acrylic on canvas

30” x 40”

2018

My dad recently took a huge leap from the ministry role he had grown used to for the last almost 2 decades to become an independent consultant and celebratory advocate for people. He puts it this way on his website: “Utilizing the time-tested Paterson LifePlan Process, I'll help you chart your life's crucial moments, mine your core talents, prioritize your values and state your life purpose with clarity. You'll experience eye-opening ahas about who you are - at your core.” He offers this on top of training leadership teams at all kinds of businesses to better serve their people with purpose, value, and the belief that they truly matter. I’m in utter awe of him and the brilliantly loving way God has wired him.

In the inspiration stages of creating a commissioned painting for my papa, I went back to the basics, where I am a child at the feet of a brilliant Abba Creator, constantly in awe of His intentional, thoughtful creation and care for us. A quick glance at the sky is enough to be reminded of it.

Clouds simply consume the sky, they can billow and spill out and overtake the whole thing with their powerfully bold whites and grays. But there is not a heaviness to them; they’re made up of light, airy, windy water vapor. They are wild and organic. They float, they dance, they play. They beautifully illustrate joy and power to me; the perfect blend of boldness and light. This is a picture of who my God is, and of the joyful, courageous journey that my dad is currently on, because of his faithfulness. His unyielding trust in God’s plan for his life has led him to take bold steps in his Father’s name, in the name of loving people, all people, no matter what. My dad has let go of control and certainty, being willing to dance a powerful dance of trust and wild love for God and his people.

Our Abba is unhindered. His love for us is unreserved. And my dad’s potential to become even more like who God created him to be is unrestricted.