Take Time to Notice the Color Purple

For our online group we were challenged to create something utilizing the color purple. Since Spring has sprung, I thought of flowers. I also thought of Alice Walker’s fabulous book The Color Purple. I wrote the quote in large letters with a dark purple ink, then wrote it again a bit smaller with a different shade of purple. I wanted to somehow add more purple and texture, so I utilized a hole punch to cut circles from gel print scraps. The stems are leftovers from handmade paper I made from dryer lint. I stopped working , took a step back, and it still needed something. So I used a very fine micron pen to create the petals. I wanted this to be an interpretation of her words, not just pretty lettering. Here is the quote:

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field some where and don’t notice it.

– Alice Walker The Color Purple

I remember reading these words in college and they made me think. How many times had I walked past beauty, people, or something special and just kept walking? I was too busy or distracted to notice, which as Alice Walker notes probably pissed God off! We all do it all the time. We drive down the road never noticing the beautiful trees or blooming flowers. We forget that life is not just about getting things done or getting where we are going. Beauty is a gift, something to cherish and enjoy. Something to observe and admire. When we are too preoccupied with ourselves and our life we overlook the most astounding things…like the color purple.

So, I started taking the time to notice the color purple – the beauty that is all around that gets over looked – and what a difference it made in my attitude, my gratitude, and in my ability to feel peaceful and happy. I sat on our front deck for a long time, just admiring nature and worked hard to avoid focusing on the weeds that I needed to pull. I did not look at my watch, instead I followed the bumble bees to see which flowers they were visiting. I watched our dogs frolic in the forest. I listened to our neighbor’s farm animals talking to each other. All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a few minutes. It made me appreciate all my blessings AND I gave thanks for all God’s creations…even the noisy sheep!

Let me encourage you to take time today to find your own version of the color purple. Notice the flowers, trees, beautiful areas and beautiful people in your life. Whatever it is you have to get done, you will be better at getting it done when you have taken time to notice the color purple!