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If, in fighting against the tragedy of HATE, you get sucked up into its corrupting tentacles, then what is to be gained? You are no better than that which you seek to fight against, and are, in essence, only fighting yourself, if you are conflicted! LOVE is the answer, I tell you! Scream it loudly to the rooftops and then some...until all the raging world stops to listen to sanity, even but for a brief moment!

Dare to be different and stand alone, if you must, if no one will listen to the VOICE of REASON! Different ideas can be dangerous to the one who holds them when they are different from the masses, but this does not mean they are wrong! Stand steadfast and endure! It may seem like an eternity will pass before the tide begins to change, but, as they say, even the fluttering of a butterfly's wings over the oceans can have a subtle effect in its origins, but then can one day become profound!

People who have spiritually and emotionally evolved should at least try to free themselves of hate and bitterness, even if they have suffered wrongs from other people, because it is liberating for the person that learns to forgive--no more power is given over to the perpetrator! Live each day with a "tabula rasa", or a blank slate!

The Bible says that "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1. I thank those who are fighting for peace and healing now in this country for your kind-heartedness in helping to turn away wrath in the recent riots! You are truly being the hands and feet of God when you reach out to people in their time of need--when they are at a crossroads and can be turned back from their wrath and be saved from its blinding and deafening effects! May God be with you and strengthen you in your fight against hate from both sides!
I'm praying for God to fill up every person's heart today with love and peace, instead of anger and hate! Let people do a "U-turn" (or 180 degrees) from the destructive force of anger to the constructive force of the power of forgiveness and living in God's Amazing Grace! Amen!

“It’s God on the Line, and He’s Calling for YOU!”

He’s (God) trying to talk to YOU...yes, it’s God on the line, and He is calling for YOU! He’s telling YOU to put the gun down or the knife away and turn towards the Light...yes, He’s calling for YOU!

He knows YOUR heart is breaking, and YOU think that whatever picture YOU have inside YOUR head is the truth about YOU, but it isn’t! He knows the real YOU, and he’s the Still Small Voice that calls to YOU and tells YOU everything is goin’ be alright!

Yes, it’s God on the line, and He’s calling for YOU! Lives are at stake here—yes, even YOURS! YOU can’t afford to ignore that Still Small Voice saying: “Son or daughter, I love YOU just the way you are, come unto me to find the Rest YOU’RE looking for.”

YOU, See when YOU come to the Light and choose to be a part of it, there is Peace like a river to be found...it’s time to lose no ground—Hurry, NOW! Yes, it’s God on the line, and He’s calling for YOU! As long as there is breath inside YOUR body, then it’s never too late for YOU! Decide what YOU will do...

Hello, YOU, time to answer NOW!

No matter how "blue" we may become, we can still rise out of our depression--out of the depths--and into the light of day! This work is meant to inspire and uplift you and is dedicated to suicide prevention, as well as those who are suffering from chronic illness or who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Please if you have a worthy charity, please feel free to e-mail me on this website.

Concerning the Notions of Evil (or Error) and the Metaphysical World with quotes from Mary Baker Eddy and William Shakespeare, whose words she borrowed from when she said:
"...there is nothing either good or bad, but your thinking that makes it so."
Now, I would be taking this quote out of context when she was specifically referring to all of God's creation and not saying that the nature of good and evil are merely relative to the current situation (or ethics are purely situational--as many people believe today), instead of polar opposites on the scale of morality, or moral choice--she was saying quite the contrary! Here are more quotes on the subject of our belief in the power of evil (which is pure illusion) versus the omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent (ever present, all seeing and all knowing) good we get only from God...

"No power can withstand divine Love [God].
"Our proportionate admission of the claims of good or of evil determines the harmony of our existence, -- our health, our longevity, and our Christianity."

"...Just refuse to accept man-made verdicts as your own opinions or thinking. Know that all your thoughts come from Divine Mind and the true thoughts dispel any beliefs of evil about place, etc. and their seeming effects go with them..." ("Letter from Mary Baker Eddy to Adam H. Dickey").

"...the belief in powers, pretences, thoughts that are not only not emanations from God, good, but are contradictions of Him. Materiality - this kind of mind - means not only to fear, it is fear, torment, misery; for behind it stalks its doom, mortality, destruction." (Lecture on "Christian Science: The Basis of Right Thinking"--Charles I. Ohrenstein, C.S.B., of Syracuse, New York).
--Mary Baker Eddy

"...there is nothing either good or bad, but your thinking that makes it so."
--William Shakespeare, ("Hamlet", Act II, Scene II)

On the Subject of the Power of Our Thoughts:
"Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionately to their occupancy of your thoughts."

"...Mortals will some day assert their freedom in the name of Almighty God....Dropping their present beliefs, they will recognize harmony and as the spiritual reality and discord as the material unreality." Chapter VII pp. 224 and 228 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
--Mary Baker Eddy

In conclusion concerning the notion of evil (or error): Our notion of evil can only have power as we give it place in our minds or consciousness! It is important to note that the notion of the color of black being associated with evil or "the dark world of magic" is largely derived from our culture. Compare this thinking with the symbolism tied to the colors black (in scientific terms--absorption of all colors) and it's supposed opposite--white (i.e. reflection of all colors) in other cultures.

Conversely in Eastern culture (and some Asian cultures), white can be associated with death, mourning, funerals, and sadness, while black with that of strength, power, wealth, health, and of prosperity and formality, and most recently, of elegance! Notions or negative associations with the color of black are largely man-made and are not universal! Unfortunately, this powerful association with the color black has taken on evil consequences in the actions' if men based upon these mistaken notions historically because of man's erroneous association with evil! In some major world religions, black in color animals and even human races have been tortured and murdered viciously because of man's sheer and unintelligent superstitions about God's creation! If God created all things (Genesis), then, we as Christians, can take this to be understood as all things God created can only have a purpose that can be possibly only understood fully by its Creator. Then, who are we, to question the Great Creator who in His infinite wisdom created all things in the universe!

Because of God's Great Love for Us...
Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ� by grace you have been saved�and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

As with my sense of direction that necessitates my need to do U-turns (wherever lawful) or turn-a-rounds often, I believe in making U-turns for my life, as well, when I see the need arise to correct my perspective or attitude about something! I thank the Father for giving me the Gift of Grace and not condemning me to stay in that state of error, but, instead, empowers me with the ability to CHANGE NOW whatever needs to be changed or corrected in me and does not require me for even a second to be stuck with carrying my mistakes of the past around with me, like emotional baggage! I choose to accept God's Gift of Grace daily and wish to share it with others, because the Father first loved me--now, I must show the Love of Christ to others In my relationship with my brothers and sisters! Because God forgives us for our mistakes, then we must extend that Gift of Grace and forgive ourselves and others in order to fully live to our Highest Potential in the light of His Grace and Love! Thank you, Father, for your amazing gift! Amen!
I'm praying for God to fill up every person's heart today with love and peace, instead of anger and hate! Let people do a "U-turn" (or 180 degrees) from the destructive force of anger to the constructive force of the power of forgiveness and living in God's Amazing Grace! Amen!

My Inspiration in Creating Art...

Design idea:
A thing isn't just the thing you see now, or for what you perceive its current function is, or even its original design concept, but, in art, "the thing" can be expanded beyond the boundaries...into something extraordinary!

For example, a painting of an object, such as a flower, is nice in its original form, but what if you can perceive it in a different light or from a different perspective, now it can be expanded to many different forms! This is the beauty of art for "art's sake", or better yet, for "creativity's sake", to force the creative genius in each of us to go on a journey that can have both intrinsic value in of itself as a truly freeing and enjoyable experience, but then also have a payoff in a more tangible way or quantifiable way! I love being on the cutting edge of finding a whole fresh new way of looking at the world around us, so join me on a exploration of expanding the boundaries of art!

"When Heaven Cries": the Blog:
When Saul was on his road to Damascus (now part of modern day Syria), he was on a mission to deliver up the Christians to the Roman authorities. This likely meant with almost certainty that every man, woman, and child that he seized would die a most horrible and violent death! Think: being thrown to the lions or being cut to pieces by gladiators and assassins in theater like structures like the Colosseum! Now, Saul, being a "good" Jew and a very devout one, thought he was doing everyone a favor by ridding these zealous individuals from society. However, God had a very different plan for him! Suddenly, His son, Jesus, appeared to Saul in the form of a bright light asking him why he pricked so hard at Him! Saul had no answer for Him, but was greatly shaken, because prior to this miraculous encounter, Saul had been so thoroughly convinced that what he was doing was right in the eyes of the Lord! But he couldn't have been more wrong!
Please refer to the New Testament in the Bible, in the book of Acts 9:1-1-- "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul asked who the voice was that spoke to him, and Jesus answered: "I am JESUS whom you are persecuting."
You see, like Saul who was later named Paul (who went on to become one of the most powerful and influential apostles known throughout the history of Christianity), we, too, can have experience a wonderful conversion after seeing the Light (refer to John 3:16-17)! Jesus offers this amazing forgiveness NO MATTER how great and terrible Our sin!
It doesn't mater what earthly religious leader tells you, or what anyone else tells you what you should believe and do! Ultimately, each of us has to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling! Please refer now to the description of my recent work for the rest of the story, "When Heaven Cries"!

Wow, today, I stand rebuked! "The Lord is slow to anger..." (Nahum 1:3 NIV). Lord, let me be "slow to anger"! But let me stand unafraid of what man can do to me, and humbly bow only to your Great Power...prostrating myself deeply to you in my time of greatest need and hour! But let my feet run from the wicked and evil in High Places! Let my eyes only seek you and my heart be filled with love when I look upon your creation and its reflection in people's faces! But let me reject the path of hate, emptiness, and despair, as the world would have me to follow! But let me look where the Light is, and there I must go! Lord, let be more like you each and every day! But grow less like the world in everything I do and say!

Background Information on the Choice of "The Scarlet Lily" title:
A big reason I chose the title for this piece "The Scarlet Lily" is that it brings to mind Nathaniel Hawthorne's work, The Scarlet Letter. Although this work was written by the author in the 19th century, the setting for the story takes place in the 17th century and the place that the manuscript was actually written was in Salem Massachusetts (the very place that the notorious Salem Witch Trials took place!). Hester Prynne, the story's main character, is condemned by her Puritanical society for adultery, though her husband is presumed long lost at sea! The townspeople want to see her suffer and shame her in public by making her wear the Scarlet Letter A (the letter "A" is for adultery). Hester suffers alone for her sin, but later in the story, we find out that her guilty counterpart is the very prestigious, well thought of town minister! I chose this title, because Christians believe that Jesus came to save sinners, and that we are all sinners! Ironically, in Hawthorne's novel, from all outward appearances, the Puritans were pious and upright and Hester was a "condemned woman" because of her sin that was publically exposed! If you carefully read this novel, however, you come away with the understanding that perhaps, quite the opposite was true! Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman we read about in one of the four gospels in the New Testament, only her sin! Likewise, we should not condemn others as well!