CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

BRUSH STROKE

12/1/2016

 
I am a happy camper these days!  You might well ask why that is. My answer is that I recently stumbled across several episodes of “The Joy of Painting” starring Bob Ross from back in the day and now available on Netflix.  Every one of Ross' thousands of oil paintings is at one and the same time both unique, and yet remarkably similar in its theme.
 
I have to tell you that my wife and I never tire of watching this gifted man create astounding nature scenes with what he called “happy little” trees, bushes, brooks, lakes, mountains, and clouds in a rapid manner through his technique of wet-on-wet oil painting.

Ross’ show appeared on Public Broadcasting in the United States 1983 to 1994.  It also aired in Canada, Latin America and Europe. Sadly, Ross died from cancer.  Much too soon he left this world. Nonetheless, he lives on today as an internet celebrity, especially though such websites as YouTube and streaming media services such as Netflix.

As we have been watching these thirty-plus year old programs, we have been reminded that Ross ended each episode with two simple words: “God bless.”  Indeed, Bob used his God-given talents to bless and inspire a great many people.  Even now, decades later, his testimony serves to challenge us to follow his example and to use our own God-given talents to do things that inspire, motivate, and bless others in turn.

And even if you and I are not be gifted painters like he was, we invariably still have something to offer others – something given to us by God that will inspire and motivate our fellow man.  Even if your and my talents are few, we can still have a powerful impact on others just by our attitude and outlook on life.

Some time back, Isle of Man resident Beverley Williams wrote a wonderful little poem titled "If You Painted Your Life".  I felt it fitting to post it here today.
 
If you painted life, would it be mostly grey?
With rare flames of scarlet for each special day
And odd strands of silver where you kept your illusions
Mixed in with the blues showing loss and confusion.
 
If you painted your life, would there be storms?
For the times you lost courage and agreed to conform
Perhaps you'd paint stars, one for each dream
That gave life a meaning, or so it once seemed.
 
Has anyone else painted clouds in your sky?
And dulled your bright colours as your chances passed by?
Maybe it is time to take back the brush
Start painting your own life, enough is enough.
 
You can paint rainbows, banishing grey
And splash on some gold, starting today
Puddles of silver: shimmering: bright
Walk out of the shadows, come into the light.
 
Perhaps you need mellow, golden nut brown
Are you running too fast, is it time to slow down?
Paint yourself peace and space just to be
Gentle blue mornings, a soft lilac sea.
 
In your painting of life let the beautiful days
Shimmer in gold and light up the greys
Paint it with courage, thread silver strands

Pick up your brush, life's in your own hands.
 
Bob would surely agree.  He would very likely challenge each of us to pick up our respective brushes.  And as he did, he would also likely say, “God bless!”  

​I follow his example and say, "May God indeed bless you as you pick up that brush and paint away on the canvas of life!"

 
SOURCES: 
 
https://www.netflix.com/ 
https://www.bobross.com/ 

https://52best.com/painted2.asp?utm_source=Sunday+01%2F20%2F13++*+If+
You+Painted+Your+Life+*&utm_c​​ampaign=Sandy+Test1&utm_medium=email
.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All