I love how painting helps me to focus, find beauty, appreciate color, and marvel at God’s creations. I become more aware of my Creator as I paint.
It is good to be aware of things outside ourselves.
I live in a home within a neighborhood and create a little kingdom within my walls. In the business of working and relaxing in my home, sometimes it’s easy to forget my neighbors. But if the walls were lifted, I would become aware of just how closely situated I am to others. Perhaps I’d see that my Heavenly Father places many more people within my reach than I think. Perhaps I’d be less likely to stay inside or in my own space because I would be aware of the needs of my friends.
One act that is helping me to be more anxious for my neighbors’ needs is studying the Gospels in the New Testament. As I write out answers to “thought questions” from Julie Smith’s Search Ponder and Pray: A Guide to the Gospels with my study, I have seen the faces of my neighbors as I have asked how I can apply the teachings of Christ. I have felt promptings to do many things out of my comfort zone. I have a lot to learn.
When I wonder if I should reach out, I think of the image of people sitting in their homes, isolated, but really just feet away from one another. I see that barriers such as age or experience, religion or wealth needn’t separate us and that I can and should make that walk to someone’s home.