Each year I take a trip I call my Radical Sabbatical. It’s a time to step away from the corporate world and live my artist life. A time to be inspired and let that inspiration come from where if God sends it. A time for adventure and going where I feel led. And if there happens to be a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stop along the way; even better.
This year my sabbatical started as a road trip to Mississippi to see my good friend and painting mentor Paul Jackson’s one man show at the Meridian, MS Museum of Art. The show was amazing. It was great seeing Paul and Marla, and Paul was very generous in introducing me to others and telling them of my own art. Before I left for my trip I thought that Paul’s show and spending time with him and Marla would be my inspiration, it was actually the people and scenes along this trip that inspired me even more.
Let me explain.
Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of Three Bags of Gold. Normally this story pops up in sermons when it is the time of the year to pledge your donations to the church. But one year when I heard it I took a completely different way. In Greek they use the term “talents” to refer to 20 years of a laborers wage. I let that word talent come into my interpretation of the parable. What it said to me is that it is my responsibility to take the talents God has given me and develop them. It is up to me to work at them and make them 5, 10 or 100 times better than when I realized I have them. This is one of the many messages that moved me to work hard on improving my art.
This trip made this all come rushing back to me. While the art was great it turns out on this trip my inspiration has come from music and musicians. Musicians, chasing their musical dream just as I am chasing my artistic dream. On my trip to MS I stopped in Memphis and Beale Street. After the exhibit opening I traveled to Nashville. The music and the neon in Memphis put my brain in gear. The people I talked to and a few I photographed were interesting and wonderful.
In Nashville I was moved. At various stops I talked to people who came to Nashville chasing their dream.
I met a great guy named Duncan Houston who moved to Nashville 12 years ago. He was sure when they heard him sing he would change country music forever. Twelve years later, it’s an early Monday afternoon and he sings his music for tips in a corner bar to 3 customers and a bartender – just trying to make enough to get by. When his set is done he heads to the end of the bar and counts the tip jar, hoping there is enough to cover a bill or two. Then there is Kinsey Rose. She and her band are up after Duncan. She’s young and full of hope. You can see in her eyes the hope that maybe that person who can give her a big break will come in and hear something they like. But for now she sings to one man in an empty bar. But she entertains him like he’s one of thousands.
On the drive home it struck me. We’re all just chasing our dreams. We’re trying to multiply the talents God has given us and share it with the world. The dream may not be the fame and fortune everyone
thinks we’re chasing. It may just be that inner peace that comes with doing what you are meant to do.
Using your talents to the fullest. Growing, and sharing and helping others grow and multiply their talents too.
It’s a pretty awesome feeling. What's your dream?
With this post I’ve included my last painting – the most recent effort from my dream – along with a few
shots from this year’s Radical Sabbatical.
*** Both Duncan Houston and Kinsey Rose have Facebook Pages if you would like to check them out I posted a video on Kinsey's page I took of Kinsey singing a song she wrote.
