Four paintings today. 10,000 paintings in five years. Each one is a prayer. Click on any of the featured images to view the gallery.
8,369 Soul Portraits to go!
Brothers and Sisters,
I love you!
However, that’s not why I’m writing right now.
The attached video will talk about love. The young woman talks very well in English and Hebrew.
This too is not the reason I’m writing.
I’m writing because I haven’t been more tired. I can’t figure out why. I’m so fortunate to be painting but today I’m weighted down and unable to keep my eyes open. If I were to sleep I’m certain I would awake even more tired!
I think I figured out why. Lets start a little while ago. A couple of videos played while I painted. They were all good. Then I stumbled onto a series of Hebrew video blogs. Here’s one of the videos. I kept on painting. Please start the video and watch a minute or two before reading more.
Unfortunately I read some comments on one of her posts (it wasn’t this particular one). That is when the NOISE started and why I am so tired. I don’t read or watch the news. All I know and feel everyday is our ability to love, heal, and have our souls united. Then the comments began to claw at each other and one in particular at Maha because of her religion.
No wonder I need to keep my ears closed to even the shadow of hate. My soul became tired. I was unable to continue. We can never find joy in our lives together – that was the message in a handful of comments. The NOISE was overpowering. I refuse to believe it.
We can learn each others languages, if we want, sing together, for sure dance together, and maybe sometimes, pray together.
There are many ways to pray together. I’m feeling awake now. Maha, you will not be brought down by the occasional comments. Wrong comments by souls in agony, and that too is what I hear.
Learning Hebrew,
Daniel
BTW, Maha is Arab and Christian (I think).
10 Thousand Souls 
This particular portrait reminds me of when I started to (very slowly) re-awaken. To an old place but with a new perspective.
I think when life cracks us wide open it exposes our soul and makes us vulnerable. I believe in order to love, truly and openly love each other, we need that vulnerability.
Sometimes, for me anyway, the entire world can become a little too much to take in all at once and then I can feel the weight of it. It’s a lot to carry!
It was a couple of years ago when I started my own healing journey and I chose drawing as my way through it. My very first drawing is a simple, faceless angel. One wing has broken off and falling, some of the feathers are just starting to touch the ground. On that wing are the words “You will never fly.” In one of her hands she is holding her heart and in the space where it used to be, to my surprise, hold the words “Trust me”.
That was when I realized that despite feeling broken, I was still whole and I could heal. I then thought about how many people must be out there, feeling broken and vulnerable and do not know they are still whole. It is hard to love others when you do not love yourself. That is where it begins.
Thanks for sharing this Dan. Once again you have reminded me of something important I really needed to remember.
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