Hello friends,
This Sunday’s ART of Truth is a little different today. I did create an art project but it was a hot mess process. I decided to go ahead and share the art project and share the inspiration, so no video today.
About 5 days ago the inspiration came for today’s sharing. It was like a squeezing of my heart. I would like to say that it felt good, but it was so hard. I spent a good many hours processing what this word “defined” was speaking to me. Not only for the words I share with you, but also the heart place that it took me.
This 12 x 12 mixed media piece is called “Defined”. She has many layers of patterns, color, texture and love. The image of the girl show cracks in her face and skin. Yet, she is lovely. She is gentle. She is humble. She is longing. In the locket, I placed a magnetic red heart that was just here in the studio. Even though there is no writing on her skin, when I saw the picture, I saw the world had written all over her. She is looking down to the word, the truth…”Defined”.
As I began allowing the inspiration to flow through me, I was captured by the duality of what I was feeling. It was a tearing of sorts. It felt wonderful to spend time thinking about my Father in heaven who loves me so immensely. I could spend every second, every minute, and every hour of every day trying to comprehend his love and I will still wouldn’t come close to comprehending it. After walking with him for 30 plus years of a dark battle of healing, I know Him. I know that he loves me perfectly and completely. Easy peasy, right? But…then there are the humans…
Don’t you know that healing comes in layers. Forgive the analogy, but it reminds me of those horrendous road rash owies we use to get when we were children. Massive scabs that would ooze and harden and get crusty. The damaged flesh underneath that scab would push up and up trying to break through the scab, it seemed. That is my picture of this dimension of healing in this season for me. More healing, yes more healing.
What does define mean? to state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of…
Additionally, it means to ‘determine or identify the essential qualities or meaning of whatever defines us as human.’ BINGO!
Our lives teach us many lessons. Our experiences teach us who we can trust, and who we can’t. They dictate, in large part, who we become. Additionally, they teach us about trust, shame, blame, protecting, and defending. Most of all they teach us about love. Through that love or absence of it, we adopt our sense of value. This is not to say that life is/was empty of love. To say “I love you” is easy. To live and show it, is quite another matter. Regardless of the intentions of the people who raised us, lessons are learned. Many of them are not accurate. Many of them left us with distorted views of ourselves and our value in the world.
When Jesus gave me this word, “Defined”, it was like an arrow to my heart. It pierced me. It made me cry. It hit the oozing layer under the scab.
What do we allow to define us?
Who do we allow to define us?
How much power do we give the ghosts of the past?
How often I have allowed the choices of another person to define and redefine me in a millisecond of time. One word. One non-committal response. One refusal. One rejection. This happened to me recently and I couldn’t understand why I suddenly felt like I was bleeding all over the floor, but no one could see it. Only I could see the emotional pool of blood at my feet. I started writing. Random words, not even sentences. I let them come.
Then, “You are defined by Me”…He said.
I am defined by the one who gave me life. Of course, this does not negate the parents that brought me into the world, but they did not give me life. My Jesus, my Papa God gave me life.
So what do we do with the refusal, the rejection or the disappointment? what do we do with the sting that is left behind?
We feel it. We allow the tears to come. We ask for truth for the only 100% bonafide TRUTH TELLER. Jesus.
Next, there is a moment or moments where we must go to the center of our truth. Whatever that is for you, we all have it in some form that we can understand.
Our internal voice. That still small voice. The peace the comes when we settle in and allow the truth to be heard and felt. Our soul.
Whatever your place is, whatever your source is – it will tell you the truth.
The truth is that people only define us at that level if we allow them to.
The truth is that we are defined by someone who knows everything. He created everything. He has seen every tear that fell. He witnessed every moment of less-than-enough and invisible.
I am defined by Jesus.
In that place, the truth resides.
In that place, I can let other people off the hook. I can allow them to make their own choices while I cut the cords of entanglements to them.
In that place, I can have peace in knowing that I am loved completely and immeasurably by One who cannot refuse me. He cannot abandon me. He cannot reject me. He is YES and AMEN.
My friends, what we allow to define us is so important. Please don’t allow the world or any person put a price tag on you that lies.
You are human. I am human. The people in our lives currently and the people of our past, all human. We can never be enough for each other. We can never satisfy the need in someone else, fully. We will disappoint as well as be disappointed.
My friends, please don’t allow others to define you and derail you. Take care with your heart and know who you are. Know that you are more precious than gold and more priceless than all the jewels in all of the world.
I know this was another deep one, but I guess that’s where Jesus has me right now. Sorting out the oozing bits and restoring what he intended.
I hope that in some way you are encouraged and that you know that you are not alone.
You are loved.
Until next time,
Blessings,
Beloved – Reborn
The image of the girl is from Pixabay – link and credit below.
You are so talented Cara-Renee your art is amazing and you are so creative with your words, I always feel very touched when I listen to you or see your art.
How can you define what is ever changing and growing xx
Thank you Tania 💛
Cara Renee what a beautiful gift you have, the way you communicate your journey. The way you describe Jesus, and His perfect love only comes from someone who has experienced that love. I am reminded of a Psalm of David where in his despair he cries out to God and God hears his cry and then it says He reached down from Heaven and took hold of me, He pulled me out of deep waters and rescued me from my powerful enemy, it goes on to say He set me in a spacious place because He delighted in me!! David had such a way with words and so do you! Thank you for sharing your journey in your art and your words. Thinking of you and praying for you!
Thank you so much Lynne 💛 it is my pleasure to share what He teaches me 🙂