Fact or Fiction – It All Depends on Your Point of View

(Work in Progress)

Do you believe in fairies? Peter Pan did, but then what does he know? He’s only a child -- a figment of   J. M. Barrie’s imagination. Barrie not only created Pan, but TinkerBell, the most beloved fairy of all time.

From birth, we’re persuaded that make-believe is fun and that magic is real. At Christmas time, Santa Claus is our jolly red benefactor and will reward us according to our behavior. If we’re naughty, we may receive a rock or a token of displeasure; but if we’re nice, our wishes may all come true.

Many cultures playfully indulge the existence of gnomes, elves, and leprechauns. Thanks to The Wizard of Oz, we acknowledge both good witches and bad. We have only to embrace their existence, and our heart’s desire will be granted or impeded. Depending on outcome, we are eager to attribute good luck or bad to whatever happens; and we try, like anything, to avoid the latter.

In futility, we perform rituals, incantations, and exercises to please the whims of the Gods. Our superstitions and practices are sometimes held in higher regard than our own personal faith and greater than our hold on fact or reality.

Favorite stories are often built upon dreams that eventually come true. Cinderella went from a serving girl to a princess at the whisk of a magic wand. Her fairy godmother turned her into a dazzling beauty and helped her gain the adoration of a handsome prince.

The story of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” reminds us that hard work and honest effort are rewarded, and that when we do well, even the “wee folk” seek to do our bidding.

When life gets really tough, though, we pray to the invincible God to bail us out. After all, He’s a God of sympathy and compassion, or so we’ve been taught. But if He doesn’t give us what we want, what then? Why, it only proves what we thought from the beginning. He’s not real.

Many people imagine God to be like a giant Genie or a kind old Santa Claus that winks at our sins and imperfections; a God that will often grant our wishes if only we go to Him. When our prayer requests are not granted, we fall into disappointment. At those times, we imagine that God is an angry avenger who punishes us for our disobedience.

Many people think that the Bible is simply a book of legends and fairy tales. Partly because they see God either as a great imposter or a myth. This conclusion is an insult to those who believe that biblical scripture is the infallible Word of God.

"An Open Book" 16x20 mixed media on canvas (SOLD), but prints available.

Deep down we all hope that God is real, and we want to have faith in Him; but how many of us actually suspend our disbelief and exercise our faith in the omnipotent creator of the world? Why is it so much easier to trust in ethereal beings from the netherworld than to depend on the one true God of the Bible?

So long as faith is lacking in the world, people will continue to rely on horoscopes, signs and wonders for answers, and the world will continue to flounder in darkness. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

Pacing Yourself for Success

Painting "An Open Book" -- 16x20 mixed media

Last night I was supposed to attend a demo by well-known artist Charles Miano at the Alliance for the Arts. But after a very hectic week, what with doctor appointments and other classes, I ended up with a migraine and nausea. Feeling wobbly, and fearful of driving with my meds, I copped out in favor of rest.

Our world contributes to stress and illness. We grapple with technology, social networking and traffic in order to compete and meet deadlines. Today, marketing takes more time than the actual doing or producing; but without product, we have no business.

We make choices about what to do, and decisions about what to ignore. Often times, it’s our families, our children and our spouses who get left behind. Sometimes our neglect spills over into other areas of our life, and we fail to feed and enrich our spiritual side. How do we get out of this rut, this viscious cycle that drops us to our knees and flattens us on the couch or bed?

Drawing -- "Broken Hearted" 11x14 pastel on paper

We must get our priorities in order. We must remember what’s important. Without health, we have no life. If we neglect family, divorce can face us down the road and our children may suffer. Without a spiritual foundation, we may as some professionals have done, take our own life or suffer mental breakdown.

We need to treat our body and our inner self with the same care and respect that we do our career and family. Here are my solutions to help alleviate stress:

• Trust in yourself and believe in yourself. You have honed your skills. You are a professional. Relax and know that you are capable of doing your work, and meeting your goals and deadllines. Don’t allow yourself to stress and worry about the outcome. Be positive!

• Trust in your muse, your God or higher power. He wants you to succeed. He wants your happiness. Inspiration will come because you have prepared your mind and heart to receive it. Trust that ideas will come to you. Exercise your belief and faith. Do your part by allowing this power into your heart. Clear your mind to receive what is yours.

• Focus on your higher priorities and trust in God to take care of the rest. Don’t allow nagging thoughts of “should dos” to interfere with your calm determination. Press forward with the duties at hand. Deal with “one crisis at a time.” That’s all any of us can handle, after all.

Pastel drawing -- 11x14 "Serena Shines"

When the time comes for you to pour out your soul on paper, canvas, or product, go with the energy flow. Don’t worry! Inspiration will come because you have trusted, waited, and fulfilled your higher priorities. You are ready to receive what you were meant to receive. Your heart will soar, your fingers will move, and you will know that your muse, your God is alive and well.