So far this summer…

I’ve traveled to South Africa.

Swam in the Indian Ocean.

Dressed up as a big Gecko and went to Canadian Tire to buy a bbq.

Jumped into the St. Clair river in my clothes with Pastor Mario, AUBRAY, Bethany, Mike & Maegan at the Church Staff picnic.

Had a fishing derby in Twin Lakes where we didn’t catch anything, but had five people in a canoe.

Cut out over 100 green circles for the set I made for Promiseland.

Jumped into the river under the bridge! (We Jump!)

Read “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway.

Went to Sunfest in London, where Jenn did a face plant in my funnel cake.

Went camping with Sarah, Skylar and Keith. Where we went swimming in the pouring rain in the dark and then spent the night in the trunk of Keith’s car with Sarah to escape the downpour. Most uncomfortable night of my life! Very fun weekend though!

I still plan too…

Go to Amy’s & Danielle’s weddings!

Camp for three days in the field by the church. (No showers or tents!)

Work for three more weeks at Day Camp and teach five more weeks of Promiseland.

Go wedding dress shopping with Sarah Hayes!

Finish editing a book that I’ve been asked to work on! Very exciting. Lots of work.

Travel to Alberta with my family.

Pack up and move back to the ‘loo.

Its been a good summer. I can’t believe its over half way done!

I was listening to CBC radio this afternoon, because I have a secret love for public radio. There was a call in program on happiness. People from all over Canada called to contribute to an understanding of what it means to be happy, and what gives us happiness. I only listened for a moment, but it got me thinking.
Most of us would say that we deserve to be happy, and that if we are unhappy there is something wrong with our lives. This, as I learned while listening, is in fact a recent philosophy historically speaking.

However, I began to think maybe happiness is the problem. For most people happiness involved doing things that brought them pleasure, making sure that they were being fulfilled and successful in all ways that they felt they should be. This is of course not altogether shallow. People didn’t always talk about big houses and yahts, but being happy was what life was about.

However, where does the rest of the world come in?

Should we feel bad for living a comfortable lifestyle when we know (or should know) that it is most likely at the expense of the rest of the world. Often we go out and spend money because we deserve to treat ourselves once in awhile. We would never call ourselves materialistic, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves. Right? However, I’m realizing the lifestyle that most of us would call “normal” is so extravagantly above and beyond what is sustainable or responsible as human beings.
I have no answers, so if your looking for them you can stop reading.
However, if happiness comes at the expense of people’s lives then I’m not sure we should be so hasty to pay that price.

God calls us to serve others. God calls us to give sacrificially. God calls us to live for him. God calls us to pick up our cross and follow him.

As a Christian I can’t believe that happiness depends on pursuing everything that I believe I deserve to have. I may not always feel “happy” when making sacrifices, but I know that ultimately God rewards those who seek him, with his presence. What could be more fulfilling in life? What’s more, is sacrifice even ever about being happy? Isn’t is about putting aside all the things that we trick ourselves into needing, in order to remind ourselves about the only thing that we will ever need, or will ever be satisfied with?

My apologies for the extremely boring nature of this blog over the past month or so. I feel like an artistic wasteland. Not a good feeling for someone who loves all things creative. I feel like I’m taking steps towards recovery though.

My mom lent me a book called, “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.” Sound flaky? Its not really. Although I’m sure the writer’s concept of God and spirituality would not equate my own in all ways, there’s definitely much to be learned. It’s based around AA’s twelve step program, only for writers and artists, not alcoholics. Obviously you take everything with a grain of salt, but it’s actually got some great stuff in it.

These are some of the basic principles listed:
“When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.”

“When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God…”

“Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.”

(Perhaps something some of our churches have been lacking?)

Other good point:
“Most of the time when we are blocked in an area of our life, it is because we feel safer that way. We may not be happy, but at least we know what we are–unhappy.”

“Artists love other artists. Shadow artists are gravitating to their rightful tribe but cannot yet claim their birthright. Very often audacity, not talent, makes one person an artist and another a shadow artist–hiding in the shadows, afraid to step out and expose the dream to the light…Shadow artists often choose shadow careers–those close to the desired art, even parallel to it, but not the art itself.”

High school english teacher. Anyone?

Oh yes, and these are great: Negative Core Beliefs

I can’t be a successful, prolific, creative artist because:
1) Everyone will hate me.
2) I will hurt my friends and family.
3) I will go crazy.
4) I can’t spell.
5) I don’t have good enough ideas.
6) I will have to be alone.
7) I will do bad work and not know it and look like a fool.
8) I will feel too angry.
9) I will never have any money.
10) I will get self-destructive and drink, drug or sex myself to death.
11) I will die.
12) I will have only one good piece of work in me.
13) It’s too late. If I haven’t become a fully functioning artist yet, I never will.

Ouch. Okay…so some of those made me laugh, but a little bit too close for comfort.

Well, I’ve only read a couple chapters, but I thought it was worth sharing. More of my own thoughts and creativity to come.