Welcome to the year 2021!
Here is my first blog of the new year about the last picture from the old year!
As already mentioned in the last post mentioned, this picture has a twin. The two pictures could not be more different in style and color. But they were painted on the same day on the same background and both pictures were given the same frame.
In addition, the two pictures were presented to their future owners at the same time the next evening. It was a complete surprise for the owner of our painting today. He knew that I had painted the other picture for our mutual friend, but he didn't know that he was also to receive one. So it was a double pleasure for me to experience the surprise effect and the joy of the gift.
The owner of this little work is a passionate cyclist. I browsed his Instagram profile for a beautiful motif. I was spoiled for choice. There were many beautiful pictures that could be painted. I decided on a sunset scene by one of the lakes in Leipzig's nine-lake landscape.
As it was supposed to be a quick picture, I simplified the motif somewhat. The picture almost painted itself. The background was painted quickly. I played with the water a little and was very happy with the result. I had respect for the bicycle. I had never painted a bicycle before. The only means of transportation was the Motorcycle that I had painted. But the bike wasn't supposed to be that heavy, as it's almost black because of the sunset. I found painting the bike the most difficult part. I already found that difficult with the motorcycle. Only the slightest imperfections make the bike look uneven. In the end, I didn't get it quite perfect either.
But I was surprised by the overall effect of the picture. Although it was kept quite simple, I liked it very much. But it is even more important that the owner of the picture likes it. This thought reminds me of the saying that was always written in my childhood poetry albums:
If you want to be happy in life,
Contribute to others' happiness,
Because the joy we give,
Return to your own heart.
Marie Calm
As a child, I didn't think too much about the meaning of this verse. But today I know how true it is. Living only for oneself does not bring joy. True happiness is found in making others happy. Especially in times of Corona, when people are isolated and lonely, there is nothing better than a warm smile and a friendly hug. I learned how important these little things are last year. For six weeks, I didn't see anyone except nurses and doctors from afar. After these six weeks, a dear friend gave me a welcoming hug. The feeling was indescribable!
Last year, a Bible verse kept coming back to me Genesis 2:18 comes to mind:
And the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.
In the very beginning, God created humans as man and woman. They were meant to help each other. Man was not created for isolation. What I am experiencing today in our time is alienation among people. Our society is becoming more and more divided and many people are suffering from loneliness.
I know from my own experience what it feels like to be ill and alone. More details can be found in this blog entry can be read here. This made the time I spent with my friends last year all the more precious. The last two weeks of 2020 were particularly valuable, as I was able to spend this time with my family and friends.
My wish for the new year is that people will approach each other more, overcome their fears and turn their attention away from their own problems to the worries and needs of their fellow human beings.
I don't know what this new year will bring and where it will take me, but I do know one thing for sure: I have an all-powerful, loving and all-knowing God at my side!
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Today's picture sums it up nicely: The sun of a new year sets, but the sun of a new year rises. Just like the bike on the lake waiting for its next tour, many adventures, experiences and wonderful moments await us in the new year!
With this in mind, I wish everyone a blessed new year!
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