Cancer Survivor Art Project

Dear Friends,

God bless you, your loved ones and your ministries this week!

Do you know someone who has survived cancer?

The Art Center of Battle Creek has partnered with the American Cancer Society to create an artshow that will be a collaboration between cancer survivors and artists in our area. The artists and survivors pair up to work together on the pieces. Then the show will go on the road to cancer centers and art centers around the country. When the tour is complete, the artwork will be auctioned to raise funds for the next project of this sort.

Our first meeting was at a luncheon at the ACBC and I was the first to arrive. A number of well groomed, well dressed business women arrived along with a handful of men and the artists (of which I am one). We artists were dressed down in our artsy fartsy clothes and I could almost guess, who was part of which group, simply by our appearance.

I was impressed by the joyful demeaner of the cancer survivors, who are living life to its fullest, appreciating each day of borrowed time they have been given. Perhaps dressing and grooming are part of the zest for life they share.

I also suspect that we artists don't have the money to dress up so well. Maybe some do, but most of us are still "paying our dues."

This is a wonderful opportunity for new friendships to form and bond. The woman who chose me is already dear to my heart after only one long conversation.

Love, Sue

Healing Friendships

Dear Friends,

God bless you, your loved ones and your ministries today!

Where is your sanctuary?

Yesterday as I was getting ready to head out the door to my painting class, I received a phone call from the school practically pleading with me to substitute teach for them that day. I said, "I'm sorry, but Thursday is the one day that I am not available to teach."

All day on Thursday is the time I devote to my friends of 13 years to get together, paint, talk and of course eat! Yesterday, I did more talking and listening than I did painting, because that was what was needed. I sat and listened to my grieving friend who had been away on vacation for two weeks and couldn't wait to get back to our group to be with us, because we help to heal him from the horrible grief he endures daily.

We welcome new people into our group every season when the new class term begins and we instantly make them insiders. They bring new blood and fresh ideas to our group.

We pride ourselves on loving one another unconditionally, overlooking one another's foibles, focusing on everyone's gifts and graces, and empathizing with each other. We are genuine yet kind in our critques of one another's art and encourage each other in our creative endevors. As a result, we are getting to be better artists every week and the growth in our skills and our ideas is remarkable over a year's time.

We value our relationships so much and frequently recite, "We wish everyone had this kind of a group!"

If you have this kind of support in your life then you are blessed. If not, then how could you create it?

Love, Sue

Haitian Faith

Dear Readers,
Again, thank you for reading my blog. I pray God's blessings on your day and your ministry, whatever that ministry may be.
How is your faith? Mine is challenged at the moment, because my husband had his hours cut back at work, and we are in super-scrimp mode. As I pout about this, I am reminded that half of the world's population doesn't have adaquate food, water, clothing, shelter and access to medical care. Only 7% of the world's popualtion has coins in a jar or money in a bank account.
I also am reminded about a man I met in Haiti, who had incredible faith. He said that Jesus was with him every day; if he needed food, Jesus would give him food; if he was sick then Jesus came and did surgery on him. I was in awe of his faith and the glow from his face!!!
I shared this story at a church gathering one time and someone interpreted it to mean that I was romanticizing poverty. That is not my intent. My aim is to inspire myself and others to have faith when we meet needs in our own lives.
Before I started painting yesterday, I felt depressed about our financial situation, but as I painted my prayers for Haiti, the knot in my stomach eased and I began to feel whole again. This morning the knot is back and I find if I sing the song, "Rejoice in the Lord Always, Again I Say Rejoice" then I feel better.
Do you find it amazing when the Haitian people gather in the street to sing hymns and praise God in the midst of their tragedy? I certainly do!!! It's awe inspiring to me.
Now that I too am facing my own challenges, which are puny in comparison to those in Haiti, I am doing like the Haitians and singing praise in response to my troubles. It truly helps!