Category Archives: Art Journal

Christmas 2020

Posted on by

When I started this art journal it was with the intention of being open, honest and whole about my life. To not separate or divide my life into little boxes for different circles of community.

I don’t know what your experience is this holiday but I’m not doing well. I am reaching out to some people so this isn’t a cry for help but rather just an attempt to say that if you are feeling unwell you are not alone.

For me I don’t know if it is the pandemic, quarantine Christmas, or the stresses that are just part of my life (or a combination of all those things).

I’m tired of people pointing out the silver linings, posting photos of their fun creative ways they are weathering these “unprecedented times.” I’m tired of being afraid of not saying the right thing. I’m tired of people talking about the importance of taking care of your mental health while shaming people who break public health rules to keep sane and safe.

I’m tired. I’m sore. I’m angry. I’m shaky. I’m sad. I don’t feel well and I don’t have to pretend.

Click Here to find all my Art Journal posts,
or feel free to follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Old Reverend Randell’s Christmas Special

Posted on by

I love Christmas music.I like listening listening to it, but I especially love playing Christmas music for people. This is the first year in 10 years I don’t have 4 Sundays to lead music at The Commons for Advent (the church season leading up to Christmas). To fill the gap I’m going to post some videos of the songs I would have picked each week. You can think of it as “Old Reverend Randell’s Christmas Special!” Hopefully my internet can handle all the uploading.

You can watch the videos on my Facebook Page or on my YouTube playlist.

Click Here to find all my Art Journal posts,
or feel free to follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Sacred Silence

Posted on by

There is a sacredness to silence.

One of the most profound spiritual practices I have engaged with over the last year has been silence. For my prayer time I light a candle and just sit quietly as a way of being in God’s presence. No requests, no agenda, and lots of grace if my mind is too busy or loud.

I have been told practicing 10 minutes of silence a day is a good idea, but if that is too daunting that starting with 5 or even 1 minutes is great. At first for me it took my mind 10 minutes to just shut up, so I would practice 20 minutes of silence. Now I find I can often enter into silence a little quicker. I must admit that I don’t take time for silence nearly often enough but it has become something that I am more and more comfortable with.

Sometimes this prayer practice is just silence. Other times there is a sense of being aware of God with me. Some times a picture or thought comes to me that feels like it is not my own. There is a emotional resonance that makes me aware of God in a different way.

Lightning a candle and sitting in simple silence (or profound silence) have become a holy place for me.

Click Here to find all my Art Journal posts,
or feel free to follow me on Facebook or Instagram.