My answer would be an immediate and resounding no. This year’s Marble Women’s Advent blog theme is, “Art is the highest form of hope.” I certainly believe that and I also believed that since I’m not an artist, I had no hope of submitting anything.

As it’s been said, God works in mysterious ways. In the last week or so I’ve seen art everywhere I look from a pastel sunrise outside of my window to a fiery sunset on an afternoon drive. I’ve seen it in the hibiscus bloom I walked by that looked like the sun itself. I even found it in the NY subway system as a singer brought some sunshine to cold and weary commuters on a gray and rainy day. Getting New Yorkers to stop for anything as we rush through our day often stressed, sleep deprived and behind the 8 ball is near impossible. But this singer not only got us to stop, she had a few of us dancing, yes dancing and smiling. 

All of this made me realize that while I cannot paint like my grandmother, a renowned Chinese landscape painter or my sister who paints beautiful abstract works and I can only sing when I’m alone as the song in my head sounds nothing like the song I’m actually singing, I can still be an artist. I can make each day my canvas and live it in a way that creates a little joy, hope or peace for someone. 

Shared by Patricia Wu