The arts have given me an outlet to express my deepest thoughts and emotions. I am an artist, an author, and a nursing supervisor. I have enjoyed being exposed to all manner of the arts as a child. When I was younger I dreamed of being an artist. I love to paint landscapes, animals, and even sometimes a portrait. The colors of the paint, the brush strokes portray movement in the composition and evoke emotions when relating to the painting. When I am painting I can camouflage the flaws and elaborate on the beauty. To me, true love does this very thing; when you love a person you can choose to see past their flaws, to forgive and move on to enjoy the beauty that drew you to this person in the first place.

Music also does this for me by settling my emotions when I am perplexed by people whom I feel have wronged me. Spiritually motivating music expressing God’s love can influence deep within my soul to help me move past the wrongs that I have encountered and release them. I have heard it said that unforgiveness and bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. I try very hard to forgive and resolve my anger before “the sun goes down.” Listening to music, letting the words and rhythm, reach inside me to restore balance and reflect on reconciliation.

There have been times when I was so angry, usually when I had been betrayed; that the only thing that could get through to me was music. Counselling by a well-meaning soul who wanted to help only threw me deeper into the pit of self-pity. There have been times in my life I have done some pretty stupid things that I could not forgive myself for. Music expressing the greatest act of chivalry is God’s euphoric love pouring out on me, which I felt I did not deserve. No matter how bad I feel about myself I am reminded only he can satisfy the emptiness in my heart restoring my spiritual balance.

A written word of encouragement can boost someone’s self-esteem at a moment when they are ready to just call it quits. I find joy in helping others see their potential, even when they are frustrated and angry about their situation. The novel I wrote “Live, Love, Forgive” expresses our need to be loved and to forgive each other and ourselves. Not infatuation or romance but true love that grows with the test of time.

God created the arts from the beginning of time. We are born of God, created by Him, nothing perfectly fills the void in us until we are able to turn all the love energy He gives to us, outwardly in universal love to Father God and to all mankind.