MY BUCKET LIST!

You know the phrase, "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today!"  Well, like you, perhaps, I have been somewhat of a procrastinator.  That's doing the opposite of the phrase's counsel.  My excuse is also the typical one used by just about every one I encounter these days.  "I would but I just don't have time!"

I heard this phrase and a reply that I thought appropriate in the situation.  "I don't have enough hours in the day!"  The response - "You've the same 24 hours everyone has."  It wasn't meant to be cruel or mean, just reminding that all are in the same "boat, often going upstream, against a wind" - some are using a paddle, others struggling with their hands, etc.

Related to this interchange, I shared recently that I had been finally getting back to doing something I really enjoyed but had not done for some 20 years.  I guess you might say, in the vernacular of the day, I've stopped putting off one thing on MY BUCKET LIST! Painting on canvas.  When I shared this, some who know I do have a rather busy "retirement" schedule ask me how I had found the time to do such.  My response was that I could not find the time, I had to make the time.  And guess what, I have found that making time for something that is different activity from my other pursuits, really gives me a restful break that causes my other activities to not only have adequate time to pursue, but give me a feeling of accomplishment in tasks that I can complete with satisfaction.

In fact, here are three I've completed and prepared for a local Art competition next month.  The first is a photograph that I took in 1983 in Bangladesh.  It is the Pabna river (a branch of the Ganges).  I was on a ferry crossing and captured this, which I have put on canvas and framed as one of my offerings.  What do you think?

But the real BUCKET LIST products are in the genre group of acrylic painting, and I have chosen for my first productions a western and early American Christian centered theme.  My first came from a photo I took in the early 1980s, of a friend of mine named Richard Hunt, who not only leads out in his church as a music leader, but is a true cowboy.  He trains horses, makes saddles and other leather products, and when I can catch him, poses for pictures I'd like to paint.  This one I called the Cowboy's Prayer.

The other painting I've just completed today portrays early pioneer missionary Luther Rice with his horse and buggy.  Rice was appointed as a missionary in 1812 to the Far East, but due to his need to return to the states after only a year away, to secure support for his missionary partners, the Judsons in Burma, he became a "home" missionary to travel all over the early frontier for some 30 years.  Needless to say, I had no snapshot to model, so I used other means to capture the idea that I wanted to show.  (I might add that in my drama ministry, I portray Rice, so I do have somewhat of an acquaintance with him, in a way.)   So, got any suggestions?

                                      

Well, I've shared a little of my BUCKET LIST and discovered that it's not just a BUCKET of last stuff, if you get my drift! 

Ok, fess up! You've got something in a BUCKET you'd like to do, don't you? Take the advice of someone who feels that time is awastin' - Make time and do it!  It's never too late! 

Well, I need to break from this blog and do a little on this thing, so I'll be ready for my lesson next week.

You know what? We've just BUCKETS of TIME!

I like what the "preacher" wrote in ECCLESIASTES:  "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted...a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance;...a time to keep, and a time to cast away;...He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:...for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life."  Just a few clips from chapter 3, verses 1, 2, 4, 6, 11 and 12.

Be encouraged my friends.