I Will Dare ~ Mixed Media Art Class

What are the things that seem to stop you in your tracks?

What holds you back?

What keeps you from moving forward?

The essence of "daring" is faith.

At the core, daring and courage are future focused

and that takes faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The things that require each person 

to "dare" or "be of good courage"

can be completely opposite,

yet legitimate

depending on the time . . . on the season

one is in.

Or even depending on personality differences.

Saturday, I led a class focused

identification of the things that hold us back,

and making a statement of daring

in the face of scary thoughts or challenging circumstances.

I am using my piece as a place for my family to

remember and celebrate and treasure

daring and courageous moments . . . 

no matter how things turn out.

Sydney already made a bold move

to sing a solo at church on Sunday.

So she wrote it down

and tucked it in the pocket.

Sometimes when we create something

and place it in a prominent place,

it helps us to be intentional about living it.

Inspirational Reading about "Daring & Courage":
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Undaunted by Christine Caine
The Frog and Toad Treasury by Arnold Lobel

The variety in the pieces

were

as divinely beautiful

as

the variety of women

around the tables

at Sturgis Photo & Gifts.

We were brave

in trying new things,

in sharing stories,

in meeting new people,

in taking time out.

Just this morning, my mentor, life-coach, favorite author, and friend,

Joan C. Webb,

"tweeted" this post:

"Courage is doing it frightened." (J.Briscoe) 

Reminds me of Ps. 56:3,

"WHEN I am afraid, I'll trust in You" 

& go on to do what I'm afraid of.

Yes, indeed, Joan!

If you could fill in the blanks,

what would you say?

Even if _________________, I will dare to _______________.

Even though ____________________, I will dare to __________________.

Why not write some statements down?

Talk about it with your family.

Maybe even create a reminder . . . 

Go out and be strong and courageous today!

Take a risk and put yourself out there . . . 

God's grace is with you!

{A huge THANK YOU to the ladies that spent their afternoon with me!}

{Amy & her daughters Megan and Morgan, Linda, Megan, Keri, & Tiffany.}

{And loads of APPRECIATION to Bob Davis & Terri Jo Oedekoven at Sturgis Photo & Gifts

for hosting my class!}

Teach Me, Mom!

Every so often,

I hear a whisper in my heart

that says,

This matters.

And when I hear it.

I pay attention to the moment.

To the person.

My kindergartner has been making art.

She loves to make it and give it away.

Recently she said,

Mom, I want my table next to yours

so you can teach me how you do that.

She had just made her own piece

and wrapped it up for her auntie.

So we moved her art table next to mine.

Show me how you do that.

Teach me, Mom!

It was one of those

This matters

moments.

I told her what to do step-by-step.

And this is how hers turned out.

She selected the words . . . 

This is one of those moments

to treasure in this mama's heart.

*

~

*

My next art class is coming up soon!

We have 7 spots left!

It's all about daring in spite of the things that could hold us back.

Recently, I read Brene Brown's latest book, Daring Greatly.

As I prepared for new opportunities to share my art in January,

I felt all of those crazy stomach butterflies.

Sometimes I would hear those nagging gremlin voices

telling me that I was not prepared for this.

That my work wasn't good enough.

That I wasn't ready.

Fear grabbed at me constantly.

Inadequacy was knocking at my door.

And as I felt at times my knees and head (and heart) buckling

under these thoughts at times,

I was reminded of Brene's book

and what stuck with me was her inspiration

which was from Theodore Roosevelt's speech

"Citizenship in a Republic",

sometimes referred to as

"The Man in the Arena"

This is the passage Brene quotes at the opening of Daring Greatly

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,

or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,

whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;

who strives valiantly;

who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;

but who does actually strive to do the deeds;

who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;

who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph

of high achievement, and who at the worst,

if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly . . ."

~ Theodore Roosevelt ~

Lots of "newness" was happening.

And I was just preparing to "get in the arena"

...even if my arena is not all that dusty and dirty.

And that is worth it.

Getting in the arena is worth it.

Because every time I step forward and do that scary thing,

it is living what I believe is important.

Every new step feels scary and so stomach flip-flopping vulnerable.

But that does not mean that the step should not be taken.

So many things can hold us back,

but we can choose to have courage and do it anyway.

I always think of Joshua standing on the edge of the Promised Land.

God told him several times to

be strong and courageous

do not be afraid

do not be terrified

The LORD your God is with you

where ever you go.

I bet his knees were knocking.

But Joshua had faith in God

and dared to go forward.

I hope I can follow in his footsteps.

That's what this art class is all about.

Doing it anyway.

Daring greatly.

Being strong and courageous

because the Lord your God

is with you

where

ever

you

go.