Art has helped me process my feelings over the years and I need to let it help me again this month.

The art has come through as "Trust the process" paintings, poetry, songs or paintings and sometimes the ones I already did speak back into me life.

As I think about processing my feelings, this image came to mind. It is a contemplative/ process painting I did a few years ago during an  Art Vocabulary for the Soul Retreat and sits on my studio wall as a reminder of learning to be present through life's twists and turns and walk through whatever is going on today or this month. 

As I flipped through the Bible one morning for my quiet time, text I had previously underlined caught my eye - Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble. 

It goes on to describe a tumultuous scene of nature with turbulent waters and quaking mountains.

This led me back to a couple paintings I did for the God is my refuge series.

When looking at mountains in the fog and clouds like this one of the Three Sisters, Canmore, AB (Steadfast III, watercolor, 11 in x 15 in), the mountains are still there, steadfast. This is how God is: steadfast. This Steadfast Presence is what I can hold on to when facing uncertainty, things out of my control, or just walking into the unknown.

When I sat at the seashore one summer, I reflected on the ceaseless motion of the waves, like God's love. (Never Ceasing Love, watercolor, 15 in x 22 in, $895) 

I am holding on to these images of God’s steadfast presence and his never ceasing love. 

There are two items with our family. The first is a joyful anticipation: we are expecting another grandchild any time now. And our prayers are with Nathaniel and Taylor as they wait and for a safe delivery and healthy baby. 

For the second one, our daughter, Natalia, will have a dangerous brain surgery this month on the 13th to remove a tumor.

I can already see God’s hand in my schedule. I had two classes on Fridays that were canceled due to low enrollment. The surgery is on a Friday and the appointment for prep consultation was also on a Friday. And as the surgery is on the Friday before a long weekend, I am not teaching then either. I will be able to spend the time needed to be with her.

I trust that God will be with the doctors, with Natalia and with us as we wait and walk with her through this. 

This morning, I did two process paintings, as we do on the Friday night of the Art Vocabulary for the Soul Retreat. (tempera paints, sponge, plastic card, and gloves for fingerpainting)

This is  a picture of my anxiety this morning: