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By QuaWanna Bannarbie

Paint parties have been a hit since the so-called “paint and sip” industry came onto the scene in 2007. Private owners of painting studios have successfully taken this idea of fellowship while painting to the top of the list of fastest growing industries in America, grossing $55 million in revenue since 2016. Isn’t that interesting?

I have been a witness to a few parties, but I have never actually been a participant. What I find most interesting about these gatherings is that the popularity of these paint night events seems to be the creation of different versions of the known picture. I actually love seeing how the different versions turn out. In some instances, the array of the finished canvas collection can be pretty and humorous.

A “paint and sip” party is in some ways picking fun at the manner in which we live out our process of becoming who God designed us to be. At the studio, the demo that the local artist shows us represents the vision that our Heavenly Father created when He made each of us. We are the inexperienced amateur painters mostly making a mess of the canvas because we are trying to make our own versions of what we think we see in the Creator’s finished product. To top it off, some of us have the nerve to get buzzed while becoming.

I often hear people talk about becoming our future selves as if he or she is a distant version. When you Google the words “the art of becoming” there are several books, videos and other media that center around this idea that we must create the unfulfilled person we wish to be. I am convinced that this false narrative is precisely why so many people are disillusioned about their identity. We cannot create humans. Therefore, we cannot create our future selves. That has been done already. Who we wish to become is actually in existence on the Creator’s canvas. The best we can do is to imitate the model, and the only way we can do that is to listen to the Creator and follow Him.

Some of you may remember the PBS show, “The Joy of Painting.” As a young girl, I remember watching Bob Ross paint as I attempted to guess what the final product would look like. My sisters and I sat patiently as he talked us through what he was doing. During some shows, Bob began where he left off in a previous episode and in some episodes, he started a fresh new canvas. No matter what he was doing, he was very instructional. Whether he is telling you how to blend colors or how much paint you need on the brush, Bob Ross guided us in what we needed to do so that if you decided to paint along with him, you should also get what he envisioned simply by following his instructions.

In the art of becoming, you should also get what God envisioned simply by following His instructions. At times, following God’s instructions is easier said than done. However, the truth is that God has the true version of you because He created you. Allow him to show you the picture He has. Decide to paint along with Him. Only He can guide you in becoming all that the I Am says that you are.

 

QuaWanna Bannarbie is an adjunct professor of nonprofit leadership and management with Indiana Wesleyan University, National and Global. Her children attend Suffolk Public Schools. Connect with her via iamquawanna@thebiggerme.net or via Twitter @QNikki_Notes.