Devotion:

We discussed rejection at April’s artist gathering. Rejection is a part of life and of course a big part of being an artist. It is rejection that causes many artists to become untrue to themselves and their work in hopes of becoming pleasing to people. It is fear of rejection that separates people from their talent. Yet rejection can also drive artists to improve their craft or to try new mediums which better suit their gifts. In the end rejection is what we make of it.

How have you dealt with rejection in the past?

What’s happening this month:

This month our choir started its new work for Memorial Day.

One of our artists has been invited to lead worship for a Royal Ranger event in our network.

Clayton Phelps was asked top play at two art shows this month and just interviewed with a local radio station about his new album.

Garrick Brewer one of our teen writers and preachers qualified for the National  Fine Arts Festival in Orlando Florida

Our featured artist this month is Charlotte Dorais. Charlotte is a wonderful artist in paint. Recently she has returned to an old love… poetry. Here is some of her recent work:

The Walk

Charlotte Dorais

The church steeple protrudes up a missile ready for launch

Radiant white against the grey early morning sky

The predawn sky glows orange over the downtown lights

Sporadic traffic, delivery trucks commuters pass by

Soon I will be one but now my feet transport me

The swish of cars passing barely audible over Jim Croce’s Greatest Hits

The music a metronome paces my steps

Solid comfort flows from each foot as it strikes the ground

The music and scenery collides my thoughts muddled

A goose taking off from the river draws my attention outward

My labored breathing witnesses the challenge the hill gives

Rounding the corner Central Street stretches quiet before me

Fresh brewed coffee entices me to stop yet I press on

I speak a breathless greeting to the woman as I pass by her outside the diner

Through the open door I view the pre-customer ritual taking place

Sugar bowls filled, clean ashtrays set out

The mail box sentries guard the front of the Post Office

My reflection moves with me as I pass blank windowed store fronts

Crossing I watch a lone dog, his look determines I am of no interest

Diner customers are entering into their morning routine

The coffee shops activity increased with the sun rise

Down hill my step quickening the sky alive with movement

Geese swimming upstream break the reflection of the golden clouds

traffic’s increase impedes my cross back home

My walk over I enter the house to complete my morning ritual looking forward to tomorrow.

Creator

 Charlotte Dorais

Tanka  5/7/5/7/7

God’s love is mighty

Awesome powerful potent

Unfathomable

Taught by example practice

Received by invitation