How To Paint (Your Life and Art)

This poem peered out from sermon notes at the wedding of Sam Bell and Miriam Gamble on April 4th in Castle Leslie, Co. Mongahan. Not being in a parish setting I get a chance as I preach in various places to develop the ideas of sermons. In this poem we bring together my ideas on imagination with the Rich Mullins thought of "being God's" and not settling for "good".

In some ways it goes out to my daughters Caitlin and Jasmine as they begin to paint art and draw their lives. It is for my students too, as another year ends and I pray for their going out into the rest of their lives. It is of course for Sam and Miriam, Gareth and Lorna Dunlop and Stephen and Clare Orr all of whom got something of this at their weddings. (Lorna actually came up with sycophantic in line 2!!!!). It is for me and you and everyone who longs to follow the man from Nazerath...

And we’re showing you how to paint, my love
To the numbers of our sycophantic applause
Are we teachers or thieves of souls, my love
Effecting the adventure of an inquisitive cause
Remember good is not always best, my love
There are times when God deplores it
Remember rules are not always wisdom, my love
There are times the devil settles for it
So let your imagination go mad my, love
Throw shapes and shimmy and shake
Create the most seductive intrigue, my love
That no other human being can make
Yes, smash the lines that we colour within
Put your soul and this world at odds
Become the provocative agitation
And the glorious beauty of the wildness of God.

On the road to Ballycastle - April 2002

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