It was getting warm Monday morning, so Christy was packing away her artistry tools, preparing to head for Houston and some family duties there. I was out for a much-needed walk, but liked it when an opportunity came to chat with a new person. She was gracious enough to have a moment for this old coot.
She is artist Christy Kidwell. Some of her works are here in South Texas at Felder Gallery in Port Aransas. She also has paintings in Missoula, Montana. She is a signature member of the Outdoor Painters Society. She has won awards in many local and national competitions.
The thing I quickly noticed in visiting with Christy was that she LOVES what she is doing. Art has absorbed her since she was a teen-ager. Finally, she saw how it could be her life's work.
Seeing someone really loving what they are doing is a treat. Many others in life are seeing their assignment as a chore. They get little pleasure from it all. Some simply count the days when retirement can bring an end to their joyless labor. How do we keep that from happening? When possible we find a vocation that is liked and which brings out the best skills God has given. To be sure, He often has to work us through other assignments, less to our liking. God can bring for us success and accomplishment for the Kingdom wherever we seek to serve Him, but I believe we are at our best for Him and others when we find that God-given talent and use it to the utmost.
My artistry skills are on a third-grade level. It is not my calling or talent. Neither can I ride horses in rodeos or win marathons. I cannot preach down the heavens. I am no good in investments or amassing fortunes. I could not be a mechanic if it meant I had to fix something. Somewhere within me God did place a tiny talent and He said, "Try that. I think you can be that kind of person." . So here I am, almost eighty-years from my birth at Liberty Hill, Oklahoma, still "Trying that" . Often it is not accompanied with remuneration. I am not bothered by that. Just let me serve in my own way, Lord.
Christy paints a scene not knowing or even caring if it attracts a buyer. Her goal in artistry is far beyond that. It is for her pleasure of accomplishment. The rest will take care of itself.
