Choosing (a) God

I was challenged the other day to know whether God loved us. I said that I couldn't believe in a god who didn't.

So, I got to thinking about that. Imagine that the gods were lined up to apply for the job of being my god. I have a mental picture of the scene: YHWH, Ganesh, Bridget, Quan Yin, Kali, Zeus, Jesus, Allah, Astarte, y'know: a long string of the all-powerful and omnicient. I have a clipboard and am asking some questions: What is your definition of Love? How do you deal with Human Error? Would you be willing to use me as a channel for bringing your Blessings to Earth? Are you available for comfort calls in the deepest, darkest night? What creative act are you most proud of? What role do the arts play in your daily worship? How much do you love me and my kids?

Now I will tell you: the minute I start getting answers that include shame and violence I direct the applicant over to the tea and thank-you-for-your-time table. Thunderbolts are a weather pattern not a teaching tool. Patience is a necessity for us humans. They are gods, I am guessing that they have infinate resources: I expect them to use them, not just sit around cataloging their assets. One of them is not willing to shed good red blood for my family? It is a handshake and good-bye for Him/Her.

Maybe Jehovah and Jupiter were the only options we had once upon a time, but this is the age of the internet. There are a lot of choices out there. I want Someone who will teach with kindness and comfort with passion. And if the answer to that last question about how much they Love doesn't include some explanation about travel to the ends of the known and unknown Universe then I will keep looking. I love my kids that much. I certainly expect the same from my God/dess.

Great Party

We had a great party at the Library the other day. Here are a few pictures for fun. We had five "stations". The first was painting. (Complete with a hair dryer for drying speed.)

The next was collage.

We also had paper punches to construct little medallions and a little collection of rubber stamps.

So there we were nestled in the stacks finishing our ATCs with some doodling..See you on April 17th for zentangling. Ooooh.

ATC Party at the Library!

We are having an ATC party at the Library

Saturday, March 20, 2:00 - 4:00

You are invited.

I wanted to make it really easy this month to make a bunch of new cards all at once. You know, get a little stash of ATCs and fatten up your collections. There will be different stations - a very quick, really interesting paint technique, a couple of new ideas at the collage table, very cool medallions to make at the paper punching station, plus drawing and rubber stamping, of course.

All of the techniques are easy enough for school children, but, as always, the artistically dexterous get this stuff in their hands and come up with amazing little works of visual delight.

To entice you further I have put together some great door prizes: if you are a newcomer to the group, or the friend who brings a newcomer there is one prize, if you are a K-12 teacher or a medical professional then I have a different door prize for you. Other categories for door prizes include professional artists (visual, performing or literary), high school students and prolific ATC makers.

The Library staff will have some refreshments for us, and I will make time for trading at the end of the party.

I can hardly wait. I have been having a lot of fun planning (making sample ATCs!)

I will see you there.