PAINTING:
I REALLY LIKE BARNS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THEM BEFORE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE PAINTED ONE. I LIKE HOW IT LOOKS RUGGED. MANY PARTS OF THIS PAINTING WAS DONE WITH THE PAINTING KNIFE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CHALLENGE, I HATED THE KNIFE! I THOUGHT BOB WAS CRAZY FOR PAINTING WITH IT AND IT FRUSTRATED ME. AFTER THIS ONE THOUGH, I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE TOOL AND LOOK FORWARD TO USING IT SOME MORE.
I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT BOB INSPIRING PRISONERS TO PLANT HAPPY LITTLE TREES. "THE PRISONERS REALLY ENJOY DOING IT AND GIVING BACK AS A FORM OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE," GAUTZ SAID". "THEY LEARN ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO (GROWING A TREE) AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY." ONCE THESE TREES AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE GROWN AND HEALTHY, THE DIFFERENT PARKS WILL BEGIN RECEIVING THEM TO PLANT. BY THE TIME THEY ARE DONE WITH THE "HAPPY LITTLE TREES" PROGRAM THERE WILL BE 1000 TREES IN 21 STATE PARKS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN. THE TREES ARE WHITE CEDAR, PAPER BIRCH, SUGAR MAPLE AND BLACK CHERRY. I LIKE THIS REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND I THINK BOB WOULD TOO. HE OFTEN SAID, "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING FRIENDS WITH NATURE."
PRAYER:
I LIKE PRAYER. WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH MY MIND AND JUST LIFE HAPPENING, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD DO IT ALL WITHOUT IT. I KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THE TREE PROGRAM ABOVE. THE TREES ARE PLANTED TO BENEFIT NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PRAYERS ARE PLANTED TO BENEFIT NOW AND ALSO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ONE EXAMPLE THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS WHEN WE PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN. YEARS AGO, IN A CHURCH SERVICE, I HEARD SOMEONE TALK ABOUT PRAYING FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S MATE. WHAT? !! THIS OPENED UP MY PRAYER LIFE A STEP OR TWO. NOW, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT PRAYING FOR A SPECIFIC PERSON TO BE THEIR MATE. THAT IS A NO NO! I AM TALKING ABOUT PRAYING THAT MY CHILDREN WOULD BE PREPARED FOR A MATE AND MARRIAGE, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND OR WIFE FOR THEM, AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A GODLY MARRIAGE. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN ABOUT PLANTING PRAYERS. THEY WILL BENEFIT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO LEARN TO STEP OUT OF THE BOX A LITTLE AND SEE HOW MUCH BROADER OUR PRAYERS CAN BE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN ASK GOD HOW HE WANTS US TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE TOO. HE WILL BRING SITUATIONS AND AREAS TO YOUR MIND AND HOW TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF ON YOUR OWN. WE SHOULD NOT ONLY INVOLVE HIM IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIFE, BUT LET'S INVITE HIM INTO OUR PRAYER LIFE TOO AND THEN, LIKE THE TREES IN MICHIGAN, WE CAN WATCH IT GROW.
