Art Imitating Life (or is it the other way around?)

What must it be like to see something in your mind's eye and then be able to bring it to fruition through art?  Recently, I witnessed the clever and complex, colorful and whimsical art of a man who creates brightly colored, elaborate glass and metal wall sculptures.  His work brings to life exaggerated scenes from his youth some 60 years ago.  Each scene features recurring characters whose fantasies and everyday lives intersect with hilarious consequences. The art, though funny, was a reflection of the realities and desires of everyday housewives and husbands (and even a dog or two), dreaming of being rich, famous, successful and beautiful/handsome.  Oscar Wilde wrote that "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life."  In other words, through the lens of art, we are able to better understand our own lives, and the expression of the art may even influence our life perceptions.  Through the artist's work, I was able to see a bit of my own life, my own dreams and even reminisce about some of my own hilarious moments.

Where I'm Supposed to Be

I recently read an article that admonished me to stop throwing away my energies, obsessing about a future that may never happen or reflecting about fantasies of the past.  Instead, the author suggested that I see the fulfilling moments right before me.  In so doing, I would validate and honor the here and now, recognizing that I am where I'm supposed to be.  There have been those times in my life when I've been ill or grieving when I couldn't imagine how I could possibly be where I'm supposed to be.  Yet, upon reflection, I've found that those places were indeed where I was intended to be at that time.  For it is from those difficult places that some of my most profound life lessons have come.  Even recently, I encountered that vital message again when I had the opportunity to revisit someplace from my past.  Sometimes, wistfully, I think it might be nice to be back in that place but my recent encounter helped me to realize that I have grown to a new place that is right for me for right now.  All of this reflection takes me back to my late mom's favorite Scripture passage:  "This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).  Today is a gift.  It's where I'm supposed to be.  I'll be glad in it.