Jason

At the beginning of 2022, I set a goal of achieving 400 studio hours. It was born out of a retreat I had a month earlier in which I felt God telling me to spend less time doing His job and more time doing mine. It was made clear to me that a big part of my job included making art. I figured an average of 8 hours a week was worthy of aiming for.After starting out of the gate strong, I hit a speed bump when we went on vacation to Florida at the end of January. Missing a whole week required me to squeeze in those eight hours elsewhere. It took me till the end of February to get caught up.Things …

[Read more...] about When is Failure a Success?

A new year is upon us. It's filled with possibility, free of dents and scratches, and still possesses that new year smell.In the coming year, I have now reached the age where I can expect to be surprised by many of the events that will occur. Some will be happy and thrilling, others... not so much.I will not claim to predict the future (who can?), but I am quite certain about a few things. For instance, I know at least some of the big plans I have for the year will fall flat. Now that's always been a fact, but it's finally no longer a surprise.I also know – without a shadow of a doubt – that …

[Read more...] about That New Year Smell

I had a bully in middle school. His name was John B. (I'm withholding his last name because I am sure he matured into a nice man with great kids and has started a charity to feed homeless cats.) But he was a jerk back then. He looked like a swollen eggplant with hair. A year older than me, John B. never punched me or beat me up. He never separated me from my lunch money. No, John was an orator, preferring to use his words to belittle and humiliate me. It all began when we had to draw our shoes in art class and the teacher hung our work in the hallway. Now my brothers and I weren't …

[Read more...] about The Light Within You

I don't know if you've noticed, but the world is pretty jacked up. There's plenty of blame to go around, but the real question is, how do we fix it? Here's an idea: If there was any way we could all become a little bit more like Mister Rogers, I think we'd be on the right track. Easier said than done, I know. But making the world better is always worth a try.  I suspect even he would downplay that suggestion, pointing out that we're all special in our own way. He wouldn't want us to be more like him; he'd want us to be more like ourselves. Our best selves. If there's anything we …

[Read more...] about Trying to Make the World Better is Always Worth a Try

Mama said there'd be days like this. Sometimes when we're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or sad, we simply need a time out.  Or pizza.  That was the prescription our midwife gave us after Lucy was born. Kim and I had come into the delivery day mentally depleted, our first child already a few weeks overdue. Then the labor itself was a marathon. After the birth, Kim almost fainted because of a drop in blood pressure. As she recovered, it was on me to put on Lucy's first diaper and figure out out to dress a four-hour-old (it's like trying to gift-wrap Jell-O) before clearing …

[Read more...] about Your Inner Check Engine Light