of knowing you are Beloved.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What emotions does this painting evoke for you? Where is God in this image (eg, the sky, the lights, the mountains, the river, somewhere else)? In what area(s) of your life is God inviting you into the quiet? How have you noticed God’s love for you recently?
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As always, I love to hear from you! If something in this story resonated with you, if you’re interested in commissioning a painting, or if you have other thoughts, feel free to email, or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for being part of my journey and for letting me be a part of yours!