Piloting Faith: Money isn't everything...

A Word for the Day...

On a recent trip to New York, I met Cheryl Riley, an artist who not only produces beautiful exhibits in the world but is a fierce advocate for younger artists trying to make a living through their work. In our conversation, she told me her story. She worked in advertising in NY for many years, doing her art when she could fit it in. A few years into this, she started struggle with unexplainable health issues. Her body ached. Her skin was irritated. Her head hurt. She quit her job, and threw herself into her art. She got well. In fact, she hasn’t had a single sick day in over 20 years.

Artists are born to produce art. When they can’t, they suffer. It’s the same for all of us.

We are born to produce beauty in the world, be it through spreadsheets, baking sheets, music, speeches, relationships, board rooms, management meetings or programming. Your life is your canvas and your clay. You are born to create. Your imagination will guide you, and your body will warn you if you go the wrong way. These tools are built into the beautiful design that is “you.” Follow Cheryl’s lead: Create a beautiful life even if it means earning a smaller living. Suffering is a waste of time.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

*** I encourage you to support the artists in your life. They offer us mirrors to our own soul. They help us be kind and brave.

Prayer for the Week

God is always giving birth
and getting born somewhere,
in human skin and breath,
in hands outstretched,
in hearts broke open,
in endings, and in new beginnings.
God has promised to be our midwife,
our companion on the journey as we carve our humble path,
as we find our way towards love that is honest and just,
as we seek forgiveness and restoration,
as we experience the loneliness of being the only one in our particular skin,
as we find our way into community that will share our pain
and celebrate every
body in our midst,
as we gather our courage for the journey ahead.

An Advent Blessing from Rev. Shawna Bowman