John at Easter two years ago

Stars are in alignment

William and I are often intrigued by the concurence of things insignifcant. Some might refer to them as "coincidences". We do not. We know there is some special force trying to make itself known to those who listen ....sounds weird...I know. But, we have shared so many of these experiences- from the sublime to the mundane- that we are firmly rooted in this thought. Most always we have no clue as to how to decifer them- and we don't even pretend to. We are happy to just be the recipicents or listeners to this stuff. Sometimes we try to glean some kind of spiritual wisdom, and sometimes we do. But most of the time, there is nothing but pure spirit training going on. That is to say, we think our spritual ears are just being tuned. Perhaps one day, intuitively we will hear and listen and act and prevent or cause something the right direction. But as of now, we just enjoy on being let in on a cosmic chord. We don't think there is anything much it is trying to tell us but we just delight in the hearing.

Today, I am packing for my 'already deemed by God' workshop in Apalachicola in landscape painting. The story of how this occured fits into the definition above. Maybe soon I will tell that story. But today, I went over my paints for my palette - I so carefully ordered online (it was HARD to do) and I found one I did not have! I was mad because hard as I try, I miss stuff....anyway, I thought, go online and see if there is a color close to it and maybe you have that.....I googled the color of paint and pressed the images button so I could get the picture of the color- all I really wanted. And LO! I got two pictures of paint and the rest were photographs of the venues they painted in the workshop last year in Apalachicola and pictures of my teacher's palette, and photos of him and chatting and visiting with another artist, RICHARD SCHMID !
http://www.richardschmid.com/and I was enthralled, thrilled and exceedingly nervous. Totally humbled. It was downright WEIRD that when googling a color of paint I get all this Albert Handell http://www.alberthandell.com/mainpage.htm stuff, photos of him and friends, his very own used palette of colors....and photos of places we are going! Like a view into the future! Some things have happened to get in the way of my going next week- but I am sure what God wants me to do, I will do. I am sure this trip will happen. Hey, that reminds me...instead of the bumper sticker you usually see mine will say "Trip Happens". ( because the sh*t already has)

Anyway, I am full of anticipation and anxiety over this event. I am humble and scared. I want to do this for God because what really can we ever do for the the one who created and is a part of EVERYTHING? Not much, but we can bow in worship and live into our gifts he has given us- we can seek Him in all things. Let's see what He is going to do with me. With us. I think it is going to be great.

William Slocumb outside Ashley McLean Antiques

Japanese Viburnum

Still Life with Japanese Eggplant

Center of Attention

Crawford Wearing Vincent Hancock's Gold Medal

And another thing, I posted the slide show of my Wednesday night drawings mainly so that Marc, my art teacher, could see my stuff so he can help mentor me in the future. I thought it was a good way to get a lot to him since we are not in the same town. The web can be a wonderful thing! And too, it has been fun posting it on youtube so that my family can see what I am up to also.