FAITH

Faith allows us to embrace what evidence cannot provide.  Faith (religion) can give us a belief; evidence (science) gives us facts.  No judgment is implied in this statement.

Faith that is rigid and strictly defined by sacred texts, by its own definition, cannot be open to new knowledge and is obligated to reject anything that contradicts the texts upon which it is based.  The faithful are convinced that they have the only real truth about our world and will not accept any other views.

Science questions what it knows and looks for contradictions that it must prove or disprove, and is willing to adjust its conclusions according to the evidence.  “Authority” is constantly tested.

There is another “type” of faith, one where sacred texts are used to find meaning and inspiration about life, and not as a source of absolute truths, often reinforced by personal spiritual or transcendent experiences.  The faithful seek a relationship with a God they know, (or hope) is there, with complete love and commitment.  They are willing to acknowledge that others may find this God in other ways.

Regardless of how one approaches this notion of faith, it remains a personal belief system and not one to be imposed on anyone else.  If there is a caring, loving Supreme Being, then there must be room in His tent for everyone.  To deny that it to limit Him with our human frailties’ and fears.

STORM FRONT a.k.a. CRAZY SKY

This painting is in my photo file twice, once as Crazy Sky, and again as Storm Front.  Coming up with titles for my paintings is becoming a real chore.

Crazy Sky

Acrylic 16x40

Sold

I’M WHAT I WAS BORN TO BE

How grateful I am to be able to say that about myself.  It has been a privilege to live a life of my own design, to choose the work I felt called to do, and pursue it, unfettered by outside demands.  Some consider the choices I've made courageous, and others think them foolish; I see them as neither.  I can take no credit for being brave or wise; I was simply doing what I was meant to do.  The seeds that grew the temperament needed for me to make these decisions were sown at my conception and lovingly nurtured by parents.  All that remained for me to do was take advantage of what had been given to me.

ON BEING A POLLYANNA

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I don’t remember what prompted it, but my dear sweet wife looked me directly in the eyes and said, “You’re a friggin Pollyanna”. (She has such a way with words.)  And as many of us know, Patience is always right.  I freely admit it.  As my wife so eloquently pointed out, I look at the world through rose-colored glasses.  

I guess I have always been a Pollyanna.  The few times I’ve tried to change have never been successful.  So I happily accept my lot, and in fact, am quite proud of it. Admittedly, there is always the risk of being disappointed and/or deceived by people or circumstances, however the advantages more than make up for the occasional slights.

I think Pollyannas are generally happier than others because they usually find the good in people and circumstances, giving them a measure of enjoyment the non-Pollyanna might miss.  And Pollyannas are fun to be around; they cast a positive light on everything, even if it is not entirely warranted. 

Only as a Pollyanna could I have left my medical practice to be an artist, and 12 years later at age 53, open a medical practice in the barn on our farm.  And only a Pollyanna could pick up and move 900 miles from family and friends to be part of an artist relocation program that had nothing to offer but hope.  My rose colored glasses have served me quite well and I have no intention of taking them off.

My art reflects the world I see through these glasses.

In The Light   Pastel

SUNDAY BARN #118

Several weeks ago I picked up the pencil instead of the paint brush and the result was one more rendering of this iconic barn somewhere in Livingston County.  I've lost track of the number of times I've painted and drawn this structure that never ceased to fascinate me.

Livingston Co. Barn

Pencil on paper

approximately 9x12"

LESSONS FROM A MEDICAL LIFE

My blog is 7 years old this month, a fact that is difficult for me to comprehend.  How can that be?  I just started it a few years ago....didn't I?  I thought I would celebrate the occasion by re-visiting some of the very early posts, either in their original form, or with some revisions.

Today's post first appeared in November, 2007, and has had a few minor revisions an additions.

During my years of medical training, which consisted almost entirely of managing patients with acute or chronic illnesses in a hospital setting, it was easy to imagine that life was over run with disease and illness. It was only after entering private practice did I appreciate that most people are not sick, and do not have low blood counts, abnormal renal studies, or abnormal chest X-rays’.  Abnormal laboratory results that were commonplace in the hospital would “stick out like a sore thumb” in my office practice.

I began to see the randomness of disease and illness. Yes, there are habits and behaviors that may promote well-being, but there are no guarantees; we are all vulnerable to the vagaries of genetics, circumstances, and chance.  With some exceptions, there is little reason to take credit for good health or blame for poor health. Thus I have learned to appreciate my own good health, and that of my family, and not take it for granted.

I have also seen the amazing resilience of the human machine and its ability to compensate and/or overcome a variety of physical and emotional assaults.  The symptoms of many illnesses are a direct result of our bodies attempt to overcome the offending insult. This has led me to believe that good health is more than the absence of disease and illness.  A healthy body is one that can withstand an illness and effectively compensate for the insults of disease.

The patients that I found difficult to deal with were those who could not understand why they were ill because they lived a “healthy lifestyle”, ate the right foods, and exercised.  They demanded to be treated and cured immediately.  (Yes, there are people like that.)

SUNDAY BARN TIME...#117

 

Red Barn against Burnt Umber sky

Acrylic  24x30

$1200

SUNDAY BARN #116

Today's barn was commissioned earlier this year.

The V Commission  acrylic 24x48

The V Commission  detail