New Eyes

"When we can see the image of God where we don't want to see the image of God, then we see with eyes not our own." Richard Rohr

I've been in situations where I've had an in "intense fellowship," say, with my husband. In those moments, I was not seeing in him the image of God. Actually, it was the complete opposite. I read the quote and instantly felt conviction. In the next "intense fellowship" I encounter, with anyone, it's my hope that I'll remember this quote and learn to see in my "enemy," the image of God, because I long to have new eyes, the evidence of a transforming heart.

Grace & peace ~ deAnn

p.s. sorry for the infrequent posts. I'm having severe computer issues, which will be remedied next week, God willing. :0)

Read the Gallery Booklets ONLINE

Click on the images to read the current gallery companion booklet, The Heart Behind the Art, and the literary publication, Inklings, ONLINE.

Go Ahead...

Creativity and imagination suffer when boxed in. You are an adult now, go ahead and color outside the lines! Listen to that longing inside, give voice to it. You are creative, it's an essence of God and we are created in His image. That longing, is it to take an art class? Maybe musical lessons? Or a cooking class? Possibly a writing workshop...

Keep in mind that our creativity goes way beyond being "artistic."

What creative longing is calling you to "color outside the lines?" Don't think about that phrase literally. Doing something that is outside your normal routine is coloring outside the lines. Going out of your way to lend a hand to a friend in need. Stopping the car to take in a beautiful scene. Getting an ice cream on a hot day. Finding a new way to say, "I love you" to your spouse. All ways of coloring outside the lines.

There are many ways of exercising your creativity and imagination that gives glory to God and provides help to others. How do you sense God asking you to "color outside the lines?"

grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn

Redeemd:1 ~ Graffiti Art

New Exhibit at The Gallery @ Common Grounds - LWCC

Redeemd:1

Ramon Trevino

Graffiti Fine Artist

http://www.redgraff.com/

Click here to read Ramon's story from The Heart Behind the Art - gallery companion booklet. You can pick up a copy of the gallery booklet in the coffee bar at Living Word Community Church.

About this exhibit ~ July 19-August 23, 2009

I’m excited about this exhibit, not only for the dynamic colors that fit so well with summer-time, but because ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a graffiti artist. In fact, it was my goal to grow up and have a graffiti wall right inside the front door of my house. Any time friends or family came over, I’d let them draw or paint on the wall, filling it with color, shapes, and short messages. I had all the plans in my head and couldn’t wait to be old enough to own a house and implement my dream.

We’ve all seen graffiti on the sides of buildings or trains. Some is pleasing to look at, others—rather offensive. Graffiti gets a bad rap due to the nature of the art and the crime associated with it. But, even graffiti can be created with a clear heart and a positive message. Ramon Trevino’s story is one of redemption, not only of his own life, but of his artwork as well.

Ramon’s passion is to glorify Jesus in and through his artwork and one way he does this is by educating youth that graffiti can be done legally and with a purpose. As Ramon travels to New York City and other cities saturated in graffiti, his love for Jesus is obvious and he’s not afraid to share his faith with graffiti artists in that culture. That is pretty cool.

We hope you enjoy Ramon’s story and maybe come to see graffiti in a whole new light.

deAnn Roe

Director of Creative Arts

LWCC York

717.755.0089 x126

Vertical Creativity

Vision

Vision

by David Adam

O Lord
Extend our vision
Our clearness of sight
Open our eyes to see
Beyond the obvious
To perceive that this is Your world
You are in it
You invade it
You pervade it
You enfold it
It is immersed in You

I ran across this poem/prayer while on a silent-creative retreat last month. To me, it's such a beautiful way to live, especially as artists, "open our eyes to see beyond the obvious." Simply gorgeous.

As you move out into your world this week and into your creative endeavors, may you offer this prayer up to God. Ask Him to extend your vision - to not only look, but to really see... Him.

Grace & peace ~ deAnn

Laughing Can Change the World

I've been thinking a lot lately about: what if every person lived into their creative potential. Not just "fine artists" but engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. How would that change the world?

So, above is a super creative and funny commercial shot in England for Evian Water. Now, that is using your creative potential. (It made me laugh. Laughter changes the world.)

May you live into your full creative potential ~

grace & peace ~ deAnn

The Peace of Wild Things

The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

This is one of my favorite poems and it was due time to post it for others to enjoy. May you come into the presence of still water and rest there, in the grace of God.

peace ~ deAnn

Photography (c) 2009 by deAnn Roe of Vertical Creativity
Lake Redman, October 2008

Seeing, For Real

"Creative thinking involves imagining familiar things in a new light, digging below the surface to find previously undetected patterns, and finding connections among unrelated phenomena." - Roger von Oech -

I'm doing some research for a talk I'm giving titled, "Embracing Your Creativity," and I came across the quote above. Unlike so many other definations of creativity, this one speaks to a "new way of seeing" - which is the foundation of the other definations which basically are, "to bring something new and orignal into existance."

As a creative being, which you are so don't deny it, how well do you really see? I was challenged by this quote to pay closer attention to that which lies below the surface of life and existance, to sense God's presence in my life with more ferver, and to see Him no matter where I look.

Life is full of God.

Grace & peace on the creative journey ~ deAnn

A Wii Little Lesson

Yesterday my son showed me how to use the Wii FIT (on the Nintendo Wii). I was amazed by the technology! The Wii FIT comes with a "balance board" that you stand on for all the Wii FIT games. Wirelessly it senses pressure from your feet and the game on TV responds. It was crazy!

As a typical fourteen year old son, he thought it would be fun to watch me try the YOGA moves on the Wii FIT. Let's just say that I'm glad his iPhone doesn't record video footage...

I actually didn't do all that bad for a Wii newbie. I completed the "breathing" exercise with high scores. Then I moved on to the "side stretching" exercise, which my virtual instructor told me I did very well. Lastly, I completed the "tree" exercise. It looks really cool in the picture above, but wow - it was challenging to stand motionless in that position for 30 seconds.

When I had had enough, I was told by a creepy little voice that because I had done so well, I "unlocked" another YOGA exercise to use next time. Interestingly, not all the YOGA exercises are available from the get go. As I practice the exercises that are available, others become unlocked and ready to use. This got me thinking about our creativity. As I practice exercising my creative muscles, I notice that more creative energy becomes "unlocked" and ready to use. All of my creativity is not available from the get go. It grows and develops the more I use it.

It's funny how silly things such as a video game system can remind us of important truths.

Keep unlocking your creative potential.

grace & peace ~ deAnn