David Arms

I want to end well. This has been a prayer of mine for years. My days are numbered. I just don’t know the number. But when that number comes up I want those around me to see that my faith was real. I really did trust in the hands I could not see. I knew…

Where to begin. A daunting thought.  Whether it be a painting, a writing or a new year. The first pass of paint. The first word. The first step. How I begin influences where I go. How I begin influences how I end. It opens the doors to what might come next and sparks thoughts that might…

When the sales clerk is irritable and far from showing love, may we find joy in knowing Jesus came for us all. When the stress of the season seems more of a burden than pleasure, may we find joy in remembering why we’re celebrating to begin with. When Christmas doesn’t go exactly as planned, may…

That feeling when something far exceeds anything one could ever hope or imagine. More beautiful. More perfect. A gift. That gift, for me, came recently in the form of a baby girl. My first grandchild. There was never a doubt that I would be smitten, but as my family would attest, I am far beyond.…

My Dad died when I was 26. I have already lived more days than him. There were many questions still to be asked. So much I wanted to learn. He was smart. But it was quiet and unassuming, so I took it for granted. My wife and children never had to privilege of knowing him.…

Contentment. Regret.  Can they coexist? I believe they must. I have often heard someone say, “I have no regrets”. I can’t imagine.  Contentment, for me, is being at peace with.  Regret, not so much. It stirs feelings of disappointment. Anxiety. Probably topped with a dose of shame. Oil and water. Regret can make contentment seem…

Morning. My favorite part of the day.  Quiet. Still. Hopeful. Before rising, I begin with gratitude. For life. For opportunities the day will provide. I fill my thermos with coffee and retreat to my studio.  With mind and body rested, before I’m invaded by the world outside these walls, I have time alone. To think.…

The garden has always been a place of peace for me. A sanctuary. A place where I feel closest to my Creator as I work hand in hand with His creation. It is a place where I learn. Not just about gardening, but about life. This year I decided to reduce my garden to a…

The dash. Such a small, simple mark. Representing a lifetime. Mine began on October 17, 1956 and God only knows when it will end. In many ways it seems appropriate that an entire life is represented by such a small mark. To me it shows that no matter the length of the life, in light…

It is often said, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”. There is truth to that. But limiting. I am learning to give people a chance to prove my “first impression” wrong. I would love the same grace extended to me. Many times in my life, on first impression, I’ve been…

I don’t often look back on my artwork from the past. I’m a “move forward” kind of guy. Push. Push. Push. And that’s a good thing as far as “productivity” is concerned. But it doesn’t remind me to use those nougats of creativity that I learned years ago just from the process of painting. My…