Ascension

There is a saying that ‘Eden is built in the midst of War’.
I thought I will find God in Eden, I realised the devil is also there.

I have learned and am still learning to engage the positive and resist the negative over the years of art making. Creating process has taught me to live : to navigate, confront, overcome and persevere. It is a journey of discovering God and ultimately finding myself.

I have encountered the 3 main stages of the creative process which enabled me to embrace the ‘blessed broken road’ of my art journey.

Stillness
Before I step into the process of concept building for my artwork, I usually start to engage ‘Stillness’ by speaking peace to my body: to be still and to stay at rest because ‘It is finished’ and He has renewed all things and I am a New Creation.
Next I will untangle my thoughts from the days’ concerns by surrendering my all, trusting His plans for me. Finally I will remind myself that the Holy Spirit in me is alive and active and ready to take over.
Aligning all 3 (body, soul, spirit) as One has become an intentional practice orchestrated to posture myself to receive what Yahweh has prepared for me.

Silence
Focus on taking long deep breaths have often help me to withdraw from stimulations, from the noises around me. Deep breaths in and out through the name of Yahweh allows me to disassociate from my addiction to words and activities through meditation on His Name ‘Yod Hei Vav Hei’ and His word.

Solitude
Solitude is a challenging area as it was the last place I expect to encounter. It has been 7 years where Yahweh withdrew me from my life with others, from the plans and activities I usually involved with, and brought me into a peculiar separation where only His Presence is sufficient. Many times I felt stuck as though my life has come to a stop. Upset that my dreams and desires have been put to sleep. An arena where logic is uncommon, a refuge where His grace is the only reality I can depend. There are times that I struggled with sanity. I know Yahweh is still in the process of setting me free from the slavery of fear and flesh. I am still learning to let go and allowing Him to build a living sanctuary in me. How long… only God knows.