"Courage and Acceptance"

"Some people confuse acceptance with apathy, but there's all the difference in the world. Apathy fails to distinguish between what can and what cannot be helped; acceptance makes that distinction. Apathy paralyzes the will-to-action; acceptance frees it by relieving it of impossible burdens."

Arthur Gordon

I'm not sure that I am able to speak directly to issues of courage and acceptance. What I can do is write a bit about my process of making art. Or of living. The boundaries get blurred in the distinction.
It's a side door approach to the topic. But then, many riches often dwell in the periphery .
As a young man, I aspired to paint a masterpiece, supposing that I, along with the painting, would obtain some historical significance in the completion. And I wasn't overly concerned about the painting's success, if you catch my drift. I became hobbled by the desire, and wandered about in what (at the time) I considered to be an aimless way.

Now I have come to understand that I was gathering information and experience. Eventually, I learned that I had to let go of that adolescent drive before I could even begin to implement that material into what I make as art.

So what does that mean? It means that I have to relinquish control during the process of the making. Which is funny, because my sense of control is primarily illusory. This is not to say that I throw up my hands and submit to some other controlling agency. I respond to beckoning, but most often rail at being lead.
What I prefer is dialogue. Exchange.

Acceptance, then, becomes an active performance of engagement. It calls out for investment. Once a situation or a canvas, an interaction or an armature has been recognized, then acceptance can format itself as a type of surrender into the moment. This is when I become available to participate in the marvelous, especially when the 'conversation' steps beyond the limitations of my preconceived notions.

That participation is a choice.

And if that has anything to do with courage, I'll accept that.

Images:

1. "Water Labyrinth #11"© 2010

Watercolor on paper

2. "Towards Sheryl's House - 7:30 AM"© 2010

Watercolor on paper

Paintings by Tom Schulz

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"Courage to Accept"© 2010

Video Sketch

From "The Systemic Amazement Factorial"©


"The Art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

NEXT: "COURAGE AND PATIENCE"