[Woodcarver] needs... big questions...

[Bill Judt]

Maricha:

The questions I hear you asking ar:
"Why was I born?"
"To what end am I a woodcarver?"
And , "If I was born for a reason, and if there is a purpose in my 
being a woodcarver, what must I do, and where should my focus be if 
these purposes are to be realized in my life?"

These are big questions which betray the deep longing of every human 
soul. It seems this longing is something we are born with, and unless 
we suppress it, the longing surfaces in time of quiet reflection. 
Carving affords us many opportunities to reflect, as most often we 
carvers work in solitude.

I used to think that "I needed to be recognized for who I am". But that 
need has been replaced with a greater need -  to be everything that God 
wants me to be. No greater purpose exists - as far as I can see -  than 
to be what God created me to be and to fulfill His purposes in my life. 
I've written about this in both my second and third books.

I've come to understand that my woodcarving is at the same time a 
blessing I have received from God. By it He allows me to earn a living, 
to enjoy the work of my hands, to be creative and to be independent in 
my work, to the extent that I am dependent only on Him and His 
provision.

Yet I've also come to understand -  and I think Ivan W., Jan O., Joe D. 
and other carvers on this List will concur -  that I am blessed with 
the gift of carving in order (for the purpose of) being a blessing to 
others through my carving. Thus what I have been given I also consider 
a gift to be shared with others. So I teach and carve and write books 
and manage this list in order that others will be blessed through the 
gifts God has placed in my hands. If what I have is a GIFT, then I am 
not in a position to brag about it. Instead, I am in a position of 
responsibility to the One who gave me these gifts. The issue of good 
stewardship surfaces at this point.

When I finally came to this understanding - after years of struggling 
with the same questions you identified in your message - it really 
freed me up in my work. I find that I carve with greater purpose, and 
that I can more easily be generous in sharing the knowledge and skills 
I acquired, as well as the fruits of my work with others.

I only wish I'd learned this stuff earlier. Oh well... to soon old and 
too late smart!!!

Bill
List Owner

W.F. Judt,
46 Harvard Cres,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7H3R1
PH: 306-373-6649
Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com

On Sep 30, 2004, at 2:11 AM, maricha wrote:

> To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular mail, 
> click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
> hi folks,
>  
> a thought came to mind.....and i asked myself ..... as an artist/woody 
>  what is what i need the most? or what is most important to me?  
> although i am a small particle of sand on the beach .... i still feel 
> i need to be recognized for what i am. would any one like to expand on 
> this thought.....
>   
> it is just a thought but bugs me and am interested in what you think 
> and really need?
>  
> thanks
>  
> maricha
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