THE MAP 11/05/2007

It Began with the Table Covers @ the SJD Women’s Retreat 2007 I painted the word Joy over (16) 3x3 ft. pieces of butcher block paper. We used these as centerpieces for the Saturday morning session. The ladies were asked to use markers to add color and reflect on the message shared that day to the black and white design. Each paper was a sketch book for the women at that table. They did not know that each table cover came together to spell the word joy. That evening I hung the pieces together and the women were surprised to see the work they had done that day assembled to make a bigger picture. A picture of Joy.

I took each 3x3 ft. design and created a 1x1 in rendering as seen in the sketch above. I cataloged the symbols and thoughts of each table. Table One= Painting One. Each painting reflects the thoughts and inspirations of the small group of women that sat there that day.

Painting One Table One :

Trading in My Shame, Regaining Joy, Dove , White Lily, Sorrow Depart

Painting Two Table Two:

Walk with the Lord, Family of Gold , Friends of Jesus , Rejoice in the Lord Living Water, I am the Alpha and the Omega

Painting Three Table Three: I am Helped, Praise, Blessed art thou among men, Blessed by his holy name

Painting Four Table Four: King of Kings, You are valuable, Bought at a great price, He wants to fill you with joy

Painting Five Table Five: I am laying it down for the joy of the Lord , Joyful Joyful we adore thee My heart trusts in him, Remove sin fear grief and Give to Jesus to carry JC is what I call Him, Butterfly

Painting Six Table Six:Praise be to the Lord, Joy to the World , I am the vine you are the branches unfold, He has heard my cry

Painting Seven Table Seven: Ask Seek Knock, Trading in Sickness , I will give thanks to him in song Bloom for Him, Peace to you my friends, Rid of Cocoon and fly, Butterfly Painting

Eight Table Eight: Crown, Yes, Yes Lord, My heart Leaps for Joy Painting Nine Table Nine
The Lord Delights in You, Daily Bears Burdens, Fear Not Table

Ten Painting Ten:Seek Me First, Stop being Critical, Put a crown on their Head, Woman of Prayer
Butterfly/Crown/Heart

Table Eleven Painting Eleven: Sonshine, Faith+Hope , Love of God , Reflect his Glory, Trading in Pain Painting Twelve Table Twelve
The Lord is my strength and shield, Coffee, HE wants you

Painting Thirteen Table Thirteen:
Cross with Flowers, He took our pain, Let go of grief fear and resentment

Painting Fourteen Table Fourteen: Trading in My sorrow, Joy , ask seek knock , Fear Not

Painting Fifteen Table Fifteen: Jesus is first, I am with you always , Have a heart for the Lord, Grace , Flowers

Painting Sixteen Table Sixteen: Pray, Sorrow for the Night, Joy Comes in the Morning

Stay Connected to Your Source of Joy

Now that I had my thumbnail sketches and color palate, it was time to enlarge to 22x22in canvases. The anxiety was there. Will I be able to do it, will people like it, will I mess up, can I get it done. Every time I had doubt I went to the map...the thumbnails. That is exactly what they look like, that is exactly what color to paint.


Two Sunday's ago I put the first layers of color down. I wanted to paint and paint and paint, but I had promised the boys a picnic with friends. We had to leave and I had a cup full of red paint. The time spent painting is so annointed I did not want to waste the paint, sort of like when the Priest consecrates the wine you do not just pour it down the sink, it is injested or it is poured into a sink pipe that goes directly back in the earth. I did not want to waste the paint so I went to the MAP. Where do I need red paint? I had not started paintings 12, 15, 16, 9 and 10 but they needed red paint, so I slathered it on without thinking. I did not need to think because I was following the MAP.

I have shared this meditation with so many over the last two weeks. We do not need to be anxious about anything. We have the word of God. When we get doubtful, confused, rushed or tired and things are not clear...go to Word. It is our map. We don't need to think just act as Christ. Follow his lead, His example, His teachings and His Living Word. We call it living because it is living within us.