Ruining Your Canvas With Paint

Do you have something hanging over your head today that needs to get done?

Do you need help getting started?

Maybe you've had a project that you have been needing to get done, but it is still sitting in your inbox, on your table, in your garage, or on your computer screen.

It sits there accusing you of stuff, like:

"What's the matter with you? Lazy, much?"

"Hey, I'm not going to finish myself, Pal."

"You aren't good enough to do this, are you?"

"Why aren't you more like your brother... sister... successful cousin?"

"I'll just be here reminding you of how you never finish things..."

Wow. That list came pretty easily—too easily. I'm guessing that there are a few of us out there who resonate with this all too well.

Sometimes, the things we haven't started are transformative actions that we know need to be taken, but doing them will disrupt our lives too much, turn things upside down, or bring about the kind of change that feels terrifying to imagine.

It's often easier to stay where we are, to remain immobilized in familiar spaces even though moving forward and taking action might be the very best thing for us.

Musical artist and raconteur, Michael Gungor recently wrote:

Canvas can provide a home for magnificent art, but an artist can't get too attached to the look of their naked canvas, or they may forget to ruin it with paint. 

Ecclesiastes is an ancient wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures where a figure known as The Teacher dispenses advice on a host of things, including taking a risk and taking action:

Ship your grain across the sea; you may receive a return after many days. Invest in seven ventures in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 

The Teacher says, "You don't know what life is going to bring you, so... Yeah, that blank canvas might look better if it's ruined with some paint." 

What are the canvases that you've been stockpiling?  Are you ready to ruin them with paint?  Are you ready to embrace the changes that will inevitably come when you begin to create something new?   Are you ready to begin?

May you find the strength and the courage to pick up your brush... And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.