Let All Things Say Amen

I seek entrance into a sacred space inside. Maybe it is my heart that I seek? The key is here somewhere, I bet it is in my pocket, but the lock…now, where did I put the lock? Behind these fences of bone, there are birds with halos and the dogs all speak in Latin to confuse the unwary. I have seen flowers in this land that are larger than automobiles. And, everything here is sacred and holy.

Sometimes, they escape their cages and I paint them. They are all very sneaky and are capable of tip-toeing without making the slightest sound. I see them late at night and in the dark and sometimes while I am dreaming. They are powerful totems; they are allies of immense persuasion. I have been hypnotized by them, and, I must warn you that there is no protection. They cast spells that look like sparks and like lightning and in the aftermath of the storms, serenity, peace, and stillness are all that remain.

When I am able to capture them, I receive the gifts of holy fire. But, I find that when I pick up my brush to paint them, they become illusive and subtle and are quick to divert my attention from the task at hand. My anguish in life is that no one else will ever really see them. They are creatures of spirit; they are darting shadows that you spot out of the corner of an eye. They are plants that whisper the solutions to all of life's most profound mysteries. Oh, I have tried so many times to tell their stories and I will continue to try, but how do you paint the magic of God? How do you tell the stories of the heart without breaking it?

These are my wishes.

Kelley Vandiver

August 2009