why does it seem so hard?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 6:19AM 
It can feel so hard and impossible sometimes. Like several difficult things are happening all at once and I feel like I'm being pulled under by some kind of dark undertow. Winter stretches out way past anything I can even hope for. The leaves have long since fallen and been buried. There is a grey crust of ice over every thing lovely that was once green and tender. The money dribbles out of our accounts the same way the refrigerator seems incapable of staying full except for those little mystery containers that lurk in the back. The storm clouds gather over me and then I read this;
"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope,
drive the tent pegs deep.
you're going to need lots of elbow room
for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations;
you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid----you're not going to be embarrassed.
Don't hold back----you're not going to come up short."
This is from the book of Isaiah chapter 54. I read this and can feel the poison being sucked out of me. I read this and can feel the warmth and color return to my soul. The ugly demons that hide in the shadows of my alone times begin to step back as God light filters into the rooms of my heart.
Reader Comments (7)
Sounds like "the Message" version. I just want you and Brenda to know how enriched we are by your art that is so rooted in Life, as each of you are. Your art deepens my prayer and is an anchor in difficult times. It is wonderful and mysterious and it has been born of much love. Thank you both.We know the "dark undertow" too and are glad for Isaiah's encouragement. Thanks.
Father Pfleger a wonderful man of God, here in Chicago, says faith is in the kingdom what money is in the world. Thanks for standing and letting the rest of us eat the fruit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pfleger
I agree, must be the Message.
Your art is so beautiful and inspiring, a gift from God, no doubt.
I sometimes think we need the dark times to pull us back to God, and to reach for His word for comfort and encouragement.
Thank you so much for sharing your family life and creativity.
Thank you friends for stopping by and leaving these comments.
"faith is in the kingdom what money is in the world"
We must be on our way to becoming very rich.
Thanks for this, Rick:
Don’t be afraid—-you’re not going to be embarrassed.
Don’t hold back—-you’re not going to come up short.”
I saw your web-sign (on your house) on my way home today - and I think that these were good words for me. In the practice of clinging to a lot of probably unnecessary 'cushions' these days.
Courage to you -
I just looked you up to tell you that I loved your journal pages in An Illustrated Life! Not just your drawings, but your writing-I had to find your site so I could read more and see your art-
take care
Trish
Thank you Trish for taking the time to say hello. Thank you for your purchase through Etsy. It means more groceries for the Beerhorst kids. Two are sleeping behind me as I type at 5:50 AM---one on the couch and one on the floor with her sleeping bag.