Friday, December 10, 2010

Tiny Miracles

#250 - Draw Something You Got For Free

I've been engaged in an experiment for the last two weeks, called "Miracle Walks."
I leave the house for my morning run (OK, so I changed that part a little, but I have to get a run in, and I'm so slow it's almost like walking anyhow...) and I set the intention to find a miracle along the way.

On the first day I had an idea that I might find something fantastic, or at least useful, and draw it for the challenge listed above. I always pick things up along the way, cans for deposit fees, found objects for my recycled art, coins, etc. This wasn't really anything out of the ordinary for me, but I thought by starting with small miracles I would be assured of success. I was wrong. I found nothing. I did see a rubber slipper along the side of the road, but there was only one slipper and I have two feet, so it wasn't of any value. I came home empty handed, carrying only resentment that those people who litter the street with footwear are never considerate enough to pitch both halves of the pair out their car window.

Day two, I again left the house stating my intention to find a miracle. Again, the only thing I saw was that stupid lone slipper. As I passed it, I was feeling a little guilty. Maybe I really should pick it up just for the sake of community service. Or might it be re purposed somehow? I was becoming obsessed with the darned thing.

Day three, same intention, same results. Not even so much as a soda can; pickings were really slim! On my last mile, I again saw the slipper. I almost kept going, but reluctantly stopped to scoop it into my bag. I was just picking up my pace again when I saw -- the other slipper! OK, I know what you're thinking. That's not much of a miracle, it was there all along and I just didn't see it until the third day. You are probably right, but yet, it was there in plain sight, not hidden by weeds or camouflaged by its color, less than four yards away from its mate. And I have an eagle eye when I'm out treasure hunting. It is (to me, at least) a puzzlement!

One day during the next week I woke up with the feeling I'd just had a very important dream, but try as I might, I could not remember any part of it. I did remember a scrap of music, though. It was a sweet, bluesy tune, I knew it was fairly contemporary and sung by a man, but I couldn't come up with the name. All through my morning "miracle" run, that music kept playing in my head, an annoying loop that just wouldn't quit. And the only words I'd matched to it were - "Tragedy... somethingsomethingsomething ...me" I really wanted to find the lyrics, because I thought they held the clue to the message from my dream that I'd forgotten. A google search later yielded no answers.
By the next morning I'd forgotten all about it, until the rhythm of running brought that @*$# music back into my head. I completed my run and emptied my goody bag -- about a dollars' worth of cans and bottles, some beads, and a CD. I had intended to paint a mandala on the CD, but on closer inspection it was in perfect shape, shiny as a new penny, seemingly not a scratch on it. Then I read the titles, the artist... Continuum, by John Mayer... a shiver was travelling up my spine. There it was, sure enough, on track #4. Gravity!
I dusted it off and it played beautifully (except for one track I had no interest in.) My "message" was clear as glass, and I quote: "Oooh twice as much -- ain't twice as good -- and it can't sustain like one half could." Get it? My message from the Universe was, stop carting home all this junk, for gosh sakes! I think that's absolute proof that God has a crackerjack sense of humor :)
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12 comments:

Shirley said...

Great story! You kept me reading it right to the end - and I usually whip through the text on art blogs if it goes past one paragraph. And I love your drawing composition.

kazumiwannabe said...

Your conclusion cracked me up! Great story and thanks for the laugh - I'm into that kind of experiment too and I've felt what you describe!
That said, your drawing is great!

winna said...

Reading this great story and seeing the wonderful sketch had me going through the whole site and got a friend to also. I hope I'm aware when you post again !!

Cathy Holtom said...

I love a sketch with a story, kept me reading too. Great drawing!

Unknown said...

Loved this story!! Awesome and great sketch too! Still laughing! Yes, indeed, God works in mysterious ways!

Tahirih Goffic said...

That was a great story! And I read not only all of it, but your whole blog! Your art is also great...how did you get the wonderful shine on the rubber of those slippers?! They're great, anyways:)

Angelica said...

Welcome back!! Loved this story!! Loved the way the Universe responded to you!!

Holiday Blessings, Angelica

Alex said...

Awesome post! Beautiful sketch =)

Art is for the Making said...

Wonderful, wonderful post and drawing. One of the best blog posts I've read in ages.

donna said...

What a wonderful post and drawing!

Fannie said...

Hah! So funny. Captivating and well written. Love your illustration too. Thanks for sharing. ♥♫♥

Anonymous said...

Great post! And great sketch too!