Journey from old to new, 1, A way out

A Way Out

"I am going to retire at the end of 2006" I told my friends. "What do you mean by that?" was often the reply. " No more official responsibilities" I said.
Well, we all of us have the responsibility to live out the Gospel calling. We don't retire from that. My General Superior from Rome emailed to me,"Assumptionists never retire,bur change work". So I am looking out for signs that will let me know what kind of work.
On I went on a journey. New Plymouth with its beautiful Taranaki Mountain became my first stop or station. With an encouraging couple I rediscovered the waterfalls thundering from the pinnacle-source, finding their way between steep cliffs, over boulders, to calmer streams ,till they reached the black sands of the beach.
Not only did I enjoy the intimacy of the couple's family, but also their encouragement to see a way out of tension and strife. Out of gratitude I painted them a mountain scene, with stylised cliffs and waterfalls, at top and bottom.
In the gentle stream you see a kayak finding a way from the dangerous rapid to safety.
Most of my paintings reflect some of my inner life, some of my moods and often an experience from the past, before my retirement. Like the water found great resistance of cliffs and many other obstacles like boulders, softening them in the downward course, I felt the softening of the time from celebrating Christmas in the old year to welcoming the New Year. Therefore I called the painting ,"A way out".
Where does the journey lead me?
Have a look at the picture. I hope you enjoy it.