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A Rich Masterpiece that is YOU

Addiction recovery is all about second chances. This is my second chance to paint and write about recovery. It is a rebirth of my paintings and a new story about progress, faith, and endurance.

I feel that this is your story too. You are not the same person you where five years ago. You have been reborn like a phoenix. Are there ashes around you? Have you found more wisdom?

I can imagine that your soul is holding onto hope. Take a deep breath, you’ve made it this far, and you can make it to the next bend in the road. 

Why? Because you have arrived here, intact. Where is “here” for you? Where do you live physically, emotionally, and spiritually? This is your, “you are here” on the map of your life.  

Treat each day as a second chance. Everything you do counts. Failure counts, because you are not stagnant or giving up. This is why I am repainting the 12 steps. 

Success also needs to be acknowledged and not taken for granted. If you don’t it’s like it never happened. 

Do the work you need to do to be a whole being. You are a divine soul, and God wants you to be victorious.  

I can see in my mind each mistake, effort, victory, as layers of paint building a rich masterpiece that is you.

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Listening at 1:00 am

The order in which I have reworked this 12 step series has not been logical. 

God is directing me in this work. I don’t know the finish line, but He does. God is making solutions known to me in the order that I need them. The images come, only when I am ready for them. 

For example last night I had been trying for two days to understand what was needed for the composition of Step Four. I wasted so much time painting and destroying several birds that did not work. It was only when I stopped and listened – humbly, that He suggested two different images for Step Four and Step Ten. 

The suggestion was, swap the panels and trade the images for Step Four with Step Ten. With this insight new compositions came to me – after several days of painting, searching, and repainting – finally peace. 

Through this spiritual art partnership God can make glorious art happen through me – if I am listening. 

At 1:00 am last night I was finally listening.