A friend commented that I followed through on a painting idea, a still life with pears, an avocado and an orange.

I delivered this painting, acrylic on old wood, to a young buyer today.

She said she loved the way the rocks were all around her body but, not a one caused her harm.

I smiled.

Me too.

We talked about “The Scarlet Letter” and I told this young woman who could be my daughter, that this is when in college, oh my goodness decades ago, that I finally knew others had felt called out and misfit.

Then, now, and even tomorrow the red letter novel will be important to me. Now, the account of the woman caught in adultery and facing them all, standing tall, her would be stoners, this story matters even more.

“Yes”, I told the young woman, I had to paint her gown red.

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love that part too. The boldness of her brave acknowledgement of wrong. She never expected to walk away unpelted.

I love the way we face the ones who’d have reason to stone us and Jesus tells them, tells us all…if you’re without sin, go ahead, you get the first throw.

And nothing. No stones.

Yet another redemption story waiting to be told.

I’ll be faithful to the telling of mine as well as the ones I treasure.

“No Stones” prints are available. Comment to inquire.