In All Honesty

And For Good

First things first, I’m keeping my Substack free for subscribers. 😊

In all honesty, I’m grasping for straws on how to connect with collectors, to strengthen my sales. I’m happy to share with you, I listened to my gut and only thought about paid subscription options for a skinny minute.

That voice, a gentle and sure one, reminded me of my thoughts in the beginning, (I’ve been writing about faith, art and happenstances on my path for over two decades.)

My content might interest readers, even bring them to pause a minute; but, I don’t think it’s right for me to ask others to pay for my simple thoughts that become words.

After all, I’ve been sharing such thoughts most of my adult life.

I love words. I believe they’re for sharing.

(Now, if bravery and tenacity lead to a book one day, oh, how I’d love to share with you how to buy one!)

For now, I’m just me being me using art and words, for good, I hope.

Now, I must tell you this TRUE timeline of a story.

I held up my coffee cup this morning, the one I chose for its sentiment…”It is what it is.” and the meant to be cynical and yet, accepting stance became too meaningful to ignore.

Not to mention, the sublimely artistic sky of the morning that met me with mercy.

Seconds after I shared this photo, a friend commented a ❤️ and this friend added her daddy’s words, a man who was a friend and father figure to me, Denny.

“Thank you, friend.” I replied.

Later, the words led me to make a list, mental at first.

Two columns…”What it is”

and “What is up to me”.

Six troubling realities were met by six realizations of what I have done and what I could still choose to do.

I’m not gonna share my list. Even for me, it’s “too much, Lisa”.

(Maybe in that book one day😉.)

Stick with me.

The best part of the TRUE story is next.

Along the margin of my scribbled list, I wrote “Romans 8:28”.

You may know the standby verse about troubling times, about things being worked out. Most Christians know this verse. Some days we believe it fully, others we may doubt, even dispute it.

I meandered (I love that word, do you?) about the house, the two sided list inviting me to a new mindset. The “all things working for my good” still sort of causing me to move into the day more at ease.

Made breakfast, straightened the kitchen and decided it’d be a good day to give the big Labrador a bath.

I slipped my bracelets off along with my watch and headed down the hallway.

Bedside, I paused and spoke to the empty air,

“Alexa, play daily Bible verse.” and then in that feminine AI engineered voice, I heard…

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And so, I stood still in the truth of all things that worked together for good this morning.

Coffee early, a friend’s instantaneous comment, her daddy’s truth, my embrace of it, the technology that I do not understand and so, I’ve decided to believe

God does.

One little “It is what it is” that’s about art?

Art sales are stalled.

So…I can work slowly and with intentionality.

Feel free to use this exercise for all your “not yet worked out” places.

Thanks for being here. I’m so happy you’ve stayed.

In quiet confidence,

Lisa (Anne)