February 15-B, 2023

**Peach Orchard 03/01/2015 Oil Paint Rendered — Springs Farm, York County, South Carolina**

Is it courage and confidence,
or arrogance and artifice,
that motivates us,
drives us,
calls us forth, 
makes us known?

We can fool ourselves,
and operate from misplaced motives
and unworthy ends.

But at the center,
we are who we are.
Living from the center
brings everything else into basrelief,
a sculpture that reveals the essence
of the artist within.

It all flows into and out of
balance and harmony,
integrity, sincerity, spontaneity--
exhibiting who we are 
when nobody is looking,
who we are our dreams are
forever unveiling.

There is no hiding 
from the inner sculptor 
revealing, disclosing,
declaring, exposing.

Are we living to be
or to conceal?
That is the question.
"To be or not to be?"

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Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts