Perceptions

In the last year I have done a lot of art work that revolves around altered realities. Maybe that's because I have gone through various stages of unhappiness regarding my own reality. Whether that be my own level of spirituality, my frustration with school taking up so much of my time, or just my seeming inability at times to manage effectively even a small block of my personal time. It all comes down to perceptions. At times I was allowing myself to be convinced that I could not do anything right. (meaning the way I felt things were supposed to be done) I was trapped by my own "demons" and it turns out I was the only one feeding them.

The thing that is amazing here, is that although my wife did not know

"what" was bothering me she knew something was not right. While preparing a Sunday talk she came across a quote from Spencer W. Kimball that said Family prayer "is a kneeling prayer..." (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 200-201) What a simple and beautiful admonition. We have been having family prayer regularly for about 4 or 5 years now, but we had never once knelt in prayer. Once instituted, we have seen a major change in how our family starts & ends the day. I have learned over the years that even mighty obstacles can be overcome by beginning with very simple and small steps. It sometimes takes longer for us to recognize those steps. Escaping from our "demons" will probably rarely happen over night, but as Alma says to his son "O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (Alma 37:46)

What's The Point?

I have never been what "normal" people would call a deep thinker. My train of thought would not exactly be a streamlined bullet train. No, it would more resemble those old circus trains - with vastly different sized and shaped cars, and odd "things" poking out of odd places. As my artistic career has developed and grown, I have learned that meaning is a very subjective term. (I should note that the journey has been underway for quite some time but the actual "job" part of it won't really begin for another 6 months to a year.) I have learned that there are shallow meanings - "I like it." and there are deeper meanings - "The combination of colors and line keep my eye moving. I am drawn to the energy of this piece." I know that some of you may have just had an "artsy-fartsy" moment, but don't go running for the hills just yet. I guess what I am saying is that I have entered a portion of my life where I WANT to explore why I feel the way I do about things. I really think too many people cut themselves short in this area. How can we say we have convictions if we don't REALLY know why we feel the way we do, or even know WHAT we feel? Thus the emergence of this blog into my life. If I have thought about it, wondered how it works, or dreamed about what it might be like....it just might find its way on this blog at some point. So I hope you see something that makes you think, and not too many things that make you go "What is this guy on?"