Pencil+Paper=Peace
Some days there are so many thoughts, emotions, and concerns that it can be difficult to focus on much of anything. The past month has had far more than the normal share of those sorts of days for nearly everyone, it seems. At the same moment when we are having difficulty finding focus and calm, a bit of focus and calm can be the exact right thing to have. Years ago someone gave me a plaque that has a portion of Psalm 46:10 carved into it, “Be still, and know that I am God.” That is the medicine I seek on days like today, in months like this—to be still for a moment and to remember, to know that God is here.
If you have been reading this column for awhile, you know that I have spent most of the past four years building a habit of reading the Bible every morning, EARLY nearly every morning. Part of this was for the sake of reading the Bible and learning more about the foundations of the beliefs I have had my whole life. But a huge part of this Bible reading practice was to have regular time of centering calm, mindfulness, and thoughtfulness to start every day. My unchecked nature tends toward chaos, so I thought starting every day in this way would help check my chaotic tendencies—it absolutely has worked. After completing this last Bible-in-a-year program in mid-December, I decided not to start right in on another reading program. Thankfully the quiet time in the morning habit has stuck even without a reading schedule to keep.
Late in December, a friend reminded me of an annual monthlong sketchbook challenge that she has participated in for the past few years. I have dabbled at it some, but have never been consistent. I would post my drawings a couple of times and quickly feel overwhelmed by seeing the drawings of those who are far more naturally talented, more highly trained, or more practiced, and would put away my art supplies. This time I decided to go all in on the sketchbook challenge and see if I could make that habit stick, too.
The main element to the challenge is a daily prompt—an idea of what to draw that day. Some of the prompts have been doorways, insects, faces, stones, shadows, and “Inspired by Film.” I did a subscription version of the challenge, so late every evening I would receive an email with the next day’s prompt along with a short instructional or inspirational video. Another part of the subscription version was the opportunity to participate in a private Facebook group made up of other subscribers. Besides posting my daily drawings to that group, I have also been posting them on Instagram. The postings are a form of accountability, which is a big help in trying to form a new habit.
This morning was the first morning after the conclusion of the challenge. My only assignment was to post a selfie with my sketchbook to the Facebook group. After completing that assignment, I was feeling that need to “be still” and get my day started right. So I drew what was right in front of me, a deer antler laying on a cable spool that has been repurposed as an outdoor table. A delivery driver came by while I was out there drawing and he knew what was up—I was having my morning quiet time, prayer time, meditation time, centering time. It is not about the end product—the drawing, it is about the process and what it does for my brain. A sideline benefit is that the sketchbook becomes a sort of record of life. If you are looking for a way to get a bit of calm in your days, I encourage you to try an inexpensive little book and a couple of pencils. I hope it works as well for some of you as it has for me. <SpringCreekArtsGuild@gmail.com>