I’ve started this piece just before the pandemic hit. It has more of a winter feel and was originally called Olive Tree. The main theme was on the importance of staying connected to the source and roots that enable us to thrive and shine. It’s also about the value of community since we shine brighter in numbers than by ourselves. The colors represent diversity.
Due to the many intricate elements, it took way longer to finish it than I had anticipated. You would think that COVID-19 brought a lot of extra time for artists to paint. True. However, my focus was elsewhere. I’ve been extremely busy trying to alleviate the food challenge the pandemic created. I took all the necessary precautions to stay shielded from the virus. Nonetheless, I know that it was only because of Adonai’s protection that I’ve never picked up or brought home the disease.
So, why did I change the name to Light in the Darkness? It’s a self-reflection of the question: “Did I make the most of the time the pandemic presented and was I really a light in the darkness the pandemic presented?” My honest answer is no. I wasted a whole lot of time watching futile episodes, sleeping in, vegging out instead of truly digging in the word. I was busy “doing” but not so much “being” and “connecting” with truly matters most. Although I didn’t spend my days as productive as I could, just like in the piece Light in the Darkness, together with others, I accomplished feeding thousands of people with literally tons of food. I’ve also been blessed to make new inspirational connections via Zoom, which was one of the godsends during this time of the pandemic. So, together, we were a light in the darkness.
I hope this piece encourages you to reflect on the time that’s left and spend it wisely.