don't be afraid

I like this picture because it reminds me that we do not always see clearly. It looks like this jar might hold a mountain range and a sunset or a submerged volcano preparing to spew light. This jar, like each of us, is full of possibility. A have a friend Cornelia who has faced a tough year full of health challenges. But she's still here and getting stronger every day. She had recently taken up painting and is sprouting beauty out of her paintbrush. I will ask permission to put some of her creations here soon. In life, we all have struggles. They can't be avoided. But afterwards, when we take up our paintbrush, our camera, our pencil, our knitting needle, our pots and pans or whatever else we can find to reclaim joy and spread it to others, we declare goodness the winner over our dark days. We find our power. We feel the sun's warmth spreading even to our fingertips. We begin to understand what Jesus meant when he said, repeatedly, "Don't be afraid."