A few days ago, before school got out for winter break, a white dove was sitting outside my classroom door ... as my son and I made our way out into the freezing late afternoon. When it was startled by us, she swooped away only to find another sheltered spot under another doorway.
The same day my daughter went to visit my father in re-hab after another fall, before she and her husband braved the roads on the way to Montana to see Eric's family. Her report was not good at all, and the next day I took a sick day to visit him. I had just seen him the week before, but he had deteriorated mentally and physically. He had not even recognized her.
I drove out into the zero degrees weather nervous about the drive. It was foggy and icy making me dread the two hour trip over the Cascades even more. I loaded up the car with my heavy snow boots, flash light, blanket, extra coat, food, water etc...
My father has never been a kind man, or loving or demonstrative growing up, and can be so critical that even my children resist seeing him.
Nevertheless it is I that sees him the most, I who try to be kind and I who take care of him when he is ill.
But something happened on my drive over. High in the mountains the sun burst out warming me as I traveled north west. And when I arrived to see him his face burst out in such a bright grin that I finally knew how much he loves me, that I am his bright light.
While I was there his walking improved, his conversation got clearer and he began to concentrate on his physical therapy. He still has a while to go, but we are hoping he can go back "home" in a few weeks.
My realization will not be forgotten, and now I vow not not resent visiting him again. The gift of being a bright light... like the white dove in a dark afternoon before the storm has warmed my heart and made everything worth while.
Here are my bright lights at home...
This is Kona, who we are taking care of while Mandy and Eric are in Montana. She loves Murphy a little more than Murphy loves her!
Chris after he shovels the deck...Kona still entranced by Murphy...
Jim, snow blowing the driveway.
Winter songbirds eat the berries on the mountain ash... I took this from my desk in my studio.
Gem, so close to me where I work, ( a little nervous about our new guest) ... Here I am painting another dove for my new art journal I made for my winter break ( the first one was too small).
Yesterday I heard the words "dance to the color of the dove" in an old song... can anyone remember what song it was? I wish I had written it down. On the bottom of the book is part of a paintbrush that I painted and decorated with rice papers, copper and strings... not sure where I will use it yet....
Be the light... first page...
My "open doors" journal, I thought I was finished but it is still changing...I am learning so much. Not to make pages too cluttered, what colors are good together, how to just paint over mess ups or just scrape them off and mostly how when working on a two page spread not to have two pages compete for your eyes...
The background is one of my mother's paintings, when she was inspired by the dutch painter Vermere. I need to get it re-framed.
And finally, an old book I got to "alter" though I have never tried this before, new background pages for my "dance to the color of the dove" journal, and a new tin box I am working on... I hope all of your days are warm and bright...
