Two years ago tonight, as a woman in my 50’s, God placed Milan and Bellagio, Italy under my feet:

I had never picked up a paintbrush until I was well past 45 - closer to 50. Yet there I was, in Italy, to minister to women through teaching art.

It all began with faithfully chasing creative inspiration - not someone else and her ideas, not an MLM company (they’re fine - calm down), not diving deep into all my trauma, symptoms and pain, both physical and emotional.

I waited for my Kindler, and He showed up. He always does. And when He does, He comes bearing gifts.

Dear Middle-Artist,

All art is heaven’s way of staging a gentle invasion. Be alert to song. Be alert to poetry. Be alert to color. Be alert to texture and form and sculpture and a word fitly spoken. Know this: what moves you, and the way it moves you will always (always!) be right on time. Investigate further.

(And oh, I just dropped such wisdom on you! I just handed you flint and steel, my friend. Now go kindle something beautiful!)