Hello #10...Rosie Jon

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
                                                                                         Psalm 42:7 (NIV)

Annyeonghaseyo!  That’s Korean for Hello.  Oh, if you could see the smile on my face!  I was over-the-moon at the chance to do this interview.   Every now and then something happens that literally gets your blood pumping.  You can feel a surge of energy make its journey from the bottom of your feet all the way through until it reaches your mouth in one big shout, “YES!”  It's what I felt when seeing a video post from Jesus Painter Ministries on Facebook. (See May 5 post entitled, busy, Busy, BUSY!)  The blue and white is what caught my eye.  The ocean, my favorite place to be.  Ironically enough the video was set to “Oceans” by Hillsong United which happened to be one of my most favorite songs.  The view felt so intimate.  It was as if I was perched on her shoulder watching her paint.  The movement of her toes, holding the brush was like a dance between paint and canvas.  It took my breath away. Then came the tears.  First drops and then a steady stream of salty water dripping down my chin.  My two youngest were with me at the time.  Their big brown eyes were also in awe of what they were seeing and they were concerned with the sudden flood of water on my face.  “Is mommy sad”, asked my two year old.  It was quite the opposite.  God is good.

Rosie Jon is a descendant of Korean parents.  She was born in the UK.  She is a wife, mother of two, and as of a little over a year ago inspirational artist.  Amazing things happen when we decide to say yes.  Through the course of her life I believe yes has pushed her to this point.  The fact she doesn’t have the full length of her arms is minimal compared to the fact that on a daily basis she is willing not just to live, but pursue what she is called to do.  Her mom had a vivid dream of her grandmother opening a big book to reveal her name.  Of the dream Rosie says,"It was that dream that gave her clear understanding that God had a great plan for her from the very beginning."  As a little girl she was very determined.  Stubborn, she was driven to achieve greater things.   Her way of proving to the world she could do more than what they thought she could was to go for it!  Everyone expected her to go to art school.  Instead, she pursued a degree in math and computer science where she meant her husband. 

The destination of standing at the edge of a canvas is recent.  While feeling a nudging to paint she joined CBS, Community Bible Study which led her to meet Cindy Halsted of We want more.org.  Cindy invited her to a woman’s retreat and asked her to paint.  It was a little more than a year ago Rosie stood on her left leg for an hour and a half painting the vision of what she saw;  Jesus smiling.  Of this new passion she says she just wants to use her gifts the way He wants her to.  To not be afraid and basically go for it! 

One of the definitions of joy is a source or cause of great happiness.  It amazes me that when we find ourselves doing what were called to do it propels us into worship because it allows the Gifts God has been given to flow from the source…Him.  Return, we’ll have more about Rosie tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!

Note:  I misquoted Rosie in saying her Grandmother had the dream.  It was actually her mother's dream.  Thanks!