Friday, September 19, 2008

feeling all artsy-fartsy...

Last night, our fam of five ate a quick dinner, then headed out the door to our local Art Hop. Art Hop is the third Thursday of the month, and all the downtown businesses stay open and offer refreshments for the locals who want to walk and shop. It's called Art Hop because there are some galleries downtown, and the other merchants try to have some sort of art emphasis. The bookstore had a book signing by a local author, and the guy performing live music at the tea house was our good friend, Joel.


I'd like to say we've been to every Art Hop this summer, but we haven't. Last night was our first, but definitely not our last. We had a terrific time, despite the fact that it was a very chilly Colorado evening. By very chilly I mean that my teeth were chattering the entire time.

Anyway, we sat outside and listened to Joel for about an hour. He did fantastic, and he only had to stop once to warm up his fingers! I guess it's kinda hard to strum a guitar when you can't feel your digits. We enjoyed his music, and it was wonderful to see so many of our friends from the church that we just said good-bye to. It was great to see them, but hard at the same time.

I haven't talked much about leaving our church because that happened around the time our computer crashed and I was offline for awhile. We loved our church and were very sad to leave. Nothing bad happened, we just felt like God was leading us to find something a bit closer to where we live...here in our little community. I think it's much easier to leave a church when you're miserable than when you're content there. Seeing our friends last night made me question whether or not we were doing the right thing. I know we are, but it feels hard and lonely right now, and seeing the old gang was a breath of fresh air! Our pastor and his wife were there too and I talked to them for awhile. They both told me that they think John should start a church...and believe me, he thinks about it...just not sure we're ready to dive into that pool quite yet.

After we got home and started to thaw out warm up a bit, I glanced up and noticed this...

Our friend, Kari, created it. At first I thought it was a painting, but it's really a collage...kind of a mixed media collage (I'm a bit illiterate in the world of art, but I think that might be the right term).

Isn't it amazing?

John led an art/faith small group at our church for a couple of years with Kari and her husband. He has had his eye on that piece forEVER! They moved to Denver this summer and he asked Kari if she would sell it to him. She did, and though we've had it for awhile, we finally got it hung up last weekend.

I LOVE it! I love the colors, I love the image, and most importantly, I love that it was created by our extremely talented friend.

I think of Kari when I walk past this piece. And that makes me think about church, especially the church that is so dear to my heart. And then I'm mindful of the One who holds all of us in His hand...no matter how close together or far apart we are, and for that I am grateful.

11 comments:

Tiffani said...

well, our teeth aren't chattering but we are enjoying cooler weather! It sounds like you guys had a great night and I love the painting...

You talking about church reminded me of a book I just finished...have I asked you if you've read anything by Francine Rivers???

I think you'd really like her...her books move me..they aren't just amazing story lines but they challenge me in all sorts of areas of my faith...the one I just finished is called "And the Shofar Blew"....let me know and I'll give you the other titles...

Fran said...

Sounds like a fabulous night last night...

Praying for you. I think some cool things are right around the corner at your new church.

Happy weekend.
Love,
Fran

Amber said...

I just read Tiffany's comment and I am reading "And the Shofar Blew" right now. I agree...you need to read it if you haven't yet.

Love the piece of art. I'm not a big decorator, but I do have two pieces that I'm so proud of. One is a pencil sketch of my kids that my friend, Heidi, did for me, and the other is a painting that my dad painted 30 or 40 years ago. I will probably never buy art...but I love art that is made by the people I love.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

So what temperature was it to make your teeth chatter in September? Inquiring minds....

Love the artwork.

Jackie said...

I just love all of the things you find to do as a family. You are creating such awesme memories for your kids.

The artwork is amazing! And, yeah....how cold is is already up there???

Jenn said...

The piece of art your friend Kari created reminds me of something that would be hanging at Agia Sophia. What a great piece and how fun that you can think of your friend as you walk by it each day. :o)

You know that we changed churches for the sole purpose of serving God in our town and forming relationships with our neighbors. It was a very hard journey for us because we LOVED our church and church family. We still miss everyone, but know that we are where God want us. I will be praying for you and your family as you go through this transition.

Have a wonderful weekend with your family!

Lindsay said...

I love your posts too, Mer. Praying with you re: where the Lord would have you re: church. The thought of John starting one sounds like a possibility that I'll include in my prayers.

His Girl said...

this post reminded me how very much i want to be your neighbor :)

Meredith said...

Change is always hard, even if it's good change.

The artwork is amazing--love the colors in it.

Megan L Hutchings said...

I absolutely LOVE the artwork ;)!

All of your posts make me want to come to CO to visitate ;)! Hmmm...sounds like an adventure!

Brenda said...

As you know, we're on the other spectrum of leaving a church. It was really hard as we have known the pastor's family for 29 years and the pastor's wife was also my midwife. And because we've left that friendship has been severed--not by our choice. I'm praying that someday they will realize that this was a God thing and it had to happen for our own personal spiritual growth and then their will be healing. After all, we'll all be 'eating at the same table' in heaven, right?!
Hope you find the perfect place to worship soon.
God bless,
Brenda :)