Vacationing Every Week

Posted on June 17, 2013 by
An enchanted, magical, sacred place in the Wallowa Mountains. Peace, original oil painting at Steve Henderson Fine Art.

An enchanted, magical, sacred place in the Wallowa Mountains. Peace, original oil painting at Steve Henderson Fine Art.

 From the Start Your Week with Steve Newsletter of Steve Henderson Fine Art:

Steve Says:

“Recently, Carolyn and I spent some time in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon, frequently described as the Swiss Alps of the Northwest.

“It was a busman’s holiday, whatever a busman is, but I was there to judge the regional art festival, and in between the actual judging, the evening reception, and hours of talking to artists about their work (which I enjoy, very much) Carolyn and I hiked the area, absorbed the silence, and, in the evenings, watched episode after episode of Doc Martin.

Time to rest, reflect, and meditate. Queen Anne's Lace, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

Time to rest, reflect, and meditate. Queen Anne’s Lace, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

“So we rested in between working, which is a very necessary element to working well. We slipped the vacation in with the work week.

“While it’s not every week that we are able to travel to a beautiful spot and enjoy its environs, we do manage to take a mini-vacation every week, by being insistent about taking one day, every week, completely off.

“In our case, it’s Sunday, simply because that is what works best for our family and our work schedule, but it really doesn’t matter what the day is, as long as we find one and take it off.

“Much as I love painting, I don’t paint that day, simply because my mind and body need a rest. I don’t do errands, fix fencing, or embark upon anything that resembles a chore or obligation. I am just as likely to find myself sitting in the hammock with a book as I am in the garden, pulling weeds and surveying my Kingdom of Green.

“In short, I rest.

Literally and figuratively, it's important to leave the crowd and noise behind on a regular basis. Leave the Crowd Behind poster, based on Last Light in Zion, at Steve Henderson Fine Art

Literally and figuratively, it’s important to leave the crowd and noise behind on a regular basis. Leave the Crowd Behind poster, based on Last Light in Zion, at Steve Henderson Fine Art

“I am fortunate in that I can devote an entire day to this, but if I couldn’t (and there have been times in my life when this was so), I made sure to allot myself as long of a time as I could, each week, for this purpose.

“It’s not selfish. It’s not unreasonable. It’s not impossible.

“But it is necessary. As necessary as plugging the phone into the charger and letting its battery recharge.”

Read more, and subscribe to the free weekly newsletter, at Start Your Week with Steve.

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The Exhausted Smiley Face Emoticon

Posted on June 14, 2013 by
Ever seen one of these?

Ever seen one of these? The smiley face created by Harvey Ball in 1963.

This has gone on long enough. It’s time to discuss the smiley face — :-)

Isn’t it adorable? I confess that I just learned how to create it by reading an E-How article.  :-)

I’ll stop now. I know you’re tired of the thing. :-0

But whether or not I continue to insert the symbol after every sentence, you can’t get away from it, and if you start to count how many e-mails, text messages, Facebook posts, Tweets, and other contemporary communication methods assault you with it daily, you come up with a decently sized number.

And the interesting point is, the smiley emoticon frequently accompanies 1) an insensitive comment, 2) an insult, or 3) a confrontational statement, along the lines of,

You’re right. Those pants are a little unflattering. :-)

I thought that you were a jerk last night. :-)

With all due respect, your political opinions are off-base. Perhaps you should just shut up. :-)

Human interaction. No technological triumph can trump it. Beachside Diversions, available as an original painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine art; as a licensed, open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

Human interaction. No technological triumph can trump it. Beachside Diversions, available as an original painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine art; as a licensed, open edition print at Great Big Canvas.

In the deep primeval past, when we communicated face to face or, more recently, by telephone, one had to be either inordinately insensitive or amazingly good to vituperate someone without their quite realizing what had just been done. For too many years I knew a woman — happily well out of my life now — who was brilliant, simply brilliant at delivering a venomous expression of hostile malevolence with a honeyed, gentle smile and the meek demeanor of a saint.

Oh, this woman was sweet. Every interaction with her induced an emotionally diabetic glucose reaction that left me with a bitter sensation in my spirit and mouth, but oddly, many people did not see, or chose not to see, this.

But then again, she was really, really good, and she chose carefully and wisely the directions of her barbs. The cunning, crafty, clever part of me — my default, and I assure you that, in the days past when I fed the beast within I was magnificently accomplished at the craft — couldn’t help but admire how good this woman was at what she did, which is only to be expected because she practiced so diligently.

The woman who has fortunately sailed far away from my life was as skilled at malevolence as the master sailor is with negotiating the sea. Golden Opportunity, original at Steve Henderson Fine art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

The woman who has fortunately sailed far away from my life was as skilled at malevolence as the master sailor is with negotiating the sea. Golden Opportunity, original at Steve Henderson Fine art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

Ooh. Nice shot. :-)

Communication, for good, bad, ugly, or kind, is a gift given to humans (this is not the time to bring up dolphins that converse and chimpanzees trained to use sign language), and we are rapidly degenerating in our ability to use it. Rather than take time to consider our words, and how they will impact the person hearing, or reading, them, we slap out a text and punctuate it with an emoticon, frequently leaving the recipient confused at our ambiguity.

Is the person addressing us angry, or not? Is there some issue that needs to be resolved? What are they really saying?

If we shoot back, “What are you really saying?” we may get,

So, are we an educated people are not? Let's start acting like it. Embrace Each Day poster based upon Steve Henderson's original painting, Provincial Afternoon.

So, are we an educated people are not? Let’s start acting like it. Embrace Each Day poster based upon Steve Henderson’s original painting, Provincial Afternoon.

I think you know. :-)

Well, gosh, that really helps.

Theoretically, we are an educated people, and judging by the amount that taxpayers put into our contemporary educational system we should speak, write, and dance like Einstein, but we don’t. We have much to say but are so reluctant to enter into the fray of human emotions and potential confrontation that we don’t say it, at least not clearly.

It takes courage and conviction to look a person in the eye (you can’t do this in a text) and express our true thoughts, but the potential fruit of genuine communication is honesty, understanding, and a moving forward in a relationship.

That’s a good thing. :-)

Read more about language and how it is used and mis-used in my earlier article, Christians: Please Stop Talking Like Weird People.

Find Steve Henderson’s artwork at

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

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Christians: Please Stop Talking Like Weird People

Posted on June 12, 2013 by

So tell me, does this sentence sound normal to you?

“In our efforts to live intentionally as an authentic community of believers, we seek out the small-group dynamics of passionate discipleship.”

To speak effectively and realistically as Christians, we do well to take time and gather our thoughts. Gathering Thoughts, original oil painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

To speak effectively and realistically as Christians, we do well to take time and gather our thoughts. Gathering Thoughts, original oil painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

If you answered no, Thank God.

If you answered yes, it’s highly likely that you are a regular church attender, and your life, your vocabulary, and your walk as a Christian have been infiltrated by contemporary pulpit-speak, kind of along the lines of an Oregon wheat field being contaminated by genetically modified wheat.

I don’t know where the gurus at the top are getting this language — oh wait, maybe I do: 21st century corporate business, education, and government — but an increasing number of Christians are earnestly talking about “being authentic,” “intentionally living,” and “moving forward with passion.”

I am so, so, so glad that Jesus didn’t speak this way.

I would so, so, so appreciate it if Christians would stop doing so.

It’s so . . . obsequious somehow to abjectly emulate the abstruse speech of superintendent hegemony in the effort to convey simple truths. How ironic that, when we want to say, “I seek to be real, genuine, and approachable,” we express it with the term, “effective authenticity.”

If you want to be real, then be real -- not "authentic." Be Yourself poster by Steve Henderson, based upon the original painting Spirit of the Canyon

If you want to be real, then be real — not “authentic.” Be Yourself poster by Steve Henderson, based upon the original painting Spirit of the Canyon

Does anybody outside of the group — or even inside of it, actually — understand this term, whether they’re living intentionally or not?

(And as a side note, what does it look like to live unintentionally? Does that mean that you’re dead?)

I don’t know much about ancient Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke while He was on this earth, but judging by its translation into English, Jesus talked in a fairly straightforward manner, frequently conveying simple yet complex ideas by telling stories. Proper and improper group dynamics, something so vital in contemporary churches, meant little to a Savior who interacted with people one on one, looking deep into their souls and beyond externals like tattoos, rough language, or whether or not their bra strap was showing.

What does love look like? Gentle, kind, protective, unconditional. Dandelions, original painting available at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

What does love look like? Gentle, kind, protective, unconditional. Dandelions, original painting available at Steve Henderson Fine Art; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

It really didn’t matter to Jesus that he sounded erudite and smooth; He wasn’t concerned that followers would drop away if He didn’t use PowerPoint; He never wore a three-piece suit — and yes, I know that they didn’t exist then.

What did matter to Him was a strong, central, unwavering message: “God loves you. So much that you can’t possibly comprehend the magnitude of that love. Accept that love. It’s real.”

Now, how are we, as Christ’s followers, going to convey that message to the people around us? While words matter, actions matter more, and the first step is to bask in, believe, and soak up Christ’s love into our own souls, so that we can pass it on to others by being loving ourselves.

The second is to be real — not authentic, not intentional, not incomprehensible by relying upon weak, corporate-based vocabulary to essentially say nothing.

Be real real real -- your amazing, unique, one of a kind self. Aphrodite, original sold; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

Be real real real — your amazing, unique, one of a kind self. Aphrodite, original sold; licensed open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

But real. Ourselves. Using language that fits who and what we are, not copying pseudo-speak that gives the illusion of intelligence and perspicacity.

And lest you get me on the last word of the last paragraph, I really do talk that way, being one of the few people — actually the only people — I know who uses the word “obfuscate” in ordinary speech, but if it’s any help, I tend to mispronounce it.

It’s unintentional. Ah, at last, the word used sensibly.

As Christians, we will always seem weird to people who are not, but let it be for the right reasons: because we touch the untouchables, speak out and speak up for what is right and honest and good, make decisions based upon principle as opposed to monetary gain.

Not because we obfuscate.

If you want to learn to write — and speak, more clearly, check out my book Grammar Despair: Quick, simple solutions to problems like “Do I say him and me or he and I?” $8.99 paperback and $5.99 digital at Amazon.com.

Find Steve Henderson’s artwork at

Manufacturers and retailers — license Steve’s work through Art Licensing

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Achieving Success

Posted on June 11, 2013 by
Confident, classy, unorthodox -- the successful woman. Lady of the Lake, original painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art canvas print at Great Big Canvas

Confident, classy, unorthodox — the successful woman. Lady of the Lake, original painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art canvas print at Great Big Canvas

 From the Start Your Week with Steve Newsletter by Steve Henderson Fine Art

Steve Says:

“Have I made a success of my life?

“This is one of those thoughts that arrives unawares, unannounced, and uninvited, generally around 2 a.m., but it can show up any time.

“And the answer to it depends one hundred percent on what your definition of success is: money, fame, and/or power are the standard indicators by which many of us go by, even when we don’t try to.

“But in the end, and there is an end, because death is even more certain than taxes, the ultimate definition of success is how well we lived the life that we were given.

“What is the old saying? ‘Nobody regrets on their deathbed that they didn’t spend more time at work,’ and it’s true.

A successful life involves just that -- living, and living with joy and contentment. Into the Surf -- original painting sold through Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art canvas print available through Great Big Canvas

A successful life involves just that — living, and living with joy and contentment. Into the Surf — original painting sold through Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art canvas print available through Great Big Canvas

“When we look back with regret, it is for the lost opportunities to spend time with the people who matter to us, to tell someone how much they mean to us, to feed somebody who is hungry or comfort a child who is frightened.

“If we want to be a success while we are alive, then we can pursue those hidden opportunities, the ones that don’t make our paycheck or Twitter follower count larger, while we still have the energy and time to do so.

“Carolyn discusses this concept of success as well this week in her blog, This Woman Writes, with the article, “You Can Be Successful without Owning Goats.”

Read the rest, and subscribe, at Start Your Week with Steve

Steve sells his fine artwork in various formats to accommodate all budgets.

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You Can Be Successful without Owning Goats

Posted on June 7, 2013 by

When I was a kid, all successful people went to college, because if you didn’t, you weren’t a success.

So, if success means that you own a boat, does it matter what the boat looks like? Shore Leave, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art, open edition print at Great Big Canvas

So, if success means that you own a boat, does it matter what the boat looks like? Shore Leave, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art, open edition print at Great Big Canvas

Whatever a success is.

I think it means that you bring home a chunky paycheck, replace your car every three years, make payments on a home with more bathrooms than bedrooms, and eat out three times a week.

My God, I’m a failure. I never felt like one.

I did graduate from college, which theoretically qualifies me for success-hood, but I majored in English and didn’t go on to become a famous journalist the way my high school teachers thought I would. I married a good man, had four fine children, and homeschooled them. We replace our car when it refuses to move another mile, have fewer bathrooms than daughters, and consider it eating out when we dine on the porch.

Oh, and I own goats. That’s never one of the standard qualifications for being a success, but I never, ever have to run to the grocery store to buy milk. Bill Gates couldn’t say that. Well, probably he could, since he probably never, every enters a grocery store for any reason but simply sends the housekeeper, but you know what I mean.

When you live in the country, the last thing you want to do is run to the store because you ran out of milk for the morning tea. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

When you live in the country, the last thing you want to do is run to the store because you ran out of milk for the morning tea. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

So what am I getting at?

We have a disturbing tendency, in American society, to define ourselves by what we do as opposed to who we are, by how much we make as opposed to how well we live, and we make our decisions accordingly.

And, being Americans who want it all and believe that this is achievable, we want to be rich and famous and important and knowledgeable and healthy and wrinkle free and contented and loved by our dog (loved by our cat never comes into the equation, no matter who or what we are).

And unfortunately, when we realize that we can’t, we’re frequently fine with dropping the “contented” and being loved by our dog part. The money and accolades received by other humans are so vital to the definition of success, that we can be unhappy happy people because we simply don’t realize the value of what we do have.

This is where the goats come in.

The other evening when I was milking them, I became conscious that, for the last 20 minutes, I had been non-stop singing, in rhythm with the motion of milking, deep and thought provoking verses like this:

The signs of success may be different from what you think. Goat photo by Steve Henderson Fine Art

The signs of success may be different from what you think. Goat photo by Steve Henderson Fine Art

“Ba-dah-ba-dum-dum-dum (squirt-squirt), Ba-dah-ba-dummmmm,”

and I thought,

“I never realized this, but I’m happy.”

I’m not rich, I’m not famous, I’m not powerful, I’m sitting on a broken chair next to a goat, and though I don’t have to buy milk at the grocery store I also don’t have a housekeeper to send there to buy bananas.

But I’m happy.

And if success is what makes people happy, then I guess that I’m very, very successful, and since I sing when I milk the goats, it must mean that, somehow, owning goats is an essential part of being a success.

I suppose it’s as good of a definition as any.

Don’t let me box you in. If you don’t own goats, or don’t have more bathrooms than you do bedrooms, or don’t have a housekeeper to send to the store to buy — or not buy — milk, you can still be a success.

You just have to redefine the word into something worth achieving.

Coming soon — my new book, Live Happily on Less: 52 Ideas to Renovate Your Life and Lifestyle. Saving money does not have to be a convoluted, difficult process — and it can actually be fun.

Like me on Facebook, and I’ll post when it’s published. I’ll also post it here, so if you’re not following me already, I invite you to do so — you can subscribe to this blog by e-mail by entering your e-mail address in the box at the top right of this page.

In the meantime, you can read more of me through Life Is a Gift (Kindle), The Jane Austen Driving School (Kindle), and Grammar Despair: Quick, simple solutions to problems like, “Do I say him and me or he and I?”

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, Growth, home, homesteading, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, money, News, Personal, Random, self-improvement, success, Uncategorized, Work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What Unconditional Love Looks Like

Posted on June 5, 2013 by

We were at a Mexican restaurant the other day, and lest you think we’re being profligate here, we pretty much eat out when we are invited to do so. The rest of the time, being amazing cooks (with the notable exception of the Norwegian Artist, who is an amazing Norwegian Artist, so nobody’s complaining), we eat, and invite others, in.

Most of the time, we eat in. Afternoon Tea, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

Most of the time, we eat in. Afternoon Tea, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas

To my right was Small Person — demanding, determined, adorable, and four — and while she was prattling her way through the menu, the rest of us were ordering. When the waiter collected the menus, she hung on to hers.

The Son and Heir and I exchanged glances across the table, both thinking the same thought:

“Someone has the potential of being a brat here.”

I gently wrested the menu from her hands and gave it to the waiter. The next moment found me with a quietly weeping Small Person at my side. This was not a tantrum (after 25 years and four kids, I recognize these things) as opposed to a broken-hearted human being, tears rolling down her soft, perfect cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. The Son and Heir leaned forward, concerned.

“I don’t . . . get . . . to eat,” she sobbed.

Seriously? Decent people would tease an innocent, trusting child? No, decent people protect children. Lilac Festival, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

Seriously? Decent people would tease an innocent, trusting child? No, decent people protect children. Lilac Festival, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

Instant comprehension, and if I hadn’t been such a supercilious adult I would have recognized that this endearingly precocious little girl thought we had brought her to this special place, where we were having a special time, and deliberately ignored her.

“We’re all sharing with you,” the Son and Heir instantly reassured.

“You’ll have a special plate with something from all of us,” I added.

Thank God. The tears stopped. She smiled as we described that she would get part of a tamale, part of an enchilada, chile relleno, taco, tostado, chimichanga, even fried ice cream. The kid was getting it all, and she didn’t have to deal with the greasy refried beans.

That incident stayed with me throughout the week and beyond, having instantly pierced my soul with its pathos, and my major thought was this:

Love, cherish, protect -- we are gentle and kind with the little people in our care. Seaside Story -- original sold, signed limited edition print available at Steve Henderson Fine Art, open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas and Light in the Box

Love, cherish, protect — we are gentle and kind with the little people in our care. Seaside Story — original sold, signed limited edition print available at Steve Henderson Fine Art, open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas and Light in the Box

“I would never tease and mislead an innocent child — one I love deeply, incidentally — in that way.”

You wouldn’t either, would you? I mean, what kind of slimy, repulsive, arrogant lizard would play games like that?

How about . . . God?

Not really — He isn’t that way — but too many of us mistakenly think of Him as if He were — a Master Puppeteer pulling our strings from some place way out of our reach, teasing us, “testing” us, “bringing us out of our comfort zone,” “being intentional” — whatever that means — frustrating us to the point that when we pray to Him, we feel as if we have to be ultra specific, or He will pointedly and perversely misunderstand what we really mean.

Or, if we momentarily think an uncharitable thought — which we all do, all the time — He’ll turn His back and walk away.

But are these actions of Someone who loves us, and loves us deeply?

Does He bring us to the restaurant, promising joy, and then snatch the menu from our hands, laughing at our hurt?

I don’t think so.

Even in our wild child moments, God loves us and is patient with us. Wild Child, available as an original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; an open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

Even in our wild child moments, God loves us and is patient with us. Wild Child, available as an original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; an open edition fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

In case you haven’t noticed, I love Small Person. Deeply. Unreservedly. And not for anything that she has done or accomplished (and although she’s amazing — simply amazing — there’s a limit to the significant accomplishments a four-year-old can put on her resume) but for no other reason that she Is.

Extrapolate that into your own life.

God loves you. Deeply. Unreservedly. Not for anything that you have done, but solely because of who you Are. He delights in you, marvels at the soft perfection of your skin (even if it’s wrinkled), wants to hear you talk, never leaves you alone to battle problems you are too young to conquer.

When you’re a brat, He doesn’t beat you, doesn’t throw His hands up and slam the door on the way out, doesn’t call you names, but gently directs you to a better way of acting.

That’s unconditional love. It’s something adult humans instinctively practice with young, helpless children.

It’s something God practices with us, all the time and perfectly.

Steve Henderson’s artwork is available in many sizes and price ranges. You may find it at the following links: 

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, grandparenting, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Relationships, religion, self-improvement, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Day Jobs and Daydreaming

Posted on June 3, 2013 by
When we create, we get a feeling of exhilaration and joy. Ocean Breeze, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition print at Great Big Canvas

When we create, we get a feeling of exhilaration and joy. Ocean Breeze, original and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition print at Great Big Canvas

From the Start Your Week with Steve Newsletter of Steve Henderson Fine Art:

Steve Says:

“This last weekend found me in Joseph, OR, judging the Wallowa Valley Festival Arts Exhibition, a regional art show encompassing the inland Pacific Northwest.

“I was struck not only by the art, but by the artists, many of whom were presently working a day job, but who devoted time to their art at night and on weekends — something I did for many years while I worked as a lay medical illustrator.

“Many of the jobs of these artists, however, did not involve creating art during the day. They worked for retail stores, utility companies, educational establishments, and they drove, sold, repaired broken items, and dealt with customer problems and complaints.

The road we walk each day takes us not just to work and back, but to our studio, our hobby room, our garden, where we create. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

The road we walk each day takes us not just to work and back, but to our studio, our hobby room, our garden, where we create. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson

“Several of them told me, I daydream about doing this full time some day.

“As a person who does do this full time during the day, I didn’t want to cast a cloud by mentioning that painting full time, as a business, requires a significant time being spent attending to the business aspect, because I appreciate the value of their dream, and their day dream:

“They want to create. That’s what we as humans are designed for, really, and it’s why we invent things, write books, build bridges, and paint.

“Our society, and our media, emphasize science, math, and computers as the means to develop ourselves into a better world, but in focusing exclusively on these academic disciplines, we lose sight of the other half — the artistic half — that not only makes the world a better place, but the lives of the people who are practicing these artistic pursuits as well.

The act of creating something gives us a sense of enchanted contentment. Enchanted, original oil painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition print at Great Big Canvas

The act of creating something gives us a sense of enchanted contentment. Enchanted, original oil painting and signed limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition print at Great Big Canvas

“Regardless of what you do as a day job, if you feel a sense of urgency, a strong desire, a driving need to paint, sculpt, write, cook, knit, carve — whatever it is that you do to create art — then don’t wait until that magical retirement day to get started.

“You need to do this. The world needs you to do this.”

Read the rest, and subscribe, at the weekly Start Your Week with Steve Newsletter.

Steve Henderson’s artwork is available in many sizes and price ranges. You may find it at the following links: 

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Labeling People and Not Labeling Food

Posted on May 31, 2013 by

We don’t give them much credit for it, but most of the time, the average pre-schooler knows what he or she is talking about.

Small, demanding people often know what they're talking about. Bold Innocence -- limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition licensed fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

Small, demanding people often know what they’re talking about. Bold Innocence — limited edition print at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition licensed fine art print at Great Big Canvas.

The other day I shared lunch with a random four-year-old and we decided upon deli chicken. My dinner companion informed me, quite definitively, that he wanted the kind of chicken “with the bones sticking out all over it.” This was accompanied by a series of acrobatic contortions that involved wrapping his elbows around his forehead.

“Hmm,” was my response. Obviously, he was being four, and had no idea of what he was talking about.

But he did, and at the deli counter, he repeated his instructions, both verbally and physically, adamant in that he was expressing a valid opinion.

So I stopped being so superciliously adult for a moment and seriously looked at the bin of random baked chicken pieces, piled helter-skelter one atop the other.

And epiphany hit.

“Do you mean a wing?” I asked.

“Yes!” he smiled at me, gratified that I finally understood.

I empathize with how he feels. I undergo similar mental and physical contortions when I am shopping for food, and want to find out – by reading the label – just what is in the product, so that I can ultimately decide whether or not I want to purchase it.

It's wheat free, allergen free, vegan, certified Kosher, and "natural" -- all great information. Now, I just need one more small addendum. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art

It’s wheat free, allergen free, vegan, certified Kosher, and “natural” — all great information. Now, I just need one more small addendum. Off the Grid, original oil painting by Steve Henderson Fine Art

But while I’m told that it’s gluten-free (most bananas are) or kosher (I’m not Jewish), made with real sweet potatoes (there are fake sweet potatoes?) or on Facebook (who isn’t, these days?), what I really want to know, isn’t there.

Theoretically, what I am concerned about is nothing, and scientists of one camp assure me that the products which have undergone the modifications I’m worried about are safe, and I am foolish for thinking otherwise.

That’s fine. I’m glad they think so.

But these scientists of one camp don’t make dinner at my house, and I like to be the one making the decisions about what I serve, and do not serve, at my table. And in order to make that decision, I look at the package for elucidation.

“All Natural,” doesn’t mean much. Nicotine is natural, and I tend to avoid it in my salad dressing.

“No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives” is nice as well, but inapplicable to placating my concerns.

All I want is the phrase, “GMO-free,” or, “This food contains no Genetically Modified Organisms – apparently, I’m not alone in looking for this confirmation — but it’s really difficult to find.

It's a complicated dance, these days, being a wise, savvy, determined consumer. She Danced by the Light of the Moon, original painting at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition licensed art print at Great Big Canvas

It’s a complicated dance, these days, being a wise, savvy, determined consumer. She Danced by the Light of the Moon, original painting at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition licensed art print at Great Big Canvas

Why?

Right now I am staring at the back of a bag of chips that, through symbols and words, assures me that it is All Natural, Certified Gluten Free, Certified Vegan, Cholesterol Free, Trans-fat free – there are a dozen reassurances of what this product is free of. Even as I scan the label I hear media voices scolding me for worrying about nothing.

But I do. And if I am foolish, I am a college educated fool (for what that is worth nowadays), one of minority who knows when to use “him and me” and “he and I,” someone who reads more than four books a year. Most of us in this country are serious when we say what we like and don’t like, and when we ask for a chicken wing, we get irritated when we are treated as if we asked for “the piece with the bones sticking out all over it.”

Consumer choice begins when consumers are given a choice in the first place.

It’s my call, not anybody else’s, to determine what I will ingest, and that determination would be a lot easier to make, if I were given the necessary facts to make it. I do not need to be “educated” as a consumer, but I would appreciate being respected.

All of the artwork in my articles is by Steve Henderson, the Norwegian Artist, and it may be found at the following links: 

Posted in Art, blogging, children, cooking, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, Food, Green, Growth, health, home, Humor, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Random, self-improvement, shopping, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

In the Body of Christ, Are You a Toe, Mouth, or Elbow?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by

This may be hard to believe, but sometimes I go weeks without thinking about the big toe on my left foot.

When the old toe is acting up, it's hard for the rest of the body to run, jump, and play. Reflection, original oil and signed limited edition print through Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art print through Great Big Canvas

When the old toe is acting up, it’s hard for the rest of the body to run, jump, and play. Reflection, original oil and signed limited edition print through Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition fine art print through Great Big Canvas

And then one day, a wrenching pain will originate at the toe and shoot its way up nerve pathways to my brain, and everything with the exception of my internal organs, stops.

Years ago, when I mentioned this at a health physical, some insensitive medico cheerily replied,

“Oh, it’s probably arthritis. You’re getting old, you know!”

It’s no wonder I avoid these people.

But back to my toe — it’s really not a major part of my body, and for the most part, I don’t think about relying upon it too much. I mean, most of my day is spent looking at things, listening, keyboarding, knitting — my eyes, my ears, my hands — they get my primary attention and love.

And yet, when the toe cries out, everything revolves around it, because it really does have an essential function in my balance and ability to walk, jump, and dance, something I don’t realize until it’s feeling sulky.

To move gracefully, all of our body needs to be working well together. Girl in a Copper Dress 2, original available at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition art print at Great Big Canvas. 1 of 3 in the Girl in a Copper Dress series.

To move gracefully, all of our body needs to be working well together. Girl in a Copper Dress 2, original available at Steve Henderson Fine Art; open edition art print at Great Big Canvas. 1 of 3 in the Girl in a Copper Dress series.

Upshot? Every part of our body is important in its own way, and while we may use some parts more than others, we don’t willingly damage, disparage, ignore, or dispense with any of the rest.

Within the body of Christ, however, we do this all the time.

If you attend a church regularly, you can probably readily identify the people who think that they are the eyes and the ears and the hands, and it’s relatively easy to pick out the Mouths, but the rest of us in this environment, the toes and belly buttons and elbows, are hidden in shoes and covered by shirt fronts and stuffed into sleeves, where we quietly do the things that we do.

As the Apostle Paul phrases it in Ephesians, the Head is Christ, and the rest of us form a body that, “joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

If it’s difficult being a toe, can you imagine what it’s like to be an unnamed ligament?

And yet we all are, at some point, depending upon the circumstances. Some of us who spend a lot of time stuffed into an athletic shoe have our moments to be eyes, and knees, noses, and even Mouths.

Every single part of our body plays a crucial function. Thoughtful figurative, available through Amazon.com

Every single part of our body plays a crucial function. Thoughtful figurative, available through Amazon.com

In our efforts to feel useful and ascribe meaning to our lives, we too often forget that we are complex human beings, with complex lives and skills, and shortchange ourselves by identifying ourselves (or worse, letting someone else identify us) as being gifted in a limited, particular “ministry,” resulting that we box ourselves in being, permanently, a toe.

You have many gifts, many abilities, many good works to perform that will sometime require that you use your hands, your quads, your rib cage, your shoulder blade, and when it’s your turn to be an eye or an ear or a Mouth, don’t forget that there are also times that you will be a toe. Rejoice in this.

When you finish reading this article, try something: get up and walk twenty steps, focusing your thoughts on your toes — big one as well as the other four piggies. Do you feel what they’re doing to enable you to walk?

Now close your eyes and take a few more steps — bet you’re even more aware of your toes.

They’re pretty important.

All of the artwork in my articles is by Steve Henderson, the Norwegian Artist, and it may be found at the following links: 

The Thoughtful and Figurative pieces may be found as posters at
Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, home, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, religion, self-improvement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Just Pick up a Chicken, Already

Posted on May 27, 2013 by
Chickens are simpler than they seem, which says a lot, because they're not particularly complicated. Photo by Steve Henderson Fine Art

Chickens are simpler than they seem, which says a lot, because they’re not particularly complicated. Photo by Steve Henderson Fine Art

From the Start Your Week with Steve Newsletter of Steve Henderson Fine Art:

Steve Says:

“When we moved onto our property, it came complete with a dozen chickens; the former owners had bought one or two of several different breeds, but they didn’t have room for the birds in their new homes. So they gave them to us.

“And so, knowing nothing about chickens, we were suddenly the owner of 12 of them — a Barred Rock, a Black Australorp, some unidentifiable yellow creature, a Rhode Island Red, and a rooster that looked just like the bird on the Corn Flakes box.

“We had four young children, and we were building our house. We didn’t have time to worry about chickens, or a proper chicken run, or an appropriate chicken house, so we set up some hay bales for them, tossed out feed, and hoped that chickens were survivors.

Our chickens, and goats, free range over a field of dreams. Field of Dreams by Steve Henderson.

Our chickens, and goats, free range over a field of dreams. Field of Dreams by Steve Henderson.

“They are. They thrived, to the point of brooding and hatching out more chickens. As time went by, we gave some birds away and added others, but from the first day enjoyed the primary gift of a chicken: truly farm fresh, free-range eggs.

“Over the years we have talked with people who have wanted to keep chickens, but have never done so because they’re ‘not ready.’ They don’t have a proper chicken run or appropriate chicken house, and they never move beyond thinking about keeping chickens.

“Years go by, and they’re still not ready.

“But our experience shows that you don’t have to create the perfect nursery environment, complete with curtains that match the bedding, in order to keep chickens. Sometimes, you just have buy a couple chicks — and a heat lamp to keep them warm — and get started.

“Otherwise, those years keep going by, and you’re still buying eggs from the store.”

Read the rest of the newsletter, and subscribe for free, at Start Your Week with Steve.

Steve’s artwork is available as 

Originals – through the Steve Henderson Fine Art Website

Signed Limited Edition Prints – through the website

Inspirational Posters – through the website

Licensed Open Edition Fine Art Prints — through Great Big Canvas, Light in the Box, and Sagebrush Fine Art

Posted in Animals, Art, Beauty, blogging, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, frugal living, Growth, home, homesteading, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, self-improvement, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment