What better way to begin the New Year than with a painting challenge? I've set a goal of completing a painting a day for twelve days from New Year's Day until my birthday on January 12th. I have a dozen more 6"x6" panels on the way. Those who have seen me at work know that I put many hours into each piece, so there may be a lack on sleep on the horizon. 

The Sparrow came back the day of Shane's funeral. And this is where it gets powerful. I was taking the sketch and a portrait of Shane to Dan, the funeral director, so that he could set up for the service. As I opened the back door to load the artwork, a sparrow flew up out of the back seat, hovered in the air, looked me in the eye, and flew out the open window on the other side. From that moment, I was lifted up and filled with a peace that is beyond understanding. I didn't shed another tear that day. Over the next few days, I created a felted wool sculpture of the sparrow. 

After about a year of feeling numb, I was really struggling with the pain of losing both grandmothers and consumed by grief. I didn't know how I'd pick up and go on. I found myself at my Grandma's grave, deep in prayer. It was January and patches of snow were on the ground. It started to get dark. I knew my kids needed dinner. I picked some moss and dried oak leaves off the ground and some orange birch leaves still hanging from a tree and headed home. Later that evening as I sat at the easel, I had an idea what I wanted to paint. But the birch leaves wanted to be in my painting, so I gave in and started with them. By the time they were done, thorns had decided they would be there too, and they would weave into a mass of celtic knotwork.. When that was done, the sparrow made his appearance, and again, there was peace. I started with an idea of what I wanted to paint, but the painting took on a life of its own and told me what it needed to be. This is the way that life works. We can let go of trying to understand, trying to work it out or control anything. We can trust that God will provide for our needs, and in His infinite wisdom, He has a plan that is greater than we could ever begin to understand.

Now, the Sparrow has appeared again. This time, I recognize him, and his message is familiar. It is a reminder as I grieve the third anniversary of Shane's death and leave the security of a teaching job to pursue the work that God intended for me. I will research and plan and I will work a grueling schedule to provide for my family, But in the end, I will simply trust that despite all my inadequacy and my shortcomings, that when I ask, God will provide for me and allow me to provide for my family as I do the work that I am called to do.