In February of 2019, I was mindlessly scrolling on Facebook (as a person does) when I stumbled across a post that made me stop my scroll.
It was a photo of abstract artwork, and something about that photo just felt like home.
I had no other way to describe it. That photo looked so similar to all of the abstract paintings that I had been creating in my basement workshop in the middle of the night. For years and years, when I was stressed or overwhelmed, mad or brokenhearted, I would often find myself drawn to a midnight project.
It would typically start out with some type of Pinterest rendition that ultimately turned into a Pinterest Fail. When that brought me even further frustration, I would turn to the side of me, grabbing whatever scrap was around me - paper, an old canvas, cardboard or even a chunk of wood - and start abstract painting. I had no idea what it meant. I had no idea why I felt drawn to do that. All I knew was that when I was done, I felt better.
For over a decade I did this. Hundreds and hundreds of paintings that I literally threw away because I didn't understand. Because I wasn't giving them any value. Because I wasn't giving myself any value.
That sponsored ad on Facebook I stumbled across changed my life. When I clicked on it further, I discovered it was for an organization called Painted Prayers, Inc., a nonprofit that teaches people how to use art as a form of prayer. They were looking for their first cohort of instructors. Without any good reason as to why I should do it, I clicked for more information.
A couple of days later, I received a phone call from a woman named Brianna, the founder of Painted Prayers, Inc. As I told her about my story including the loss of my sister and the book we recently published, she stopped me and said, "Wait, were you just on the news? I never watch that channel, but I happened to catch that segment and now here you are."
In that moment my life changed. It was confirmation to me that God wasn't just leading my family through loss and grief. He didn't just lead my sister through her hardest moments in her cancer battle. He was also leading me here and now... and not through more death and destruction but actually leading me into life. Leading me towards a life that felt like light and goodness and hope. The life I had always wanted but never was quite sure how to attain.
Today, three years later it is one of my greatest joys to teach people how to use art as a form of prayer. I know that not everyone has that creative fire burning inside of them like I do, but I can guarantee that God has created your own special language with him.
My workshops and retreats help you to uncover what that language is so that you can hear Him, so that you can grow closer to Him and so that He can lead you into a life that is filled with light and goodness.
Right now, I am looking to get more workshops and retreats on the calendar. I would be so delighted and honored if you would host one either in person or via Zoom. Simply email me at jessy@purposegrit.com to start the conversation and get your date scheduled.
And if you have done a workshop or retreat with me in the past, if you could share your experience with another who may be interested, I would be so grateful.