A few days ago my neighbors stopped in to see my new work and this piece — a painting I did after returning from the Minnesota prairie in August — caught their eyes.
I mentioned that I call it “praise” —
And the man immediately broke out in song —
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
With these words I was brought back to my childhood and the entrance hymn we sang from as far back as I can remember.
I look at my painting now, inspired by the vastness and colors of the summer prairie, and it is transformed into its own entrance hymn.
An entrance hymn for me and the group of 180 people from around the world I will join in the Living School on September 3.
I feel unable to express — verbally or through my gift of writing — what this collective journey is all about, so I’ve resorted to responding to questions by sending people to the website. As a writer and professional communicator, this is a bit foreign to me. I “make my living” creating content and synthesizing intellectual capital.
But this endeavor that is my heart — this I cannot translate for you right now.
Perhaps the painting — if you sit with it — will touch your own heart. And in this way, you will receive the message of this pilgrimage as its meant for your own life.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Praise God the Father who’s the source;
Praise God the Son who is the course;
Praise God the Spirit who’s the flow;
Praise God, our portion here below!
JULIE ANN STEVENS 