"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer:
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,
and my high tower"
- Psalm 18:2

The Journey is the second in my The Strength of Woman Series of three paintings. As in the first, "Standing on the Rock," "The Journey" came to me as a complete mental picture, an inner vision, during a time of prayer and listening.

It was after a long period, 10 years, of intense life storms had passed and a new view of reality was dawning in my healing consciousness. The image of The Journey seemed a continuum of Standing on the Rock, and just as I had to paint the first, I knew I had to paint it.

The Journey is about calm strength. As in Standing on the Rock, a woman is once again standing on a rock, symbolically the rock of Truth, God, but this time it is represented as a rocky pinnacle, her "high tower." Instead facing fierce storms and crashing waves, she is gazing into the sun, which is just on the verge of disappearing behind a distant mountain range. She has journeyed far and her stand point has changed, and it is reflected in everything she sees and experiences.

She is sure-footed on her rocky pinnacle, relaxed, calm, for she has arrived at a place of understanding and she no longer sees life as ups and downs, peaks and valleys, successes and failures, but as a journey Ñ one that never ends.

Before her lies a large, placid river winding its way through the valley below her, reflecting the sun's brilliant glow. And just as the river's calm surface perfectly reflects the sun's light, so too the woman reflects the light of God in her journey when she bases her life in Truth and walks in trust. I dedicate this painting to all women Ñ and men Ñ on their spiritual paths, our common journey.

May you discover your place of calm and strength. For it is in calmness Ñ absolute trust Ñ that we find our greatest strength, and it is in trust and listening that our true path is lit before us.

That place of understanding is not far off or hard to reach, though life's trials may make it seem so. In truth, it is right at hand. For the "kingdom of God," divine peace, lies within each of us. It is part of our divine make-up as the sons and daughters of God, infinite Spirit.

I pray you find your place of peace and understanding.

I wish you countless blessings.