Okay, I admit it. I like coloring. My coloring books have changed since I was a kid (no more Sesame Street or Disney characters) but the basics are the same – thick black lines define the space and I bring color to it. I started coloring again a few years ago and found that it brings me a deep sense of calm and quiet. I fell out of the habit for a while, but in the last week I’ve picked it up again.
When I’m in the middle of coloring a pattern, there’s almost always a moment when I think, “This is so ugly. I shouldn’t complete it. These colors don’t go together AT ALL!” Every once in a while I’ll abandon one, but usually I keep going. Perhaps it’s a bit of my stubborn streak showing through.
And 99% of the time when I get to the end I’m amazed at how beautiful the finished composition is. There’s something about that middle time that is completely deceptive – it looks unfinished and imperfect. But given a little time and patience, that same color combination transforms into a thing of beauty.
It happened on every one of these mandalas that I’ve colored in the last few days. At some point in each one of them I thought I should throw it out and start over. Now, at the end, I’m so glad I didn’t.
These mandalas are from a book by Mosa Baczewska, a woman I was very fortunate to meet last summer and who I hope to see again in a few short weeks. Check her out online at http://www.mosazone.com/
I think it’s a good metaphor for life, and one that I’d like to remember more often. I can’t see the end from the middle. But inevitably I have to go through the middle to get to the end. It’s a part of the process.
This morning I woke up to an email from a friend that blew me away. We went through a rough patch when things were really strained. Recently we’ve found our way back to a more comfortable and easy friendship. This morning he sent me a message of gratitude that brought tears to my eyes. When we were in the middle, I thought the friendship was ruined for good. I never could have foreseen this end.
I think the middle is perhaps not a good place to make judgments or assessments from. Not that it’s easy to refrain. But as Rev. Nancy often says to me, “I can hardly wait to see what good will come of this.”
Speaking of good things – mark your calendars! I’m going to be on Hay House Radio again next week. I’ll be on Karen McCrocklin’s show “Out From The Inside“. We’ll be talking about The Miracle Journal and specifically the post “The Miracle of Fluidity“. Wow. Cool. 🙂 The show is at noon EST on Wednesday and you can listen online at www.hayhouseradio.com.
4 comments
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Tonya
May 19, 2011 at 10:00 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
What day next week? Love Louise!
Leah Carey
May 19, 2011 at 10:04 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oops! Thanks Tonya! 🙂 The show is at noon EST on Wednesday.
Jeffrey Sumber
May 21, 2011 at 4:01 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I think about all the hours I spent as a child coloring, even as a tween, and it suddenly makes me feel better about all those hours playing Atari! There is something so meditative and contemplative in that coloring process…. Thanks for bringing it back to consciousness!!!
Leah Carey
May 21, 2011 at 4:40 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
What a lovely comment – thanks Jeffrey! 🙂 Big hug…