What are you learning?
Posted on May 20th, 2008
by 
otter
otter
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 20, 2008:
Dream Catcher
take that thing which looks like a disaster, and make it a work of art
whether its a meal, a project, a relationship, or your life . . .
it is always possible to pick up the pieces and create something new
it might not look like what you imagined it would be
you might have to conquer that ski-hill with one leg, not two
you might have to take the trip you've always dreamed of - by yourself
you may just have to swallow your pride, grit you teeth, and be civil to someone who you'd like to wash from your life forever
if something's broken, the easiest thing to do is to throw it away
our emotional "land-fills" are full to brimming with all the "stuff" we thought we got rid of
it's funny how that "trash" comes back to haunt us, huh?
you can't have it like it used to be
you can't wear shoes which cripple you
but, maybe you can take the leather and make a dream catcher
maybe there's still a few miles left in that "old soul" of yours
pull out the nails you've be walking on
pry out that broken glass
keep the good,
don't throw everything away
because, some day,
you will see this "disaster" as a gift
(For my brother, his ex-wife and son, who are going through a difficult time right now.)
© Otter (Catherine) May 20th, 2008
Here's a video by the Canadian singer / songwriter Tom Jackson. You can read more about him at the link below.
Tom Jackson - Love Don't Live Here
http://www.tomali.com/main/Lyrics/lyric4.shtml
Access: PublicTagged with: QaR, learning, lessons, life, painting, relationships, brothers, love, hate, divorce, paint, art, acrylics, spontaneity, Huntingtons Disease, fate, Tom Jackson, Love Don't Live Here, Dream Catchers
acrylics
July 2008
Otter. What to say.
Amen. Oh, and Thank You for that lovely post.
You're a gift, too! :)
Otter.
This is a magnificent gift of words…WOW….
A blessing indeed!
Bows to you, Aley
Hi Gabriele and Aley,
As you know, whatever we write for others is actually meant for us. I know these words are meant for me. And, I do see the “gift” in my “disasters” (small and large) - at least on an intellectual level. I think it's normal, however, to wish for things to be different. That wishing is part of the path to eventual acceptance. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your gifts of encouragement and enthusiasm. Peace, Otter
Gosh you always write so beautifully…and with such wisdom…
you can't wear shoes which cripple you
but, maybe you can take the leather and make a dream catcher ….
Interesting thought…
You know I am trying to get away from buying OR wearing my leather shoes now….too many animals killed inhumanely for our earthly obsessions. I will have to think of something creative to do with that leather…maybe some to those who have no shoes and some creative sole work ;)
And is that a painting of yours?
Because it is completely unlike any painting I have seen you post before.
I quite like it.
Hi Janie,
I think making something beautiful and sacred out of shoes which are already made would be an homage to the creatures who had their lives taken to make them. I'm sure there are some very creative things one could do with old leather shoes - besides donate them to someone in need (providing they are gently used). Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are lovely.
Hi Christine,
Yup, it's one of mine. My son wanted to hang out and draw, and I decided to just play and not work so hard at painting. The “feathers” were painted with my fingers. And the “dream catcher” came because I didn't like the look of the paint in the middle of the canvas. In other words, I may have been in the “driver's seat,” but I was steering with my feet. Glad you liked it. Perhaps I should “play” more often, huh?
Wow, Catherine, I'm glad someone asked, because I wanted to and somehow didn't dare (don't ask… I've no idea where that came from! Felt like something old, some shyness…)
I find this picture, Dream Catcher, truly amazing, and I'm blown away by what you say how it came about. Definitely yes, or rather YES! to playing more often!
:)
I am without words once again, my friend. You have always had the gift of writing what I was feeling in my heart. And, I agree: “whatever we write for others is actually meant for us.”
Missed reading and viewing your inspiring, thought-provoking and healing posts so-o much during the past months. I had some time to read this post for a reason this morning.
Basically, it sums up my life choices since we last talked — oh, so long ago! Said choices have proved to give me eyes to see my “disasters as a gift” … A busy time, a time of different directions but a time of healing and a time of paving the road to the next leg of my journey.
Blessings to you, Otter. Your gifts enrich those around you and touch countless others you may never know.
Lucente!
I am so glad to see you back. I've been thinking about you quite a bit lately, hoping all is well. This post keeps reverberating for me in the days since I wrote it. Last night I sat in the bath and wrote and wrote. I don't know if I can post that writing, as it speaks to the very depth of one of my “disasters.” I think, before we can find the gift, we need to fully experience and understand the “disaster “ first. A lot of the time (perhaps all of the time) we employ avoidance techniques like addictions (whether to substances or behaviors) in order to numb or side-step facing the full impact of our spiritual “disasters.” Blessings to you too, Lucente. I was absolutely delighted to see your comments here this morning.
Gabriele, The little bird of your soul is tired of its cage. So is mine. But, I am weary of beating myself against the bars, trying to break free. I need to close my eyes and ask God to show me the door. It's unlocked, and escape will be easy. (I don't know where that came from either :-)
Wow again. What an amazing message, Catherine. Thank you for that. It's pretty much a short hand for what is going on right now, that's how it feels to me. And of how to find the way to the wide open door… and even though it feels so obvious now, and so true the way you say it, I wouldn't have been able to see and say this myself.
Thank you so much.
(Have you noticed, by the way, that it's a poem, when you break it into short lines?)
The little bird of your soul
is tired of it's cage.
So is mine.
But, I'm weary of beating
myself against the bars,
trying to break free.
I need to close my eyes
and ask God
to show me the door.
It's unlocked,
and escape
will be easy.
Where ever this came from, I bet there's more.
:)