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Reboot - or How I'm Starting Over

4/8/2021

 
On January 6, the day that celebrates Epiphany, I had a lovely Zoom meeting with a group of artists across the country.  I’d just gotten off the call, intending to start a new blog post when my husband called my attention to the news that was unfolding.  We watched live coverage of rioters breaking windows and assaulting some of the capital police officers while searching for lawmakers to harm.

Epiphany means revelation, and a lot was revealed about the state of our nation that day.  The idea of keeping up on blog posts suddenly seemed absurd to me as my social media was filled with posts of people attempting to rebrand the rioters as ‘patriots’ and the rewrite the narrative of that day.  But although I live in the midwest, I know people who live in D.C. and I’ve heard some of their experiences of that day.  This was lawlessness, pure and simple.

For weeks I despaired of the state of our country and of the Church - since many who claim to be followers of Christ were advocating violence to create a government in their own image.  Social media became toxic for me so I took a couple of months off Facebook and used that time for prayer and reflection.  Jesus built the Church on a firm foundation.  Through the centuries there have been many efforts to corrupt the message, to gain power, and to further personal agendas.  But there has always remained a remnant of believers who kept their eyes on Christ and persevered.  The true Church - those who submit their lives to the example and teachings of Christ - will prevail.

And remembering that, I turn once again to what my role is in the Kingdom of God.  My call is to be a creator, a maker, an artist.  I’m called to reflect God’s beauty and character by the works of my hands.  Not painting sermons, but reflecting His mystery and glory in all I say, write, paint, and do.

With that in mind, I’ll be re-working this website.

Stay tuned.
Ruth Henriquez Lyon
5/24/2021 01:18:11 pm

Donna, I discovered your blog through CIVA, and I am enjoying your art and writing. I am especially grateful for this post about that dark day in January. I have had one foot in and one foot out of the church for a long time, and that day was particularly disturbing to me due to the support of so many professed Christians. Because of voices such as yours speaking out against accepting this as Christian behavior, I am encouraged to continue my approach into the faith. I wish you the best in your endeavor to reignite your creative life.

Donna M Kemper
7/19/2021 05:17:00 am

Thank you, Ruth. I appreciate the words of encouragement and in turn encourage you to ask the Lord daily for the diligence to seek Him and the wisdom to find Him.


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    Donna Kemper

    Donna Kemper put aside her art career to care for a mother she hadn't seen in over a decade.  For seven years she followed her mother's journey into dementia, caring for her and putting forgiveness into action.

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