Five Items My five items I must have are with me at all times. I need to have vision. Without knowing what is around me is a frightening situation. Sometimes it is still frightening to kno…
Source: what are the five items you must have on a deserted island?
My five items I must have are with me at all times.
I need to have vision. Without knowing what is around me is a frightening situation. Sometimes it is still frightening to know what surrounds me. Now don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of beauty to be seen on a deserted island.
I need taste. Without taste it is dangerous. I thirst for water. I kneel down at the pond near the middle of the island. I fill my cupped hand with water, not knowing if it is salt water or fresh water. As with the plants on the island, I wouldn’t know if the plant is extremely spicy, bitter, or unpleasant.
Touch is to feel. What are those strange leaves? The pointed sides scratched my skin and put a blistery rash on my arms. The insect I stepped on left a barb in my foot. Without feeling, my odds of survival are low. Not able to feel is a threat to life.
What is that sound? A strange animal with fangs long enough to pierce through me. If I can’t hear, I can not prepare for my defense.
The last is a smell. I wouldn’t know there is toxic waste near the end of the island or know the warnings of something burning. I could suspect something is wrong when I see dead fish or smoke, but I would smell them initially.
To answer this classic question: what are the five items you must have on a deserted island? I must have my five senses that God blessed me with.
With those 5 I will have the wisdom to apply the knowledge to survive as man survived in the beginning of time.
When others voice their opinions, I weigh the words that are spoken. I ask myself what makes that person’s statement better than the other person? Is it the attitude or how it is expressed, the loudness, or confidence of how it is presented? Some of the time I will reduce the count by the tone of the voice. After that, I only have a few left. Than I evaluate the credentials and language of the people. What are their experiences on the subject? Do they use useless adjective words to make a stronger voice, such as profanity?
My decision for the voice count is two. One is the person with the most knowledge and presentation. The other is my inner voice.
Maybe I should take heed of my own words here as I listen to the presidential caucus debates..
April, the month the ospreys arrive from their winter range to begin the cycle of life. I captured the below photo in Newport News, VA at the spillway where Lake Maury overflows into the James Rive…
My friend and I volunteer to paint murals on the walls through out the hallways of the Veterans Administration hospital. The hallways were painted an institutional drab tan. Now, with painted murals, it brings life, joy, and contentment for the patients, staff and visitors as they pass through the halls.
One particular morning, I asked God for His blessing on a mural my friend and I were to paint. I prayed for direction, help and assistance to paint this mural.
Unlike my friend who is a professional artist, I am a novice painter. As like most novices we don’t see our mistakes and faults as well as others see them. Throughout the painting, my friend Stan found fault. He’d say your lines are not smooth, you need more value, use more water, or you’re holding your brush wrong. This was one of those days, he was not himself. I was ready to give it up and hand the brush over to him telling him, “if you can do it better, then you do it.” But I didn’t.
I just stood aside and watched him paint. Inside me, I pouted and I started to put myself down. I was thinking I’ll never be a good artist.
When I got home, I realized that Satan was telling me all those negative things. But, God answered my prayer from this morning. I asked Him for direction, help and to assist me. He did it through my friend Stan who told me my problems and showed me how fix them.
It was then I realized God was there the whole time as I painted. I seemed to have given up not only in myself, but in my faith, trust and belief.
God was there the whole time. My lesson is to focus on God not on myself. I pray this story may help others.
Below are a few murals we painted at the Veterans Hospital
Source: What lurks within a tree
Source: The Butterfly and the Bee
I painted this picture from the water side near the causeways that protect the land from the slamming waves of the Chesapeake Bay. The light of Point Comfort peeks through the luscious colorful tops of the trees. At the foreground is an open field surrounded with a variety of old oak, maple and poplar trees. For many decades, these trees survived the harsh element of mother nature.
Old Point Comfort Light House is located on the grounds of Fort Monroe in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton, Virginia. It was first lit in 1802, stands 54 feet tall, and played an important part in the War of 1812. The light house is listed as a Virginia landmark.
If you are interested in the painting or prints, please email me or visit my WEB sites.
Email: 06artist43@gmail.com
http://17-richard-smith.artistwebsites.com
http://17-richard-smith.pixels.com
Thank You for your interest
1kayaker 