The Middle of Things

Another year of school gone by and we are caught up in the fun experiences summer brings: swimming, skateboarding (my son, not me!), football, and camp. My son, Ryan, is now only 1/2 an inch shorter than me, and I can't get over how big he looks as he sails by on his board or races down the field, his arms swooping up to catch a pass. I find myself transported back to the past when he was barely to my hips, smiling as I watch him sort out and line up his little cars, or observe the movements of a caterpillar on a plant. He's in the middle of his youth, not a child anymore and not an adult, but in that strange place where the two meet and rumble, fighting to advance and move forward while still relishing that childhood freedom. At the same time, I am in the middle of my life, my body struggling to advance to the next stage as another part of me fights to regain hold of younger days. What the future brings we won't know till it gets here, but we can make the choice to hold on and enjoy the ride-it will definitely be an adventure!

Inspiration

Why do people create the things they do? I see very detailed and colorful landscapes that are considered art, and yet, I also see splashes of muted colors that seem to have been thrown onto the canvas, and they are considered art as well. I hear symphonies filled with such emotion they sometimes make me cry, and on the other hand, I hear the loud screeching of guitars and screaming voices all blaring together and again, feel like crying (for other reasons!). Both of these examples are considered music. People create different things in different ways and for different reasons. In writing, some people express themselves in poetry or essays, others write imaginary stories founded somewhat in real life. Some people follow their passions and research a topic, then write about it to inform others about what interests them. I guess people create from what is in their heart and what ignites their imagination. God instilled many different talents in each of us and it is up to us to discover what they are, then go out into the world and create something lasting, something that will hopefully make this world a better place for the next generation.