"When there is no peace"--Ukraine and U.S.A.

"Storm Over Freedom," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano cold press paper

 "They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying,'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace."--Jeremiah 6-14

The colors of Ukraine keep unintentionally cropping up when I paint something these days.

That must be how deep in by subconscious the Russian war crimes against freedom  have me occupied.

Thus came to mind the verse from Jeremiah while I painted, but then it's obviously appropriate for America, this so called Independence Day.

The United States of Afraid, and Anger.

We are more divided that anytime since the Civil War, and there is no civility surviving in this country, in governments, in speech, in media, or in the streets. Right-wing "pro" lifers have rammed their vehicles onto protestors. Right-wing bigots have  threatened and  disrupted a patriotic parade in Texas with a decorated Marine as grand master. Mass shootings and murders are the norm, not the exception. 

What are we "free" from?

Where is the "Peace"? 

Today's painting was supposed to be titled, "Storm a' Coming." Not today, that I think about it. 

The Colors of Feelings

"Anger," 5 x 7 watercolor, 

"Paint what you feel." "Paint your reaction to what you see, not what you see."

"Peace," 5 x 7 watercolor

Those comments and their kin from many artists underly what is supposed to be, and hardest to apply for an old type A, fact-based journalist like me...though I know my best writing always came from stories I was deeply engaged in.

And now that I think about it, my best paintings have been those where my feelings seemed to guide the brushes.

Then this week, I read this comment from Austin Kleon in his weekly newsletter on Creativity:

"I write to know what I think, and I make art to actually know what I feel."

Kleon lives in Austin, and has written four dynamic and short books on creativity, all of which I've bought at  Best of Books in Edmond. 

"Hope," 5 x 7 watercolor

You can check him out on his website austinkleon.com, and even get his weekly email newsletter which brims over with comments and ideas to jog your mind on music "Ear Candy,"  art, writing,  books, multiple links  and much more with 10 tips each time.  That quote was under the section, "What to do with your feelings."

His prompts translated into three watercolors, where I tried to visualize some of my personal feelings. The first was "Anger" and he noted there's plenty to be angry about these days.

Then I thought about  the opposite, "Peace," and then "Hope." For "Peace" thought of my reaction to a gentle rain falling on a forest, probably the Amazon rainforest. "Hope" was not as abstract, the possibility  of rain and life in an arid landscape and time. All are 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press paper.

On the magic of mountain rivers

"River Magic," no-brush watercolor, 9 x 9 140 lb cold press paper

"....peace like a river..." --Isaiah 66:12

How long since you've come upon  a clear Rocky Mountain stream or river gurgling over colorful rounded rocks?
Too long, for me, but you remember  the sounds, the smells, the cool air,  as snow-fed water flows by, and human time seems to slow down. 
You are first attracted to the sound of the water, the small waterfalls,  and then the cooler air, in the forest, the greener grass, a source of life for the fluttering birds and buzzing insects. Instead of everyday life, places like that bring calmness, peace.
We need more such rivers in our lives, especially now in these days of pandemic pandemonium where we're battered by continual bad news, worries and human stupidity.
I'm reminded of the Gospel song, "When peace like a river...."

Where are the rivers of your life? 

I'm reminded of the headwaters of the Pecos River in the northern New Mexico wilderness, after a long hike in the high country. Peace indeed
They're magic, and it's no wonder rivers have been symbols of peace, of life for troubled people for so long.
Thus today's no-brush watercolor series, "River Magic."
"The the angel showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal..." --Rev. 22:1

Desert Dawn--When peace like a river--study in pastel colors

"Desert Dawn," 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press paper

"Desert Dawn rise up early and lift your song,
From the breathe of life that rises...."
        --The String Cheese Incident

Pastel colors time, early morning, late evening, when changes bring soft hues to the desert, a sometimes harsh landscape of rigid lines and colors.
In the words of the old Gospel song, it's "when peace like a river attendeth my soul...."
Softness, beauty in the midst, in the need, of the often harsh deserts of life.
This I find in watercolor, in memories of the far horizons, of never-ending, always varied colors...a place of rescue, of solace when most needed.

Color, and peace in a season of gloom

Color in a gloomy season, 5 x 7 watercolor card

As the days grow shorter, the nights longer, and the solstice nears, instead of a season of peace, gloom grows in December. 
 It can be a gloomy season  from gray days, from worsening weather, from "cabin fever," or worse, from events in our lives, from stress and clamor of the holidays, from personal interactions or tragedies, or from the negative forces in our world.

But then I force myself to remember, if it weren't for such times, color would lose its importance and power. In painting, or perhaps in all art and life and religion, contrasts bring life to the world. 

The idea, the existence of Christmas in religion, proves that, with the emergence of hope in a cold world, leading to a cruel death, resulting in life and peace--a far cry from the pollution of today's commercialized religion and season--more gloom needing to be offset by color, by life.
We need to remember the overlooked words from Genesis when Yahweh said, "Let there be light." Consider, light is the source of life--and color.  

Thus today's watercolor card...by and for myself, in  world far from peaceful, full of fear mongers in the name of religion--Pay attention to color more powerful and important, bringing peace instead of gloom

"My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your hear be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

--John 14:27.

Mountain dreams

Los Suenos de Los Sangre de Cristos, 9 x 12 watercolor, 140# Fabriano Artistico

 Peace. When you need peace, you go to the mountains. In the autumn, with snow on the high country.
This view comes from photos of our trip to Colorado a year an a half ago, staying in Westcliff, at the base of the majestic 14,000-foot+ Sangre de Cristos. 
My goal this year, is a painting a week. Why? Because of dreams and peace.
In times like these, of turmoil and hate and division and uncertainty, peace is away from the crowd and 24-hour barrage of nonsense. It descends like snow in the  high country as you ignore the so-called "human" world, and consider creation.
Painting it, writing it, brings peace also.  Dreams.

Peace, please America, but...

Peace, 5 x 7 watercolor

"Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of God."
And where, American, are they?
Hatred and fear, racism and bigotry--epidemic?
Where are the voices for peace? If there are none, forget about a so-called "Christian nation."

Bridges to peace

The call home...5" by 7" watercolor

Home.
That's what most people think about around Thanksgiving, Christmas and the holiday season.
Those who are far away remember the gatherings of previous years, especially when they can't return. As they grow older, they establish their own homes and the tradition continues.
For those who miss them across the years and miles, the tables bring memories in spite of the vacancies.
Phone calls and cards help, but it's not the same. The hope and anticipation for eventual reunion holds.  And for those who will never return, their memories still inhabit "home."
The holidays are bridges to peace, to love, to family and friendship, to home--like covered bridges in a snow-blanketed landscape in the upper Midwest, linking home with travelers, and years and memories.

"Shalom" amid unending war?

"Shalom," according to Strong's Concordance, means "completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full." 
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
 
How many years have we been at war now? Will there ever be any peace?
We are the world's most powerful nation militarily. Our citizens can own guns. We have security systems in our houses. We build gated neighborhoods. The list goes on.
The U.S.A., the "United States of Afraid." Why do we not feel safe or peaceful?

The United States of Afraid

Here we are in what is supposed to be a season of "peace on earth, goodwill toward men," and there is none. The words of Jesus are forgotten, or ignored. 
One of the books I've read this year is "Peace Is Every Step: The Path to Mindfulness in Everyday Life," by renowned Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk who survived the war.
I had made these notes on his teachings before yesterday's horror in California. They are more pertinent than ever when he wrote them in 1990.
As upset as I've been with the terrorism in the world, and the growing fascism in America, reading this book  has helped reconnect me with Jesus' teachings. His observations help calm me and put this current insanity in some perspective. But they also teach me that inner peace amid all this turmoil, which Jesus spoke about too, comes only with work, with being mindful that only "now" matters, that you count your blessings. I have to reread these ideas often.
His teachings are so needed among Christians and people of all faiths, or of no faiths. Terrorism, refugees, war, hatred, fear, poverty, "social media," intolerance, selfishness, environmental crisis--which current event do you need? His words apply. 
Would that those spewing hate and intolerance as well as those attacking and killing innocent people would read them, and the words of Jesus,  and find "Shalom." Consider these exerpts:

Lack of peace

• "Anyone who has made us suffer is undoubtedly suffering too."
• "A fresh way of being peace, of making peace is needed.
• Peace is based on  respect for life, the spirit of reverence for life." 
• "Poverty and oppression bring war. In our times, every war involves all countries." 
• "Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile."

Narrow -minded religious fanaticism 

• "Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology...all systems of thought are guiding means' they are not absolute truth." 
• "Do not think that the knowledge you presently posses is changeless, absolute truth--truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge."
• "Do not force others, including children to adopt your views."
• "Do not use the religious community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party."

Poverty

•  "The wealth of one society  is made of the poverty of the other. Wealth is made of non-wealth elements and poverty is made of  non poverty elements."

Technology

•  "When we watch bad TV, we become it." (This was written pre-Facebook, but it certainly applies."
• "We are victims of our own telephones." (written pre-cell phones)

The environment 

• "Everything co exists--we cannot be just by ourselves alone.
• "The forests are our lungs outside of our bodies. The sun is our heart outside our bodies.
•  "We are imprisoned in our small selves,  thinking only of  the comfortable conditions of this small self, while we destroy the large self."

 Mindfulness

•    "...we think too much, and mindful breathing helps us to be calm, relaxed and peaceful. It helps us stop thinking so much and stop being possessed by sorrows of the past and worries about the future. it enables us to be in touch with life, which is wonderful in the present moment." 
• ..."the eucharist is mindfulness--awareness..." 
• "...walk as if kissing the earth..."
• "Everything we do is an act of poetry or a painting if we do it with mindfulness."  
• "By taking good care of the present moment we take good care of the future." 
• "Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering."

The Future

• "Use the suffering of the 20th Century as compost so that together we can create flowers for the 21st Century." 
• "The flower of tolerance to see and appreciate cultural diversity is one flower we can cultivate for the children of the 21st Century. Another flower is the truth of suffering."

It is a difficult journey, from Jeremiah's "Peace, peace, there is no peace," to finding "Shalom."

Blessings of peace, three days til Christmas

At peace, watercolor card

When day is over, chores are done, quiet rules,  magnificent creation surrounds you. Worries fade into insignificance because of who and what is really  important every day, the blessings of peace flow like a stream out of the mountains--if you only will listen to the gurgle of the water over the rocks.

The desert, a road to peace

My Aunt Lillian in Kansas, sent me this great article in the National Catholic Reporter about New Mexico and peace. The author is a Jesuit priest and has it right.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/on-the-road-to-peace