Making Tracks

I don't have a lot of time to work on this painting right now, but I am making tracks. The perspective isn't quite right yet, but they are developing.

I have often thought about the process of making tracks... moving forward and leaving an impression where I've been. Sometimes it's hard to move forward, but one step forward is still forward. And on those days when steps turn into miles it feels so good. 

And if I move forward diligently and with integrity then I don't have to worry about the tracks I leave behind. I don't have to look back and wonder. I can keep moving forward and focus on the present as well as my plans for the future.

Support

Today I worked on the support beams for the train tracks. I pondered on the importance of having strong support in our lives. There have been times in my life when I had very little support. I felt that no one understood what I was experiencing and I felt very alone, hopeless, and helpless. 

At other times in my life, like now, I've had strong people who understand, love, and care about me. They're willing to listen without judging, help without micromanaging, and allow me to grow at my own pace. 

When our support systems break down we become as vulnerable as this train would be if those beams began to break. Perhaps it would make it to the other side before the tracks collapsed under it. Or perhaps it wouldn't, and all would be lost. And so it is with us. If we don't have strong, supportive, stable people in our lives we can't be sure we'll make it to the other side of our problems. And if we go down, how many others will go down with us?