Pure and undefiled water

My mom told me I should be writing again.
Here's to hoping she doesn't regret that.

This morning I was reflecting on yesterday's work - my watercolours. And, I sat myself up to continue watercolouring today. Before me sat two glasses of water. One was still a murky green from the days' work before. The other was clearer... a lemon yellow. But I smiled to myself, because I knew the story of the two glasses.

Yesterday, I had completed a set of tasks that would set me up for the rest of the day. The usual morning routine... I brushed my hair and teeth. Washed the face. Took the vitamins. Sipped on breakfast. Poured myself the second tall glass of water for the morning. I've neglected myself too long. This is one thing in a series of small life-changing habits I've taken on. Small, but significant. I'd been doing it for months now. I brought it with me to my impromtpu living room art studio. I was on a roll. Health AND Art. Separate but equal. Well, mostly.

I had my work out before me. A glass of rinse water, paintbrushes, watercolours, watercolour pencils, paper, ideas, stories, quiet... My mind was swirling with ideas, concepts, interrupted by technique, and spurred on by moments of clarity. I was in the zone.

In the midst of my ideas, layers of paint, splashes of water and mixing of colours, I'd sip my drinking water and paint. And, with the second glass, I'd refresh my paintbrush, turning the water a moss green. Sipping, painting, rinsing. Colours, washes, composition. Sip. Paint. Rinse.

And for one brief moment, I was interrupted by my son who had a very deep religious question for me. Paintbrushes down, I reached for my drinking water and leaned back on the couch. This was important.

I lifted to sip, and the drinking water was yellow.

Somewhere along the way, I got my two glasses mixed up.

I didn't fuss. I put the glass down. I listened and coached when he asked. Dad joined in the conversation. I glanced at my work. Had another idea, but pushed it aside - my kid was asking good questions.

Questions, answers, ideas, relating. We were sipping on fellowship. More questions, challenges, thoughts, and art interruptions - was that wash too light? Do I need to go over it?

I picked up my paintbrush. I thought I could paint and listen.

I thought I did.

The conversation ended, and I had accomplished a little more. I mean, I thought it looked better? Sorta?

But here's the question. Did I do either very well? When my resolve was to listen, and I put the paintbrushes down, he had my full attention. When I picked them up again, my mind was divided. Washes, colour, splashing, philosophy, religion, human kindness, love, care, judgement, splash, wash, rinse.


I didn't do well. I rinsed in my drinking glass.


But this was just one incident right? This never happens any other time with anything else?


I'm starting to see the fault in multi-tasking.


And I just want pure water.


And speaking of pure:
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep onself unstained from the world." James 1:24


-Jennifer-