“The Invitation”, oil on masonite, 2026

What old ideas and beliefs are holding you back from experiencing the world in color?

The young girl is a self-portrait of a younger me. She represents living in a state of black-and-white thinking, and the invitation she receives to broaden her view; to look outside the black and white enclosed world we all grow up in, and to consider perspectives outside our bubble of beliefs.

There’s no shame in the systems and institutions we grow up inside of—they, in a way, have kept us safe and protected until we’re ready to transition from milk to solids.

At some point, life will throw us in a situation where we find ourselves questioning and wrestling with God. I find that to be a beautiful milestone in attaining real wisdom, faith, and charity. Let the winds blow our curtains wide open—so we can truly see with new eyes and dare to venture out there.

The invitation comes as a friendly gust of wind that has revealed what lies beyond the curtain, or veil of our own thinking, and her eyes open to the beautiful expansive world as seen through different eyes. An enlightenment. The spirit whispers, “abre los ojos” (Spanish for “open your eyes”).

As a Christian, I think there a lot of opportunities to reflect on our beliefs and ask real intentional questions. In orthodox faith communities, there is often a culture of “we already know it all” or “we don’t need your perspectives because ours is the only true way”. I think a person could live out their entire lives happy and comfortable in this simplistic black-and-white world they’ve lived in. But the world is full of color—don’t you want to see it? Don’t you want to open your eyes? Why limit your own growth? Why limit God?

For me, one of the untapped LDS doctrines that help me “open my eyes” is the belief that there is both a God the Father, AND a God the Mother. One could go through life worshipping a male god and feel completely content in that patriarchal monotheistic worldview. But as a woman, especially as a Christian woman accustomed to adhering to a very male-centric religious system—to believe that there is a divine Goddess who is equally important, equally powerful, equally benevolent, and equally present in our lives breathes COLOR into my life.

“It doesn’t take from our worship of the Eternal Father, to adore our Eternal Mother, anymore than it diminishes the love we bear our earthly fathers, to include our earthly mothers in our affection.” Rudger Clawson.