“Into the Woods” Steamboat Springs, Colorado

“We and the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is impossible. Arm yourselves.”
— Leif Enger

For me this is a scene of the weight and power of parenting. I painted “Into the Woods” last week. This scene is of my husband walking my sons (and their friend) into our White Woods. These trees held elk and bear and mountain lion. They were the reason I learned to literally arm myself.

These were the woods where I brought my babies home, where they would learn to hike.

We would walk with our children down the best paths we knew. We still protect and arm ourselves so we can protect them. We teach them to arm themselves against evildoers, lies and wolves in sheep’s clothing. We show them how to open their hearts to the Spirit of God’s promptings. We teach them how to grieve promptly and thoroughly because this grief work must be repeated if we are to live courageously. We carry them when they are tired and we show them how to rest.

How grateful I am for the poets and artists who replenish me so I can keep walking into the woods, authors like Lieg Enger. I opened with this quote from his gritty and gorgeous story “Peace Like a River”. Have you read it?

Ever Friday night to Saturday night is Sabbath, 24 hours of rest where I align with the chosen Jewish people and honor God’s command and gift of Sabbath. The evil never rests. But God always works to fight and guide and create so that we can rest regularly, trusting him to restore us while he takes on the world. This rest is such a hallowed space for me and my children.